Loyd Dean Waters

Loyd Dean Waters, 81, of Pampa, passed away on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in Amarillo.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Byron Williamson, pastor, officiating. A private family graveside service will be at Fairview Cemetery with military honors provided by Volleys for Veterans.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:30-7:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Loyd's service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

Loyd was born November 30, 1939 in Pampa to Ernest and Loreta Waters. He attended schools in Pampa, graduating from Pampa High School in 1958. Following high school, Loyd served in the United States Air Force with an overseas tour of duty in Japan. He later received his bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. His career spanned many years in college administration at Eastern New Mexico and Clarendon College in both Clarendon and Pampa. He also served as Athletic Director at Pampa High School. While at Clarendon College, Loyd was Dean of Students at the Clarendon campus and then the Director of the Pampa campus.

He was a charter member of the Clarendon College Pampa Center Foundation for the past 27 years. Loyd was instrumental in helping the Foundation build the new campus facilities at 1601 W. Kentucky. He also chaired the Foundation's scholarship committee for many years. Loyd ended his professional career by working in auto sales where he loved making connections with people in the community.

Loyd married the love of his life, Thelma Joyce Eddleman, on October 20, 1962 in Silverton, Texas. They were blessed with their daughter, Tracy, in 1965 and daughter, Deanya, in 1970. Thelma preceded him in death on August 25, 2019.

Loyd loved Jesus Christ and was an active member of First Baptist Church of Pampa. He was an avid golfer and fisherman and was a member of the Pampa Senior Golf Association at Hidden Hills. Loyd served on the board for Pampa United Way for several years and was a member of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce, where he served as a Gold Coat. He was a member of the Pampa Pond Club, and he loved building ponds in his backyard that were enjoyed on the local pond tour. He was also an artist and enjoyed painting for many years. One of Loyd's greatest pleasures was sponsoring, organizing, and raising funds to provide an annual deer hunt for Wounded Warriors on a ranch in Wheeler County. As a Pampa High alumnus from the class of 1958, Loyd was active in organizing all his class reunions.

He was also preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lillian Loyce Waters.

He is survived by two daughters, Tracy Draper and husband Kerrick of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Deanya Kay Taylor and husband Brad of Edmond, Oklahoma; a sister, Joyce Ritter of Canyon; three brothers, Oscar Waters of Amarillo, Kenneth Waters and wife Charrie of Sherman, and Harold Waters and wife Marsha of Longview; by eight grandchildren, Garrah Welk and husband, Dave of Tokyo, Japan, Allandra Draper and Kelton Draper, both of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sydney Rippy and husband Andrew of Longmont, Colorado, Ben Bradley, Rylee Bradley, and Drake Taylor, all of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Garrett Taylor of Phoenix, Arizona; and by a great grandson, Wyatt Welk of Tokyo, Japan.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 621, Pampa, TX 79065, Clarendon College Pampa Center Foundation, PO Box 632, Pampa, TX 79065, or Staurolite Foundation (local Wounded Warriors foundation), PO Box 1942, Pampa, TX 79065.