Dennis

Edgar Dennis was born on Feb. 12, 1937, in the home on the family farm outside of Dimmitt, Texas. He passed away, at the age of 84 on May 11, 2021 in Dimmitt. He was a lifelong resident of Dimmitt and Castro County.

Celebration of Life Service will be held on May 15, at First Baptist Church of Dimmitt at 2 p.m. with Pastor Todd McDaniel officiating with burial to follow at Westlawn Cemetery, Dimmitt. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt. A viewing will be held on Friday, May 14, at First Baptist Church, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Edgar’s family farmed and raised champion milking shorthorns. The family worked together farming the land, milking the cows, and all else a farm requires. Edgar spent many hours, bareback, on his horse, hunting Indians and feeling he was many miles from home, not just the few hundred yards that it actually was.

Edgar started school in the red brick school building in Dimmitt, then on to the barracks behind the high school. In junior high and high school, he excelled in band and sports, holding some athletic records that stood for many years.

Upon entering college, he was unceremoniously dumped at the gates of Hardin-Simmons in Abilene with a “so long, see you later” from his brother, Douglas, who was on his way to Baylor. Wising up, as he always said, Edgar declined his football scholarship and joined the World Famous Cowboy Band. Knowing he wanted to be included in the traveling band, and fearing 4th place trumpet wouldn’t be included, he set his sights on learning the artistry of the cowboy whip. He practiced hours everyday, to learn the art of bullwhips. He attained that goal and was very successful as the band’s bullwhip artist and indeed “traveled the world” with the band.

After college, he returned to the family farm, married and raised two beautiful daughters, Debbie and Connie. He farmed and ranched for the rest of his life with a few side jobs squeezed in to support the farming. In 1986 he joined with other horse and mule riders and wagons, in the Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train. This sixmonth, 3,000-mile wagon train was one of his more memorable western adventures.

On April 18, 1994, he married Leta Musick and together they continued his hobby of traveling, riding mules and participating in parades with a team and surrey for a number of years. He felt quite privileged to participate in Abilene’s Western Heritage Classic. It was there he met Ray Boeshart who invited him and six other Texans to drive the antique carriages in the Cheyenne Frontier Days four parades each year, a real honor. Edgar and Leta made many lifelong friends at Cheyenne, and travelled to many beautiful and interesting places. Edgar was happiest when he was “cowboying” in some fashion. He also enjoyed cowboy poetry and spoke at many functions and gatherings.

Edgar loved his family, especially the babies. He was a beloved “Padaddy” to the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Leta, his two daughters, Debbie (Danny) Underwood, and Connie (Coby) Gilbreath; sister, Decimae Dennis; Leta’s sons, Ronnie (Lisa) Musick, Stacy (Robin) Musick, and Drew (Lori) Musick; eight grandchildren, Chauncey (Jordan) Newberry, Dennis Underwood, Cailee (Ben) Boyer, David Underwood, Carly Gilbreath, Summer Musick, Sage Musick, and Daegan Musick; three great-grandchildren, Selah Newberry, Isaiah Newberry and Luke Boyer; sisters-in-law, Mona Dennis, Derryl (Jim) Palmer and Lynda Campbell; and nephews, Brent Dennis and Eric Dennis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morgan and Geneva Morrison Dennis; and his brother, Douglas Dennis.

Memorials can be made to Castro County Museum, % Kay Gfeller, P.O. Box 602, Dimmitt, TX 79027.