Wayne Irvin Riggs

Wayne Irvin Riggs, 87 of Clarendon, died January 12, 2017. Wayne was born to parents Modelle Doyle and Wilmer Riggs, a farming family in Erick, Oklahoma on March 4, 1929, shortly before the arrival of the Great Depression, which helped develop his survival skills. The family migrated to Deaf Smith County in pursuit of greener pastures during the Dust Bowl and ultimately moved to Amarillo, where Wayne graduated a proud Amarillo High Sandie.

Services were held on Monday, January 16, 2017, in the Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel in Amarillo with Rev. Jim Aveni, Vicar of the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church of Clarendon, officiating.  Entombment will follow in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum.  Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Wayne served our country in the Air Force during the Korean War, and returned to Amarillo to attend Amarillo College on the GI Bill where he met the love of his life, Annton Oakes. They were married in 1956 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. After a quick honeymoon in Tres Ritos, New Mexico, Wayne returned to Amarillo to complete his college studies at West Texas State University and to build his family and career. After several years as manager of Southern Farm Supply Co-op’s Tires, Batteries and Accessories division, Wayne and family moved to Clarendon to pursue his passion as a cow-calf rancher, establishing Tiny Timbers Ranch.  He also established Riggs Farm & Ranch Supplies, a thriving business in Clarendon from 1969 to 1985.  During that time, Wayne became the Texaco Distributor in Clarendon and acquired from other family members, Little Seminole Ranch in Gray County.  With the help of friends, family and neighbors, he joyfully managed those ranches, throughout the rest of his life.

Whether on the ranches, the farm store or the gala, Wayne dressed as a gentleman. And when the band started, never was there a man who could dance like him with such grace, agility and coordination. But his true passion was being at Tiny Timbers ranch, which in May 2017 would have celebrated its 50th Anniversary under his ownership and management.

Wayne is survived by one brother, Van Earl Riggs of Amarillo. He is survived by his two children, Helen Ann Parker and her husband Russell Keown, of Clarendon, and Walter Riggs and his wife Brenda, of Amarillo. He also leaves three grandchildren, Jennifer Warren of Clarendon, Chase Riggs and his wife Lauren, of Dallas, and Whitney Riggs of Spring. His three great grandchildren also live in Clarendon, Tate Parker, Emmelise and Ethan Warren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Annton, and one sister, Wilma Dell Gatten.

The family request memorials be sent to St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon.