Services set for civic leader, businessman Paul Bivens

Local businessman and civic leader Paul Bivens passed away Saturday, June 8, 2019, in Clarendon at the age of 73.

Services will be held in the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 13, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Buddy Payne officiating. Visitation was from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Robertson Funeral Directors.

Arthur Paul Bivens was born in Woodward, Okla., to Harry and Grace Bivens on November 11, 1945, and grew up in Seiling, Okla. He graduated from Seiling High School and went to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Okla., where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacy. While in Weatherford he met and married the former Elmonette Branigan, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage in December of 2018.

Bivens began his career in pharmacy in Arlington, Texas, before moving to Clarendon in 1976 with the opportunity to purchase Tunnell Pharmacy. He and Elmonette reopened the business as Bivens Pharmacy and operated it at the corner of US 287 and Kearney Street until 1996 when they opened the Clarendon Outpost, which has been called a beacon of light to the masses.

An active member of the community, Bivens served Clarendon as the chairman of the Salvation Army for more than 30 years. He was a 43-year member of the Clarendon Lions Club and former president of the club and a 37-year member of Clarendon Lodge #700 AF&AM. He served for a time on the Clarendon Board of Aldermen, and he also devoted much time in support of the Boy Scouts.

Bivens is remembered for having lived life to the fullest. He was an avid scuba diver and especially loved going to Cozumel, Mexico, with his friend Kenneth Brady and Mike Branigan. He loved to wakeboard and snow ski, and he worked to teach countless others to do the things he loved.

He was a faithful member of the Clarendon First United Methodist Church, serving on the board and as youth sponsor for many, many years. He loved singing in the choir.

Bivens had a lifelong love of learning, and more recently, of dominating Freddy Gray at ping pong, in memory of Don Smith, through the power of profanity.

He is survived by his wife, Elmonette Bivens; two sons, Stephen Bivens and wife Katrina Leathers of Clarendon and Scott Bivens and wife Alyssa of Lubbock; one brother-in-law Michael Branigan of Memphis; a sister-in-law Dorothy Bivens of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; four nieces and nephews and their families; and a town full of people whose lives he touched over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the Bivens family suggest donations be made to First United Methodist Church in Clarendon or a charity of your choice.