Dr. Richard Gilkey

Dr. Richard Gilkey, 72, of Amarillo died Wednesday, August 14, 2002.  Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 16, 2002, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Pastor, and Rev. Terry Tamplen, Pastor of Kingswood United Methodist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Interment was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Home in Clarendon.

Dr. Gilkey was born in Garnett, Kansas, and was raised in Topeka.  He attended Kansas University in Lawrence and the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, Missouri.  He interned at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas, and practiced medicine for over 33 years in Clarendon and 5 years in Waxahachie, Texas.  He was also associated with BSA as consulting physicians for rural health clinics in the Panhandle.

For over four decades, Dr. Gilkey has served the people of Donley County and surrounding areas as their physician, their friend, their church leader, and their public servant.  In 1997, the Clarendon/Donley County Chamber of Commerce named Dr. Gilkey recipient of the Saints’ Roost Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was on the Board of Regents of Clarendon College for 22 years and served as president for four years.  He also served as mayor for twelve years and was very active in the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon ,where he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board and in many other capacities.  One of his favorites was the Kairos Prison Ministries.

Beyond his devotion to his family, he enjoyed the passion of piloting airplanes.  He served as a flight surgeon in the Navy and was assigned to the Marines.  He also was a member of the Texas Flying Physicians Association, serving as Secretary-Treasurer.

Survivors include his wife, Jane, of 39 years; four children, Melinda McAnear and husband, Ronnie, of Clarendon; Tina Putnam and husband, David, of Austin; Jim Moore and wife, Karen, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and John Moore and wife, Cathy, of Waxahachie, Texas; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Alex Putnam, Todd McAnear, Mathew Moore, Blake Moore, Brooks Moore, Tony Lindsey, and Kevin Overstreet.  Honorary bearers were Clarendon College Board of Regents, Jim Shelton, Willard Skelton, Kenneth Vaughn, Bill Lowe, and Chuck Deyhle.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to Clarendon College or the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon .