Ernest A. Tebay

Ernest Adelbert Tebay, 90, of Wylie, Texas passed away on December 1, 2021

Ernest (Bud) was born in Faith, South Dakota on January 12, 1931, where he graduated from High School. Ernest (Ernie or Bud as he liked to be called) joined the U.S. Army in January of 1952 and served proudly in the Korean Conflict until his discharge December 31, 1953. He was extremely proud of his service to his beloved country.

In the 1960’s Ernie moved to Dallas and obtained a job as a meter reader for the City of Dallas, while attending night college to complete his bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation he moved into the Computing Department at the City as a Computer Programmer. Thus began his lifelong love of technology.

In 1970, he married Lee Nell Norman, his first and only marriage. He was immediately the stepfather to 5 girls and Granddaddy to 1. Shortly after the wedding, he adopted the 3 younger girls, Dee Ann, Lisa and Cynthia. The 2 older girls, Vicki and Kathryn, were already married. He adopted the oldest daughter, Vicki, at her request, on her 40th birthday. It was a proud moment for both Ernie and Vicki.

After his retirement from the City of Dallas, he worked with Nell in her accounting business until Nell passed away in 1995. He continued to assist with friends’ tax filing efforts.

In his later years, Ernie worked at Tom Thumb, while working as a school crossing guard for the Wylie Independent School District (I.S.D.). He was recognized and cited many times for his service to the I.S.D. from August 2004, until his passing. He received the ‘Wylie Way Award” from the City of Wylie. He loved greeting and assisting the children and was sort of a ‘Granddaddy’ to all of them.

Both Ernie and Nell were members of the Wylie Church of Christ, where Ernie still attended until his passing. He was known to all members as a true and devoted man of God. He will be missed for his unfailing cheerful attitude, his handshakes and ‘fist bumps’, while making sure he connected with each and every church member every week.

He had a lifelong love of people, history and current events. He loved sports of almost any kind. He enjoyed attending Ranger and Cowboy games with family members, playing board games after Sunday suppers, playing pool, bowling, and holiday/event get-togethers. His days were spent enjoying the company of fellow seniors at the Sachse Senior Center.

Ernest is predeceased by his wife, Lee Nell, his daughter, Kathryn, Grandson Joshua, his mother Iva (ne: King), father Adelbert, brother Herbert, sisters: Louise, Janice and Mildred. Ernest is survived by 4 children, Vicki and husband Calvin, Dee Ann, Lisa and husband Troy, Cynthia, and Merlyn. He will be greatly missed by his 10 Grandchildren, 26 Great and Great Great Grandchildren and a brother-in-law Duane (wife: Mildred).