Roy Arthur "Buck" Laney

Throughout his life, he never knew a stranger for long, as he developed the closest of friendships with almost everyone that crossed his path. If he knew someone had a problem, he would actively work to resolve it, whether it was getting one of the thousands of kids he coached to the practice field when the parents were unable to do so, or pulling a friend’s lawnmower from their trash, fixing it, and then giving it back to them. No one has ever been more unconditionally compassionate and caring for others.

Roy was the third of 6 children born to Roy and Ruth Laney and was preceded in death by his wife Arlene, his father Roy Laney, his mother Ruth Laney, brothers Bill, Johnny, and Bobby, and sister Myrtle Jesse. He is survived by his daughter Leanna Hall and husband Jerry Hall of Wichita Falls; son Kirk of Plano, Tx; son Kent and wife Kim of Burleson, Tx; sister Ruth Ellen Barnaby of Nunn, Co; two grandsons Jason and Chad and one granddaughter Shana. He is also survived by sister-in-law Shirley Bernhardt of Greeley, Co; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as Roxalinda Glatz and Linda Williams, close family friends, that were always around, and later provided immeasurable support through his physical challenges to enable him to continue engaging in life with everyone.

Roy grew up in a modest home, working from the time he was able with his brothers and sisters as they learned to raise livestock, farm, fish and hunt to put food on the family table, as well as the tables of neighbors during challenging economic times. Roy graduated from Ault High School ONLY after serving our country during WWII in the Navy on board the USS Tolman DM28, a navy destroyer-mine layer. Following service in our armed forces, Roy returned to Colorado in 1946 where he completed high school and subsequently went to Colorado State University learning to coach sports. He wrestled, played football, baseball, and basketball, as well as competitively roller skated, adding skills and discipline to his college education to become a phenomenal mentor in life for many. Roy taught woodwork and construction in Trinidad, Colorado before being offered a civil service instructing position in Cheyanne, Wyoming. He was later transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas as a Training Specialist for the Titan 1 and Titan 2 missile systems. He moved his family to Wichita Falls in 1959 and worked until retirement in 1982.

Roy devoted his life to helping others, with a passion for helping kids grow up in a challenging environment. He coached football, baseball, basketball, and girl’s softball for over 20 years, and helped start the soccer program in Wichita Falls. He coached teams that his own kids played on and he had higher expectations for discipline from them, so there was no “coach’s son” situation. He took life seriously, but had a sarcastic sense of humor that rubbed off on everyone he met. He knew how to make people smile through difficult times, and maintained that perspective throughout his entire life.

Besides his focus on raising a family properly with his wife, and teaching his children respect and compassion for others, Roy led a diverse life. With ventures into cat sales, worm ranching, book sales (mostly volume 13 encyclopedias), firecracker sales, and catfish trot-lining….. to name a few, he was never without stories that he embellished over the years that always made people laugh and made him one of the most interesting people you would ever meet.

Roy / Buck / Dad, we will miss you for the rest of our lives. Be at peace with Mom, family, and friends that passed before you. We fear you and Mom will now be getting in trouble again with Curtis and Ann, and Norman and Cookie, as they have been waiting for you.

A special thanks to Healing Hands for the compassionate care they provided over the past several months. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 9th at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home with interment to follow at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Memorial Park. Visitation will be Monday evening from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Roy Laney to Compassion Church, 2014 Kemp Blvd, Wichita Falls, Tx 76309.