Ernest Dickey

A celebration of Buster’s life will be held Monday, October 26th at 11:00 A.M. at the Lake Ridge Chapel in Lubbock, Texas, 6025 82nd Street. Service will be officiated by long time friend Phil Stroud.

Buster was born on January 4th, 1949 in Falfurrias, Texas to Owen and Sue Dickey. He spent his formative years in Snyder, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1967. Growing up in Snyder, Buster was exposed to farming, ranching and oil field life from an early age. As an undersized teenager he learned to rope calves, leading to a lifetime of enjoyment pursuing that sport. After high school, he was awarded a rodeo scholarship to attend South Plains Junior College, and then moved on to be a member of the rodeo team at Texas Tech University, where he later graduated from.

He met the love of his life Rita Burkes while in college and they married in 1971. Fresh out of college they jumped into the oil patch with both feet as they began their life together in Monahans, Texas. Their son Matt was born in 1973 and they eventually moved to Midland, Texas in 1977 where they would spend the rest of their working years.

Buster worked most of his career as an oilfield sales representative. He worked for Texas Reamer and Champion Chemical before finding his calling in the fishing and rental business. He worked for Petco, Oilfield Rentals, and Key Energy before joining founder Larry Rankin and others to form Xterra Fishing & Rentals. After several successful years they sold the company to Basic Energy where Buster worked until his retirement in 2017. After retiring, Buster and Rita followed their son Matt and his wife Kayla and family to Graham, Texas. They loved living in Graham until Rita passed away in 2025 after 53 years of marriage and life together. Upon Rita’s passing, Buster moved to Lubbock and became a resident at Raider Ranch.

Buster was a world class oilfield salesman, loved by all who crossed his path over the years. He always had a smile and a funny story to tell. He walked comfortably among business people, oilfield workers, farmers and cowboys. He wanted to be remembered for loving his family, friends, roping, and Texas Tech sports. Buster was a proud Christian, regularly attending a men’s bible study while living in Midland. He was later a member of Oak Street Baptist Church in Graham, Texas.

Buster was preceded in death by his wife Rita, his parents Owen and Sue Dickey, and his sister Glenda Shiflett. He is survived by son Matt and wife Kayla Dickey of Lubbock, Texas. Grandson Garrett Dickey and his wife Whitlee of Houston, Granddaughter Morgan Dickey of Lubbock. He is also survived by sister Mary Foster of Carlsbad, NM and sister Martha Beaver of Abilene, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Dennis Kruse, Bobby Smith, Gerald Huff, Gary Lankford, Dick Lambert, Ladd Byars, Pap Roark, Bob Morehouse, JW Myers, Larry Rankin, Gary Crook, Phil Stroud, Steve Taylor, Terry Glover, Johnny Shields and the late Lee Glover and Steve Pendleton.

Special thanks go out to Raider Ranch and their awesome care team. Tiffany, Hope, Priscilla and the Wednesday morning men’s coffee group. Also the wait staff girls at Tech Cafe who lovingly served Buster and friends over the past two years.

If so desired, memorials can be directed to a charity of your choice.