1926
George
2007
George Dean Alexander
July 18, 1926 — October 13, 2007
LA FERIA, TX:
George Dean Alexander passed away peacefully to be with his Lord on Saturday October 13, 2007 at Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas. He was surrounded in love by family and friends.
Dean Alexander was born on July 18, 1926 to his parents George Ross Alexander and Ethel Harris Alexander on their ranch near Tokio, Texas. Until he was eighteen years old, Dean worked on the ranch with his parents. Dean attended elementary and junior high school at the Harris school and graduated from Brownfield High School in 1943. In high school he met Buna Ellis and they later married on December 13, 1946.
Dean and Buna relocated to the Rio Grande Valley in 1949. They bought a small farm in Sebastian and Dean built their first house there. To make ends meet, both Dean and Buna drove trucks of canned goods throughout Texas. Their first child, George Ross Alexander II, was born in 1952.
Dean acquired acreage and a house near La Feria, Texas where he moved the family in 1954. Their second child, Linda Rae, was born in 1957. Dean remodeled the house himself in two major renovations during the next twelve years. He lived there for the next fifty three years.
Until his retirement in 1990, Dean was involved in the farming industry. His major crops were sorghum, cotton and corn. He served on the Irrigation District and was President of the local Farm Bureau. He also worked with the Soil Conservation District and where he also served as president. He worked with Agriculture Extension Agency in Weslaco to grow experimental crops as well. In the late 1970’s, he and his son, George, started a cotton and combine harvesting service for local valley farmers.
His love of flying and airplanes led Dean to become one of the founding members of the Confederate Air Force in the early 1960’s. He devoted endless time to restoring and promoting this flying museum. Dean was a sponsor and restorer for his treasured Douglas A20 Havoc. He and Buna made many great friendships and memories through this organization.
Dean loved making and repairing things and was an expert mechanic and welder. He repaired most of his own farm equipment even machining some of his own parts. When George needed a car, he went in the barn and helped him build one from scratch. Dean was a true outdoorsman. He and George were avid deer hunters and fishermen.
In his retirement, Dean returned to a craft taught to him by his grandfather. He became a master woodworker and cabinetmaker. He made many beautiful pieces of furniture for his family and friends. He also turned many fine pens.
Most of all Dean will be remembered as a hard working man who had wonderful friends and fiercely loved his family. He was always there to lend a hand and help someone in need. He had a quiet, gentle manner and a funny, dry sense of humor and smiled every day of his life.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, George Ross Alexander and Ethel Harris Alexander, and his wife, Buna Ellis Alexander.
He is survived by his son George Ross Alexander II (Birna), his daughter Linda Calvert (Mark), his grandchildren: George Dean Alexander II (Samantha), Rebecca Jean Walker (Austin), Clifford Ross Alexander, Sigurdur Asi Hanneson (Brandi), Lucas Alexander Jinks (Mary), Logan Alexander Jinks, Catherine Alise Calvert; his great grandchildren: Aidan Skye Alexander-Walker, Aslynn Myst Walker, Damyan Kloser Sigurdurson, and Hjalmar Aleric Sigurdurson. He is also survived by his sister Jo Ann Alexander Price (Jimmie), two brothers Gerald Harris Alexander and Carlton Ross Alexander (Inga).
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 17, 2007 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church of La Feria with Rev. Ron Wilborn and Rev. Steve Purdy officiating. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, TX.
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
George Dean Alexander passed away peacefully to be with his Lord on Saturday October 13, 2007 at Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas. He was surrounded in love by family and friends.
Dean Alexander was born on July 18, 1926 to his parents George Ross Alexander and Ethel Harris Alexander on their ranch near Tokio, Texas. Until he was eighteen years old, Dean worked on the ranch with his parents. Dean attended elementary and junior high school at the Harris school and graduated from Brownfield High School in 1943. In high school he met Buna Ellis and they later married on December 13, 1946.
Dean and Buna relocated to the Rio Grande Valley in 1949. They bought a small farm in Sebastian and Dean built their first house there. To make ends meet, both Dean and Buna drove trucks of canned goods throughout Texas. Their first child, George Ross Alexander II, was born in 1952.
Dean acquired acreage and a house near La Feria, Texas where he moved the family in 1954. Their second child, Linda Rae, was born in 1957. Dean remodeled the house himself in two major renovations during the next twelve years. He lived there for the next fifty three years.
Until his retirement in 1990, Dean was involved in the farming industry. His major crops were sorghum, cotton and corn. He served on the Irrigation District and was President of the local Farm Bureau. He also worked with the Soil Conservation District and where he also served as president. He worked with Agriculture Extension Agency in Weslaco to grow experimental crops as well. In the late 1970’s, he and his son, George, started a cotton and combine harvesting service for local valley farmers.
His love of flying and airplanes led Dean to become one of the founding members of the Confederate Air Force in the early 1960’s. He devoted endless time to restoring and promoting this flying museum. Dean was a sponsor and restorer for his treasured Douglas A20 Havoc. He and Buna made many great friendships and memories through this organization.
Dean loved making and repairing things and was an expert mechanic and welder. He repaired most of his own farm equipment even machining some of his own parts. When George needed a car, he went in the barn and helped him build one from scratch. Dean was a true outdoorsman. He and George were avid deer hunters and fishermen.
In his retirement, Dean returned to a craft taught to him by his grandfather. He became a master woodworker and cabinetmaker. He made many beautiful pieces of furniture for his family and friends. He also turned many fine pens.
Most of all Dean will be remembered as a hard working man who had wonderful friends and fiercely loved his family. He was always there to lend a hand and help someone in need. He had a quiet, gentle manner and a funny, dry sense of humor and smiled every day of his life.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, George Ross Alexander and Ethel Harris Alexander, and his wife, Buna Ellis Alexander.
He is survived by his son George Ross Alexander II (Birna), his daughter Linda Calvert (Mark), his grandchildren: George Dean Alexander II (Samantha), Rebecca Jean Walker (Austin), Clifford Ross Alexander, Sigurdur Asi Hanneson (Brandi), Lucas Alexander Jinks (Mary), Logan Alexander Jinks, Catherine Alise Calvert; his great grandchildren: Aidan Skye Alexander-Walker, Aslynn Myst Walker, Damyan Kloser Sigurdurson, and Hjalmar Aleric Sigurdurson. He is also survived by his sister Jo Ann Alexander Price (Jimmie), two brothers Gerald Harris Alexander and Carlton Ross Alexander (Inga).
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 17, 2007 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church of La Feria with Rev. Ron Wilborn and Rev. Steve Purdy officiating. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria, TX.
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
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