Donald Ray Roush

Don Roush, 85, our dear husband, dad and grandfather was welcomed home by his Heavenly Father on October 12, 2014.Don Roush married Phyllis Duke on December 17, 1948. Everyone predicted it would not last; they were too young. They would have celebrated their 66^th wedding anniversary on December 17, 2014. So much for what “everyone knows”.Don was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 27, 1929 to Lawrence and Marie Roush. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas, attended Amarillo schools and graduated from Amarillo High School. Graduating from high school was quite a feat since he never bothered to go to school on Mondays. On Mondays he worked at the stockyards making good money for a kid (of course Marie never knew about the Mondays). He had his priorities.Don was first and foremost a man of faith. He was not showy with his religion, but after getting up at 5:30am to go to work 6 days a week, he faithfully attended an 8:20am Presbyterian service on Sunday. He left a spiritual legacy to all of us that we do not take lightly and will pass on to future generations. He served First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo, as a deacon and elder, headed two ministerial search committees and served on countless building committees. He bled Presbyterian blood. After retirement, Don drove Phyllis over a four state regions so that she could attend Presbyterian Women meeting when she was moderator of Presbyterian Women, Synod of the Sun. He carried too many tables and books to count. As a result of the years of supporting PW he was named “Honorary Presbyterian Woman” by the Synod of the Sun Presbyterian Women. He was never a joiner and did not have his hand up in the air to volunteer, but he served in every part of the church that he was asked to serve.Don was not only blessed with people who loved and needed him, but God gave him a career that he loved from the day he walked into Duke Electric in 1948 until the day of his retirement. He was one of those fortunate men who truly loved his job. He and Elmo Duke worked beautifully together for over 40 years, and although his family is so very proud of his work you can’t look at the Amarillo skyline and not see Don and Elmo’s handprints all over it. Don would not want to be remembered for this but for the people he loved, molded, and provided for so well and for his love of God.What Don Roush was to his church, his family and work cannot be contained in this short obituary. How can we illustrate how hard he worked and how loyally he loved? His dear friend, Katherine Wilson, gave him a statue that she thought described Don in a nutshell, a clown kneeling down to pray.In his retirement, he was blessed to spend so much time with his son, Duke, playing golf, eating bar-b-q sandwiches and never missing a chance to go to a Midland Rockhounds baseball game. As Alzheimer’s began slowly robbing him of his memory, he would turn to Duke and say, “I’m not always sure what is going on out there, but it is great just to be here.” It was just heavenly for us to spend our lives with him.Don was preceded in death by a brother, Douglas Roush, and sister, Helen Robertson.Don leaves behind those who mourn him and miss him, wife of 65 years, Phyllis Roush of Midland, Texas; daughter, Dona Roush of Edmond, Oklahoma; son, Duke Roush and his wife Cheryl of Midland, Texas; two granddaughters, Ashley and Lindsey Roush of Midland, Texas; brother, Larry Roush of Amarillo, Texas; niece, Kay Neathery and her husband Ray of Georgetown, Texas; and a nephew, Dean Robertson and his wife Marilyn of Longview, Texas.God provided Don with angels who loved and cared for him as only angels can. We thank Maria Juardo, Josie Frausto, Ana Marta, Silvia de los Rios, Maria Madrid, Bertha Mendosa, Myra Siemz, and Chaplain Bill Billett of Manor Park. Not only did they minister to Don, but they healed the family. What dear friends!A visitation will be held from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Midland. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm at First Presbyterian Church of Midland with Dr. Steve Schorr officiating. Graveside services will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014 at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas at 1:00pm.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen, PO Box 9402 Midland, Texas 79708.,