Kenneth Ray Dean

Ken died peacefully on November 2 at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas at the age of 82.  Ken was born on July 13, 1941, to Jeff and Jewel Dean in Lawton Oklahoma.  He learned the value of hard work at a very early age, as he began selling newspapers when he was 5 years old.  He was picked up at 5:30 AM and taken to Fort Sill where he sold papers to soldiers, collected Battalion crests, and learned to play pool. He was always busy, which earned him the nickname of “Spider” from his friends and family. This first job set a work ethic that would follow him throughout his life.

Ken fell in love with fast cars at an early age and bought and rebuilt his first car at age 14, before he even had a driver’s license.  During his life he owned many fabulous cars including a Ferrari, a 1957 convertible Thunderbird with a big block 427 that he put in it himself, a 1969 Boss 429 Mustang, a 1972 DeTomaso Pantera and 1934 Ford Victoria.  He travelled to Scottsdale, AZ to go to Barrett Jackson and other car auctions many times and loved talking cars with Ron Smith of Odessa, Charlie Semple, Charlie Harris, Ferrell Davis, Doug Henson, Don Tomlin and various other friends over the years that are known as ‘the Garage Gang’.

Ken became an avid golfer in his adult life.  He played hundreds of courses and met many professional golfers including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and even Chi Chi Rodriguez in a tournament in Mexico.  Though only 5’6”, he could drive a ball 250-275 yards for most of his life. After golf, there was always the gin games, and that was another of his favorite activities.  Among his other hobbies, he loved to dance.  He affectionately earned the name” Fancy Feet” for his dance moves.

He married Dee Etta Magyar in college where they both attended Oklahoma State University, and Ken earned his degree in accounting.  He became a CPA and moved to Albuquerque, NM after graduation.  He and Dee started their family there and became the proud parents of Jason and Jadie.  He worked for Ernst and Ernst for 7 years and then moved to Hobbs and Midland to open the Texas office of Johnson, Miller & Co.  Ken had an incredible business mind and was a trustworthy advisor to individuals and businesses throughout the Southwest.  He helped clients with their taxes, estate planning, buying and selling businesses, and just expert common-sense advice.  After meeting a person only once, Ken could usually tell you where they went to school, what they did for a living, and all about their family.

Ken and Dee lived in Midland and were married for 27 years.  During that time, they made many friends and raised their children. Ken was the partner in charge of the Midland office of Johnson Miller and Co. and along with his partner Leon Jeffcoat, built up a large and successful public accounting firm.

Ken began the next phase of his life when he married Peggy Dean and her daughter Sara Kate Billingsley in 1990.  They lived in Odessa for 29 years and enjoyed many years of working together, travelling, playing gin and golf.  In 2019, Ken purchased a home with his son Jason and wife Susan in Midland, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Ken is survived by his immediate family of son Jason and wife Susan, daughter Jadie and husband William Moore, grandchildren Garrett, Landon and Valoree.  He also leaves behind many who loved him and will miss him, especially his Saturday breakfast partner Peggy Dean, his daughter from another father Sara Billingsley, his long time faithful partners and coworkers Gary Bates, Stan Mulanax, Dana Engelstad, Jackie Forsythe, Barbara Harrington, Patty Humphries and Jeanne Laurence and on into the next generation with Steven Jeffcoat, Rod Aguilar and many others.

Words cannot express his gratitude to Jason, Susan and Jadie for their loving care for him during the last four years of his life.  Ken joins his beautiful family in heaven consisting of his mother and dad, sisters Erma and Floella, brothers Bill, Paul, and Jimmy, all of his in laws, and his loyal companion, Molly the Wonder Dog. To all of the gin players from MCC that have gone on before him, Ken had one thing to say:  Get the cards shuffled and deal!

The family would also like to thank Interim Home health of Midland, Martha Ramirez and all of the ladies Aida, Lorna, Nancy, Diana that helped take care of him and especially Gloria Nanez whom became his primary care giver and friend.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to make a donation to the local SPCA in Ken’s honor or to a charity of your choice.

A luncheon will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Branch at npw. Memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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