Orbon Hye Tice

Orbon Hye Tice, 85, passed away quietly on December 6, 2014, leaving his family, extended family, and a network of friends and colleagues to mourn his memory.  He will be missed by many.Orbon was born in Alavarado, Texas, on February 3, 1929, the second child to Lois and Orbon Tice, Sr.  His happy childhood in Hutchinson, Kansas, was consumed with family, sports and friends.  He played football and basketball for Hutchinson High School, graduating in 1946. He was honored with selection to the All-Conference and All-State football teams his senior year.  He was widely recruited by colleges to play football.Orbon was married to the love of his life, Laurie Birmingham, on January 10, 1949 in Leavenworth, Kansas; married for 65 years, he and Laurie had 5 children, of whom he was enormously proud.Orbon lettered in both football and basketball for the University of Kansas as he studied geology and began his family in Lawrence, Kansas. His senior year he was awarded the Ormand Beach Memorial Trophy, awarded by the players themselves to the most outstanding player in 1951.  He proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Army, serving in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.  Graduating with a degree in geology from KU in 1952, he worked for Stanolind, living in Abilene, Fort Worth, and Albuquerque.  When he left Stanolind in 1958, it was to begin working as an independent geologist, returning to his roots in Abilene, the place he began his career.  In 1971 Orbon and family moved to Denver, Colorado, blending a love of the Rocky Mountains and his work.  He returned to Abilene in 1975, completing his career upon his retirement in 2013, whereupon he and Laurie moved to Midland to be closer to family.  His love of family, golf, fly fishing, the University of Kansas, and extensive travel gave him rich experiences and memories he shared often and carried with him to the end of his life.Orbon and Laurie were blessed with many friends and close associates during their 65 years, too many to name but all vital elements of their rich life together.  His five children and six grandchildren were a source of joy to Orbon.  He was the true ‘glue’ of the Tice family, maintaining close relationships with all and beloved by every child and adult in the family.  The concept of family value was important to Orbon, and he taught that value to all his children by lesson and by role model.Orbon is survived by his wife, Laurie of Midland, Texas, his children, Cathy Higgins and husband, Don, of Trooper, Pennsylvania, Cindy Wiebusch and husband, Art, of Midland, Texas, Carol Tice of Boise, Idaho, and Emily Tice and Celine Caithamer, of Spring, Texas.  He also leaves six grandchildren to mourn his loss:  Andrew Higgins, Laurie Whitely (Trooper, Pennsylvania), Eric Wiebusch (Denver, Colorado), Spencer Wiebusch (Midland, Texas), Benjamin Davis, and Rebecca Davis (Boise, Idaho), two great-grandchildren, and sister, Rebecca Whitney of Phoenix, Arizona.He was preceded in death by his son, Joseph Hye Tice, his father, Orbon Tice, Sr., and his mother, Lois Tice.A memorial mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church on Thursday, December 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m.  Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Buffalo Gap Cemetery.Special thanks is extended to the nurses and attendants at Legacy Ranch in Midland, Texas, who cared for him in his last days.  Their service and devotion will be eternally appreciated.  The family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, North Central Texas Chapter, 301 S. Pioneer, Suite 105, Abilene, TX  79605.    ,