Obituary
Memorial services for Lee Dale Givens, 90, of Portales have been postponed until a later time due to the Corona Virus restrictions.
Lee Dale Givens was born January 13, 1930 and passed from this life into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Friday, March 13, 2020. He was the only child of Virgil Lee Givens and Wyndolyn Coats Givens.
Raised just outside of Fredrick, OK, Lee Dale attended Lowell Elementary and Frederick Junior High School. He actively participated in many clubs and activities such as the Glee Club and Boy Scouts. Later he attended a year at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Tx., before attending Oklahoma State School of Technology at Okmulgee. Here he received a scholarship for Outstanding Achievement and he graduated with a degree in Diesel Mechanics in 1960.
From Lee Dale’s first marriage Dale Wayne and Cathy Jeanene were born. In September of 1962, he met the love of his life and soul mate Dessie Marie Grimes Thomas after being set up by his son, Dale Wayne and Dessie’s daughter, Mickey. They eloped in Blackwell, Ok., on December 18, 1962 in the police station by a JP with one of the witnesses being a Highway Patrolman named Honeymoon. They would enjoy a lifetime of adventure, love and laughter,something few couples truly achieve. Together they would have two sons: Michael Lee and Stephen Wayne Givens.
During his career, Lee Dale worked as a farm and ranch hand at Foraker, OK; at a cotton compress in Frederick, OK; at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, KS; as a truck driver for various independent shipping companies as well as Trinity Industries in Dallas TX, IHC in Lubbock and Amarillo, TX; as a mechanic at Deecher Chrysler Co. in Pawhuska, OK and Corizer Trucking in Portales, NM. He worked as a Service Manager at Ryder Truck Rental for 23 ½ years.
Lee Dale came to know his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in a small Church in Shidler, Ok. His faith never wavered. In his retirement, Lee Dale and Dessie would move to Portales, NM, where they were members of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Together, they helped paint the Baptist Children’s Home. They were members of Campers on a Mission, restoring churches throughout
the country. In his latter years, Lee Dale would also teach Sunday School at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Lee Dale and Dessie loved to travel and go camping with their travel trailer. Lee Dale was a storyteller who often told stories of growing up on his uncle’s ranch and the different adventures he would have on the road, and stories of his career as a truck driver.
He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Willard Perkins, Donna and Richard Wilson, and Mickey Davis. Also, two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Pat Givens, Steve and Joan Givens, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dessie Givens, and his eldest son, Dale Wayne Givens.
In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations be made to the Baptist Children’s Home in Portales, NM.
