Archie Warren Gee Waters

Archie Warren Gee Waters, 83 of Dumas, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.  Funeral services are scheduled for 2 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Bible Baptist Church with Pastor Johnny Widener, pastor of the church, officiating.  Interment will follow in the Dumas Cemetery under the direction of Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors.  The family will receive friends from 6 o'clock in the afternoon until 8 o'clock in the evening on Friday at the funeral home.

Archie Warren Gee Waters was born on May 8, 1940, on a farm outside of Porum, Oklahoma to Floyd & Alice Waters.  Warren was the second oldest of eleven children. He had an interesting childhood, traveling with his family to do harvest work from Oklahoma to Texas, to New Mexico and California. He attended many schools. Warren had countless stories of the people he met and things he experienced. There was never a dull moment!

One of Warren’s fondest memories while going to school in California was being chose to attend a two-week camp called RM Pyles’ Boys Leadership Camp near Sequoia National Park and his eighth-grade class trip to Catalina Island. While living in California, he swam in the canals, hiked and even hitch-hiked to the ocean.

When Warren was a junior his family moved back to Porum, Oklahoma. It was at Porum High School, he met his special angel with the beautiful brown eyes, Jerelene. He said after he met her, he never wanted to let her out of his sight. He proposed Christmas of 1958, and they married May 13, 1959. Warren took his young bride off to live in California. Warren worked long days, but he and his bride began a lifetime of loving and supporting each other. Warren and Jerelene were blessed with a daughter, Diane, on August 4, 1962. Shortly after Diane’s birth, they moved to Dumas, Texas where they lived until Warren’s passing.

Warren was a hard-worker and whatever he did, you can be sure it was done to the best of his abilities. He worked at the Smelter and did contract farming with his brother-in-law, Riley Darcy and dug sugar beets with Raymond Harris. When the smelter closed, Warren worked for North American Van Lines, moving people and driving a truck. He traveled throughout the United States and parts of Canada. In the summers Jerelene and Diane went with him. They always had an adventure. However, Warren hated being away from home so long. In 1974 Warren went to work at Diamond Shamrock/Valero where he was a pipe fitter and then mechanic. Warren stayed there until he retired in 2005. After retiring Warren and Jerelene traveled across the United States, even going on an Alaskan Cruise with his siblings. He enjoyed going to his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s activities.

Warren was good at many things. There was very little he could not do. He designed and built a playhouse, a fort and a shop and lots of crafts. He helped his son-in-law, granddaughter and grandson with lots of projects. He loved going back to Porum and enjoyed being in the country, repairing fences, thinning out timber and just enjoying the outdoors.  Another hobby Warren excelled at was working on cars. He completely refurbished a 1929 Willys Knight. He was a member of the Willys-Overland-Knight Car Club. Warren also enjoyed making walking sticks. He would look for the perfect stick and sand it and polish it up. He shared these with family and even strangers he’d meet walking.

Warren was a long-time member of Bible Baptist Church. He served as an usher and greeter. Warren’s faith was very important to him. He became a Christian on April 5, 1998. Warren loved Jesus and wasn’t hesitant to share his faith. Warren never met a stranger. He always welcomed people and took time to visit or help them anyway he could. Warren was nominated for “7 Who Care”. He could often be found shoveling someone’s drive or mowing someone’s lawn.

Warren loved his Jerelene and family well. He was always there for them. Nothing brought him more joy than time spent with his family. Warren always thanked God for his family and friends. Warren lived a good life and was truly his family’s rock.

Warren was proceeded in death by his precious infant son, Steven Warren, his parents, Floyd & Alice Waters, two brothers, Harvey Waters and Hal Waters and two brothers-in-law Riley Darcy and Olen Grills.

Warren is survived by his loving wife of 65 years (May 13), Jerelene Waters of Dumas, TX; a daughter, Diane Cody and husband David, of Dalhart, TX; 2 grandchildren, Clint Cody, of Amarillo, TX.; Chelsea Sage and husband Austin, of Texline, TX.; 2 great-grandchildren, Brennan Sage and Bristol Sage; 4 sisters, Hattie Grills of Cleveland, AR; Karen Strange and husband James, of Jerusalem, AR; Nancy Smith and husband Darryl, of Kingman, AZ; and Rhonda Jackson and husband Brian, of Alvarado, TX; 4 brothers, Leon Waters and wife Janell, of Houston, AR; Otis Waters and wife Yani, of Midland, TX; Jerry Waters and wife Martha, of Bakersfield, CA; and Robert Waters and wife Peggy, of Shafter, CA; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.