DeWayne Glover Obituary (1941 - 2024)

Thomas “DeWayne” Glover passed from this life peacefully on Friday, February 2, 2024, following a lengthy illness. DeWayne was born on March 30, 1941, to Tom H. and Leona (Sexton) Glover in Pampa, Texas. A native Texan, DeWayne was proud to call Texas home throughout his lifetime. A future celebration of such a well-lived life will be planned for later this Spring. Growing up in Pampa, he enjoyed the quintessential small-town childhood of many in his generation. With a mother who took much pride in creating a home for DeWayne and his brother, Jerry, and a father who worked extremely hard and yet still devoted the time to coach his boys in sports, he grew up in a town where pretty much everyone knew his name and his family. Having parents shaped by world wars, the Great Depression and tough times, DeWayne was expected to work hard and do his best – whether at school, in sports, throwing his first paper route, completing his graveyard shift factory work or in his lifelong career as an insurance executive. He never lost sight of this expectation and succeeded spectacularly in applying this tenet throughout his life. The combination of being a talented athlete and attending school in a small Panhandle town afforded DeWayne, a proud Pampa Harvester, the opportunity to play virtually all sports offered at Pampa High School. Upon graduation in 1959, his prowess on the football field landed him a football scholarship from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. He attended college, played ball and was married, young, to Gisela (nee Roeper). Together, they welcomed, first, their daughter, Debi, and a few years later, their second daughter, Julie. DeWayne was so proud of his girls and took pride in teaching them the things he knew best: how to work hard at every task, the importance of family and, of course, the nuances of baseball and football! College graduation was followed by work as an insurance adjuster, first in Amarillo and later in El Paso. Following the relocation of his family to Plano, Texas and the end of his first marriage, DeWayne met and married Janie (nee Hunsucker) and, in just a few weeks, on February 14, 2024, they would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. Both worked together in the insurance industry, at The Hartford, for many years, forming lasting friendships with many of their co-workers and created a life they both greatly enjoyed. Both relished their involvement in the lives of both Debi and Julie and their families and considered themselves fortunate to have both girls and their families settled so close by, in Frisco and the surrounding areas. On many weekends, he and Janie could be found in the stands of a grandchild’s swim meets, volleyball games, gymnastics meets or baseball games, always supportive and always present. Early retirement allowed DeWayne the opportunity to enjoy simple, but meaningful things, like his golf games with his friends, a great cup of coffee at Starbucks with Janie (though he preferred the cheaper 7-11 coffee), playing with his dog, Tucker, dining out with family and friends and celebrating holidays locally with extended family. Meeting for breakfast or an early dinner afforded his grandchildren time to hear him tell funny stories from his past. His tremendous sense of humor remained with him until the very end, always joking with hospital staff, family and friends. While his illness brought numerous challenges the past few years, and particularly during the past several months, he faced each of the many obstacles with bravery, a commitment to getting better and a fighting and stubborn resolve that was amazing to witness. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will always, always, be terribly missed. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janie, his daughter, Debi and her husband Michael Means of Plano, and his daughter, Julie Hobert, of Frisco. His four grandchildren survive him as well and have huge voids in their life now that Grandpa is gone: Dr. Samantha Means Dewberry and her husband, Eric, of Aledo, Emily Means of Dallas, Bradley Hobert and Abby Hobert, both of Frisco. His brother, Jerry Glover, of Lubbock survives him and was a tremendous comfort to DeWayne and his entire family throughout the course of his illness. He is also survived by Jerry’s daughters, Tiffany and Tammy. A host of friends and extended family, most notably Jim, Debbie and Richard Moore, are left to mourn his passing as well. As he has left our presence to enjoy life everlasting, he will be missed forever by those he left behind.