FISHER, JR., MARVIN MCKINLEY - Andrews County, Texas | MARVIN MCKINLEY FISHER, JR. - Texas Gravestone Photos

Marvin McKinley FISHER, JR.

Andrews County (Andrews Old) Cemetery
Andrews County,
Texas

Marvin McKinley Fisher, Jr.
October 9, 1926-July 6, 2001

Earlene Jeffreys Fisher
October 2, 1926- March 14, 2016

Married June 13, 1947
Children: Dan & Jan

Please see Fisher Family Marker

*Photo, courtesy Wanda M.

*Obituary Earlene Jeffreys Fisher
Ina Earlene Jeffreys Fisher ANDREWS-Ina Earlene Jeffreys Fisher, 89, of Andrews passed away on March 14, 2016, at her home in Andrews after a long courageous battle with cancer. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life and legacy at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2016, at First Baptist Church of Andrews with Pastor Brant O'Connor and retired Reverend H. A. Hanks officiating. Interment will follow in the original Andrews County Cemetery under the personal care of McNett Funeral Home in Andrews.


Earlene was born on Oct. 2, 1926, in Runnels County, Texas, and was the only child of Tom and Ina Jeffreys. She grew up in Ector County, where her mother worked at the Post Office in Odessa and her father was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company and raised cattle, traded horses and auctioneered on the side. Following her graduation from Odessa High School in 1944, Earlene attended Texas Tech University and helped her parents move to Andrews during the beginning years of its oil boom where they opened a clothing store, beauty shop and became pioneers in the West Texas restaurant business with the opening of their first restaurant, the Jeffreys Caf . Like many of her ranching ancestors dating back to the initial settlers in Texas known as the Old Three Hundred, Earlene loved horses and became a successful rodeo performer as a teenager and young adult. During the height of the Western Era in American entertainment and the years of World War II, she became a sought after sponsor girl representing several prominent ranches and counties in rodeos through the state of Texas. Known for her outstanding beauty, personality, character and horsemanship, she was selected in 1945 by Madison Square Garden promoter Everett Colburn to join an elite group of four young Texas women known as the Texas Glamour Girls. This group promoted and participated in rodeos produced by Gene Autry and traveled by train across the country, performing alongside Roy Rogers in venues which included Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden. When the tour ended, Earlene was confronted with the choice of returning to West Texas and making her future there or pursuing a career in California where the movie industry was actively seeking talent to appear in the growing number of Western movies. Several of her friends turned West to California and others went on to Europe as western entertainers, but, despite the appealing lure of Hollywood, when she got off the train in Ft. Worth, Earlene's heart pulled her home to her West Texas roots, and that was a pivotal decision she never regretted. Shortly after her arrival back in West Texas, she was hired by the Andrews County School District to be the assistant to the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Thomas Hamilton and, on June 13, 1946, she married the love of her life, rancher and professional roper, Marvin McKinley Fisher, Jr. Throughout their 55 years of marriage, Earlene was his faithful partner and helped him work and manage the Fisher family's -F Ranch which was founded in Andrews County in 1908 by Marvin's father and mother, West Texas pioneers, Marvin McKinley Fisher, Sr. and Nola Grigg Fisher. Earlene and Marvin had two children, Marvin Dan Fisher, born in 1951 and Nola Jan Fisher, born in 1953, and they encouraged and actively supported all their activities. They also assumed leadership positions in the community and were instrumental in the establishment of multiple organizations and facilities which have benefitted Andrews County and West Texas for many years. Earlene always put the welfare of her family before her own personal pursuits, and following the graduation of her children from high school, at the age of 45, Earlene made the decision to return to college to fulfill her lifelong goal of obtaining a college degree and becoming a school teacher. Her pursuit of higher education lead her to take classes at Odessa College, Midland College, Texas Tech University, Sul Ross University and The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, where she became the second student to enroll. She always said that she would have been the first to register at the new university if she had not been cut off at the pass by a young man from Midland. Due to her love of learning and steadfast determination, she was able to graduate with a Bachelors of Arts and Teaching Certification from The University of Texas Permian Basin in 1974, and later earned her Master's Degree in Education from Sul Ross University and her Language and Learning Disabilities certification as well. At the age of fifty, she realized her dream of becoming a school teacher and became one of the oldest first time teachers ever hired by the Andrews Independent School District. She spent years teaching and loved every minute working with children with special needs. During this period of time, she also earned her real estate agent and broker's licenses as well as her life insurance agent and broker's licenses. In 1989, Earlene retired from teaching and embarked on a new career in business which included working with her relative Richard Raney to invent and develop an award winning patent for the Fluorescent Light X-Ray Shield. She also designed the Slim Neck Exercise Collar and was selected as an honored member of the Who's Who of American Inventors for exemplary design in 1991. Following the death of her husband in 2001, Earlene directed her focus towards pursuits which allowed her to work closely with her children and grandchildren. She and her family began purchasing and marketing mineral properties in various counties throughout the state of Texas, and she also acquired additional ranch properties which included the Bullhead Ranch in Andrews County, which expands in to New Mexico, and the J+ Ranch in Coleman County and in Runnels County. She continued to be actively involved with these ventures until the time of her death. Earlene's love of the Lord and her unshakable faith was the foundation of her existence throughout her life. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Andrews and actively involved with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews for many years, an organization which benefitted immensely from her dedication and funding of the construction of multiple bomb shelters in Israel as well as other important national humanitarian projects. Earlene was also a consistent supporter of cowboy ministries. For twenty years, she and her husband hosted an annual Cowboy Christmas at their home on the -F Ranch. It was a highly anticipated event attended by hundreds of fellow ranchers, cowboys, political and community leaders throughout the country and resulted in many people accepting Christ. Earlene's philanthropic spirit extended to various organizations benefitting the community and protecting Western heritage, including the preservation of the Shafter Lake Townsite and Cemetery and preservation of the J. S. Means Ranch House. In 2007, she began co-sponsoring the M. M. Fisher, Jr. Memorial Steer Roping event, which honors her late husband and annually brings the country's top-rated PRCA steer ropers to Andrews. The day she passed away, this prestigious nationally recognized roping event was won by her grandson, Vin Fisher. Earlene was also an active member in various organizations, including: the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Bridge Club, Garden Club, Texas Cattle Rancher's Association, National Association of Royalty Owners, and a founding member of the Andrews Country Club.These are only a few of Earlene's lifetime accomplishments and contributions. Earlene personified the word "lady," and was courageous, resilient and made a tremendous impact on all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and granddaughter, Ashley Lilene Marshall. She is survived by son, Dan Fisher and wife, Dr. Pamela Fisher of Andrews; daughter, Jan Fisher Greaves of Knoxville, Tenn., and Andrews; seven grandchildren: McKinley Morgan and husband, Brent, of Midland, Vin Fisher and wife, Candace, of Andrews, Travis Greaves and wife, Holly, of Washington, D.C., J. Tom Fisher of Andrews, Amber Barhorst and husband, Dr. Clayton, of Birmingham, Ala., Jackson Greaves of Knoxville and Shelby Greaves of Knoxville; and eight great-grandchildren: Jett Fisher, Marshall Morgan, Danlee Fisher, Lyla Morgan, Mack Fisher, Desmond Morgan, Jay Barhorst and Fisher Greaves.Earlene loved flowers, however, the family asks that any person wishing to honor her in another way to please make donations to any of the following: First Baptist Church of Andrews (209 E Broadway Street, Andrews, Texas 79714); M.M. Fisher, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (P.O. Box 1923, Andrews, Texas 79714); or the National Cowgirl Museum's Ina Earlene Jeffreys Fisher Memorial Fund in Support of Education. Please include the memorial fund in the memo and make checks payable to: National Cowgirl Museum, 1720 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.

Obituary: http://m.legacy.com/ns/obituary.aspx?n=ina-earlene-jeffreys-fisher&pid=178083688

Contributed on 10/10/22 by neldapat
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Record #: 540585

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Submitted: 10/10/22 • Approved: 10/10/22 • Last Updated: 10/13/22 • R540585-G540585-S3

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