Johnny Marvin Duerksen

Johnny Marvin Duerksen of Amarillo, Texas died after a lengthily illness at the age of 83 years.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Thelma (Bellah) Duerksen of Amarillo, Children:  Jacqueline Denise Thomason of Odessa, Tx; Sharon Kay Veazey of Joplin Mo; Johnny Marvin Duerksen, Jr of Amarillo; Scotty L. Duerksen, of Redlands, Ca; and Benjamin William Duerksen of Amarillo.  He had 13 grandchildren:  Amanda Michelle Waters of Fredonia, Az; April Dawn Riddle of Kanab, Ut; Danny Ector “D.J.” Holman of Page, Az; Amanda Rhea Ayars of Wilmington, De; Nicolas Tyler Thomason of Albuquerque, NM; Grant Edward Thomason of Lubbock, Tx; Stacey Nicole Lowery of St Louis, Mo.; John Kyle Veazey of Kansas City, Mo; Hannah Rose Barros, of Leander, Tx; Elizabeth Rene Flowers of Amarillo; John Wesley Duerksen of Amarillo; Isaac Duerksen of Beaumont, Tx; Ethan William Duerksen of Amarillo.  He had 16 greatgrandchildren:  Brittany Wiess of St. George, Ut; Mikelle Waters of Fredonia, Az; Danni Waters of Fredonia, Az; Clayton Riddle of Kanab, Ut; Jaxon Riddle of Kanab, Ut; Janika Riddle of Kanab, Ut; Dominic Dobell, of Page, Az; Lila Thomason of Hobbs, New Mexico; Greyson Lowery of St Louis, Mo; Rylee Lowery of St Louis, Mo; Abigail Barros of Leander, Tx; Adrian Barros of Leander, Tx; Nate Flowers, Jr of Amarillo; Chance Flowers of Amarillo; Jasmine Flowers of Amarillo; Hunter Flowers of Amarillo.  He was also survived by his sister, Dorothy Branch and husband BJ Branch, of Lindsay, Ok and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, John Duerksen and Katherine Duerksen, his brother, Barnhart “Barney” Duerksen, and his sisters, Freida Hines, Rosella Cheshier, Cristina “Chris” Pridemore, and grandson, Jeffrey Byron Thomason.

Johnny was a faithful and loyal husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  Growing up in Clinton, Oklahoma, he worked at Littke Feed Store and a turkey and chicken farm, in Clinton, Okla.  He moved to Amarillo in 1975 where he finished his career as a freezer specialist for Freezer Services.  He had many passions including riding horses in the parade, old western movies, impromptu food fights, helping others in need, and caring for his dogs.  That passion for his dogs earned him the name “Leader of the Pack” from one of his sons-in-law.