Mac Gafford

Billy Mac Gafford passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026. Services are scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026 at 3:00 pm at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, which will include a memorial service for Sandra Gafford, who passed May 23, 2024.

Billy Mac, known as Mac, was born in Dimmitt, Texas to Billie and Marjorie Gafford. He was their only child and his dad tragically passed away in 1944 when Mac was 6 years old. Mac's mother married James Goins in 1947 and they moved to Tulsa a few years later. Mac moved back to Dimmitt and lived with his grandparents through high school where he met Sandra. Their love for each other grew and they married February 21, 1959. They moved to Tulsa to live near his parents, Jim and Midge, and began building their family of 5. Mac worked at Bud's grocery store for several years and then got hired at American Airlines in 1970. It was a good fit for him and he worked there for 30 years until he retired in 2000.

Mac's main priority was his family. He was involved with his sons sports, he enjoyed going to movies and going out to eat. Mac also loved reading books and listening to music. He would work the crossword and crypto gram puzzles in the newspaper everyday. He liked to collect artifacts and especially liked petrified wood. Mac and Sandra loved going to the Tulsa State fair every year and often went more than once. They enjoyed going to craft shows around Oklahoma on day trips. When his grandchildren were born, he loved whenever they could visit or he could go visit them.

Mac and Sandra moved to Amarillo, Texas in November, 2018. They lived at the Continental at Park Place for 3 years then moved to the Moore assisted living for the next 3 years. When Sandra died in 2024, Mac was heartbroken and lost. He was struggling with dementia and could never really grasp his situation or surroundings after that. He moved to the Ware nursing home in October 2024 and his health continued to decline. His family greatly appreciates the love, respect and dignity given to him by all the staff at the Ware. Mac, known as Grandad, will be loved and missed by all who knew him.

Mac was preceded in death by his parents and step-dad, his father and mother-in-law Marvin and Grace Simms, his two sister-in-laws, Dorothy Simms and Karen Goins.

Survivors include his two brothers, Chris Goins and wife Karen and Gary Goins of Tulsa, OK; his three children, James Gafford of Wichita, KS; Larry Gafford of Tulsa, OK; Sue Enger and husband Randy of Amarillo; his brother-in-law Gary Simms of Amarillo, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.