Gary Carl Granzin “Poppy” passed away at his home on February 11, 2020. Gary was born to A.T. “Slim” and Mary Bess “McGuire” Granzin on April 13, 1948. Gary graduated from Miles High School in 1966. He began his rodeo career riding bulls as a teenager. After high school, Gary went to ASU long enough to rodeo and play spades in the Ram Room. Gary met Dorothy Cmerek and they married April 26th, 1969. He quit riding bulls and began team roping. He team roped for over 35 years. Gary team roped with anyone who asked him to be his partner and he never turned anyone down. As much as he enjoyed roping, he loved visiting with friends for hours during and after the ropings. Most of his lifelong friends came from the team roping family. Following in his parent’s footsteps, Gary and Dorothy opened their own dairy and operated it for numerous years.
With Gary’s love of team roping and since Shelly and Rikki enjoyed it, Gary and Dorothy built a large arena with lights and chutes, return alley and catch pens, all to be used for roping practice and hosting team roping for many ropers from all over Texas. During this time, the ag teacher from Miles ISD, Milburn Wright Jr, approached us about having a rodeo as a fund raiser for the ag department. This was so successful that it turned into an annual event which went on for many years.
After Gary retired from team roping, he began an American Quarter Horse breeding program and took pride in all his work. He loved his cremello stud horse “Chico”. Gary spent his later years ranching, enjoying his grandkids, making his rounds at the Curry Place with his favorite dog “Kooter” and spending time there with family and friends. His grandchildren were the light of his life.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, A.T. “Slim” and Mary Bess Granzin; in-laws, Louis and Lucy Cmerek; brother-in-law, Clarence Kellermeier; and special aunt, Eddye “McGuire” Dreyer Lee.
Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Granzin; daughter Shelly Granzin; daughter, Rikki Granzin and John Kohutek; grandchildren, Megan, Madie-Claire and Gunner McAda; one brother, Stacy Granzin and wife, Lynn and their children; Kelly Granzin and wife, Kim; Larry Granzin and wife Michele; Heather Granzin; Alison Bryan and husband, Len; brother-in-law Eugene Cmerek and wife Joyce; their children, Vickie and husband Jeff Bailey; Darrell Cmerek and wife Judy; sister-in-law, Marjorie Kellermeier and their children; Sammy Kellermeier and his wife Charlotte; Lonnie Kellermeier and his wife Melissa; and numerous friends and family that are too many to mention, but you all know who you are and how much you meant to Gary.
Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Kasberg, Daryl Weishuhn, Charlie Baca, Steve Beach, Jerry Hudson, Jimmy Bristow, Jimmy Belcher, Bob Herring, Neil Schwartz, Shawn Riddle, Andrew “Jr.” Salling, Wayne Fischer. Dad’s close friends who left our world but with us in spirit; Billy Lee, Clifford Bly, Bob Johnson, David Killingsworth, Bubba Morrow, Buzzy Stensetter, Tom Riddle, and Greg Lange.
A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at 2:00p.m., Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at the Miles Young Farmer’s Building followed by a bbq meal and fellowship throughout the evening. All are welcome. Please bring your favorite story or memory to share with us during the service.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Miles Cemetery Association or to your favorite charity.

Dennis Phariss changed his address on February 11 when he went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He came into this world on April 15, 1954, the son of Larry and Bertha Phariss. He was born again at age 16 when he surrendered his life to Christ. He graduated from Jacksboro High School (Texas) in 1972, wandered a little bit, and joined the U.S. Air Force in April 1977.
In the military he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan as a Mandarin Chinese linguist. He then became a Spanish linguist and spent the remainder of his time in the service in this field. After 15 years serving his country, he was honorably discharged in 1991. Using his military benefits, he graduated from Angelo State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in 1995.
Two years into his military service he met, fell in love and married his soulmate, Mary Ann. They have remained steadfastly committed to each other since May 12, 1979. Two years after their marriage, Larry John Robert Phariss was born 1981. In 1988 David James Andrew Phariss arrived.
After his marriage, Dennis drew close to the Lord and sensed the Lord’s leading him into vocational ministry. He started this journey serving as a volunteer at Belmore Baptist in San Angelo in the music ministry while stationed at Goodfellow. He would spend 33 years in vocational ministry, 15 in music ministry and 18 as pastor. He eventually earned a Masters in Church Leadership degree from Luther Rice Seminary.
He was deeply committed to God’s Word and sharing it with others. God’s Word became the foundation of all he taught, preached and lived. He told others that while he was not perfect, the Word of God is, and it should be followed and obeyed. He served numerous churches in the Concho Valley sharing and teaching God’s Word faithfully.
His memory and legacy is carried on by his wife, Mary Ann Phariss, his son Larry John Robert Phariss, his wife Laura Schaule Phariss, daughters Sarah Rose Schaule Phariss and Hannah Paige Phariss. And his son David James Andrew Phariss, wife Taylor Dawn Phariss and children, Jesslyn Dawn Phariss, Aleigha Breann Dayle Phariss and Hartley Davynn Elizabeth Phariss. His sister Laurie Phariss Hearn and sister Melissa Farris and her husband Clinton, his brother Keith Phariss and his wife Becky plus 13 nephews and 15 nieces.
Rejoicing with him in heaven are his parents, grandparents, brother Michael Phariss and nephew Buddy Joe Fowler.
A celebration of life will be held at Belmore Baptist Church, Friday, February 14, 2020 at 10:00am. Visitation will be at Harpers Funeral home Thursday February 13 from 5-7pm. Dennis came to hate neck ties. He once said that every time he put on a tie, he felt like he was putting a noose around his neck, so the family invites you to come relaxed.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations may be made to the Cancer Society of America, Pastoral Care Ministry of the Concho Valley Baptist Association or the ministry of your choice.

Angela Gayle Benuelos 47, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2020, in San Angelo.

Angie has done so much over her young life including Massage Therapy, Early childhood education, Health care and much more. But of all the things she's accomplished in her life, the one thing she was most proud of was her Son, Tony. She always said that the brave, smart, strong and outgoing man he grew up to be was everything to her and she was so proud of him, more than anything else in her whole life! She always spoke so highly of him. Angie had dreams to make him proud of her too by owning her own business, A coffee shop where she planned to sell her own line of greeting cards, as she considered herself a poet and wordsmith, and to buy and sell used books. She said she wanted people to have access to good books to escape reality and with a good cup of coffee without the high price.

Angie is beautiful inside and out, always helping where she can, even if it puts her out. She’s a giver, a lover, a helper, a survivor and a dreamer. She was also a Daughter, Mother, Aunt and Sister, and the best of them all. Grudges were foreign to her, her heart is too good for that. She was literally the best thing to happen to us all, even though she never even realized it. She couldn't leave a room without putting a smile on everyone's face. She was always positive, and always cracking jokes. She’s just a joy to have had around. Even if she was having a rough day hurting, she would be bright and happy with “Hi, Sweetie!” Just to make sure that whoever she's talking to would smile.

She always put her all into everything she has ever done and never half effort. This last year was the turning point in her life, she found herself again, the old self she lost when she lost her mother, Gayle. She had so much to look forward to finally and was ready to take the world by storm! She was focused on solid business goals, her family reconnecting, bonding with her son, her health and her fitness. She focused on making sure she grew old with us and she was even going to get married! So much to be excited about and she was ready to reach the whole world and change it. Although she never got the chance to, she did however, reach our worlds and changed all of our lives. She is the best thing that's happened to us all. She built amazing bonds unlike any other. All she ever did was love and she loved hard. She became like a mother to us all, even if you were older than herself. She was our rock.

She had so much beauty, Courage and strength she said came from her Mom and Dad.

She spent her free time with her friends and family, never wasting a moment with us.

She would sing and dance in her spare time with Roman and Ellie, Her great niece and nephew. Music and family has always been a huge part of her life. She also would read and write in her spare time and play games with the kids. She enjoyed physics and anything powerful, as she was a magical woman. She prayed daily to God for his blessings and another day to cherish them all. She loved God deeply and made sure to try to help people keep their faith when it ran low. And now she has taken flight towards heaven's gates to reunite with her Mom and Dad, Gayle and Nino and her siblings, Tony and Teresa. So as she closes this chapter on earth and opens her new chapter in Heaven, she is survived by her Son, Anthony (Tony) James Banuelos. Her Niece Sher Banuelos, Partner Caleb and kids Anthony, Ellie and Roman (Her Pumpkin). Her sister and kids. Her Nephew Todd Davis and partner Alexis. Nephews Alex, Nick and Robbie. And everyone she has ever met, as she touched the hearts of everyone she met. She will always be loved and missed. The memories with her will be cherished for eternity.

We will never forget you Punkin, Fly high you Beautiful Angel because you are the wind beneath our wings.

"Life is lik a book. Some chapters sad, some happy, and some exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter holds" Angie

We celebrate the life of our good friend, father, husband and grandfather, Blake Lewis (Skipper) Duncan who went to meet his Lord on short notice this last Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Skipper was born August 28, 1941 in San Angelo, Texas, the only child of Ruby Lewis Duncan and Blake Vernon Duncan. He was a young 78.
Skipper graduated from San Angelo Central High School in 1959 and from Texas Tech University in 1963 with an Agriculture Degree. After college, he returned home to operate his family ranch. Skipper spent many years continuously working to improve the ranch by participating in numerous brush control, seeding, and soil conservation practices with assistance from his great friend, Bob Steger. Skipper pioneered, in West Texas, the Savory Rotational Grazing method on his ranch in the early 1970’s.
From the mid 70’s through the 90’s, Skipper raised purebred Beefmaster cattle that he sold from Texas to Nevada. Skipper’s great love of people led him to create the Adobe Lodge Hunting Camp in 1985. Skipper never met a stranger and truly enjoyed his many and varied hunters telling their stories around his big lodge campfire.
Skipper grew up at a time when people were story tellers, and he was among the best. He authored two books, “Characters and Critters” and “Tales Galore”, both collections of true and funny things that happened to him and his friends. While some folks collect objects, Skipper collected a vast array of friends from all walks of life. For over 30 years he hosted “The Cowboy Cook Off” at the Adobe Lodge where a tight knit group of his friends came to cook and solve the world’s problems year after year. Skipper liked to leave a problem or two unresolved every year so there would be a reason to come back.
Skipper was a charter member of the Wednesday Morning Bible Study Class held at the First Presbyterian Church for over 30 years. His sage and comical comments could be counted on to bring a laugh through the most serious of studies.
He was a past President of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, having served the Rodeo and Steer Roping in every possible way for many years. He was an avid and accomplished calf roper from the 1960’s through the 1980’s. Starting in the 1970’s, Skipper ran marathons to alleviate the symptoms of the asthma he had dealt with since childhood. He once wrote a letter to the Livestock Weekly, opining that not only was running good for people, but that “it as the only sport commensurate with the profitability of the livestock business as it costs only a pair of good shoes to participate.”
Skipper loved music, bluegrass most particularly. He was a serious and largely self-taught musician, most partial to the guitar and banjo. After teaching himself the harmonica, he was thrilled to find that his first two audience members were able to identify the song, Buttons and Bows. Skipper loved to play and sing with his fellow musicians.
For 36 years, he and his wife, Jeri have made San Angelo their home. He is survived by Jeri, his son Blake Duncan and wife, Donna. Stepsons Jim Holt and wife, Jennifer, Randy Holt and wife Tallyn. Grandchildren Wyatt Duncan and Abbey Duncan, Cody, Emery, Houston, Taplin and Laramie Holt.
He was preceded in death by his parents Blake Vernon Duncan and Ruby Lewis Duncan, and his daughter, Nancy Kathleen Duncan. He was also predeceased by his 35-year-old Burro named Nevada which he brought 1600 miles from, you guessed it, Nevada.
A Visitation will be held Friday, February 14, 2020 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at First Presbyterian Church. The Funeral Service will be 11:00am, Saturday, February 15, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church with burial to follow at Knickerbocker Cemetery.