Clarence "Bud" Hess

Clarence “Bud” Hess, 76, of Lefors, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Amarillo.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Matthew Honeycutt, pastor at the First Baptist Church of Lefors, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Bud will be available for viewing on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 1:00 to 8:00 PM and Monday, June 1, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Bud was born on July 12, 1949 in Aberdeen, Washington to Clarence E. Hess and Florence Mae Edwards Hess. He was raised in McMinnville, Oregan before his family moved to Vale, Oregon where he graduated from Vale High School. Bud enlisted in the United States Army and served his country honorably for several years. He married Carolyn Yvette McGuffin on March 26, 1990. They enjoyed spending time together camping and fishing at Lake Fryar. Bud and Carolyn also enjoyed bowling together and Bud even spent a few years working at the bowling alley. They spent almost 28 years happily married until Carolyn’s passing in 2018.

Bud was an avid fan of science fiction movies and eventually started writing his own science fiction book. He loved animals, especially his beloved dog, Sugar. Bud made sure the stray cats in his neighborhood and even at the bowling alley were always well fed. He had a knack for getting stray animals to trust him. He spent a great deal of time helping his community by driving friends and neighbors to their doctor’s appointments. When his kids were younger, he enjoyed taking them to work with him and teaching them the value of hard work. In his later years when his children were taking him to doctor’s appointments, he liked to pass the time by counting train engines during the drive.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Hess; his parents, Clarence and Florence Hess; his stepmother, Molly Hess; and two brothers, Berney Hess and Kenneth O’Neil.

He is survived by his four children, Cody Hess and Rainy Hess both of Lefors, Nick Hess and wife Codi of Miami, and Amy Miller and husband Fred of St. Louis, Missouri; four grandchildren, Garrett Scroggins, Nadia Miller, Quinn Miller, Hollis Hess, and one on the way; two sisters, Lynn Gonzales and husband Raymond of St Francis, Minnesota and Terry Saylors of Boise, Idaho; his constant companion, Sugar; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the VFW Post #1657, PO Box 2684, Pampa, Texas, 79066 or PAWS, PO Box 2095, Pampa, Texas, 79066.