Ronald Lee Hensley

Ronald Lee Hensley was born on July 5, 1939 on his family’s farm in Erick, Oklahoma to Rex Franklin and Velma Valletta Hensley (Crites). He went home to be with his Lord and Savior November 1, 2025. Ron was the middle brother of older sister, Betty, and younger sister, Rexa. Ron had fond memories of riding horses at a very young age, especially his favorite horse, Cricket. During his school years, his family moved from Oklahoma to Borger, Texas where his dad took a job at the Phillips plant. Ron graduated from Borger High in 1957.

Services will be at 1 PM Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the First Baptist Church Chapel, with Corky Holland officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd, Amarillo, TX.

Ron met the love of his life a year earlier in 1956 when Shirley Jean Morris walked into her dad’s body shop where Ron had been working as a young man. He told himself that day, “That’s the girl I want to marry!.” They married June 15, 1957 in Borger. They welcomed their firstborn son, Roddy Lee, the following year and their second son, Renie Lynn, completed their family four years later. Ron was a “Jack of All Trades.” During his career years he worked as a butcher for Ideals Food Store in Borger before moving to their Pampa store three weeks after Renie was born. After four years in Pampa, they moved back to Borger and in 1970 Ron moved his family to Perryton to manage the Ideals Store there. In 1977, Ron switched careers and went to work for Cotton Petroleum. In 1980, Ron was hired by Courson Oil and Gas where he worked up through the ranks until he retired as a Production Superintendent in 2005. After his retirement, Ron worked part time at Renco Tool Co., Inc. He had a passion for making knives in his backyard shop. Ron’s precision and craftsmanship produced the most beautiful, custom knives and pocketknives which he proudly gifted to many friends and family over the years. Ron and Shirley enjoyed decades of traveling the country together, snowmobiling, and cruising with their many, dear friends. Ron and Shirley eventually moved over to Amarillo where they spent their days enjoying their patio garden, playing with their energetic pup, talking walks, playing card games with friends, spending time with family, and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and of course, the Sod Poodles.

Ron and Shirley’s reward for raising two boys came in 1990 when they welcomed their two granddaughters, Tamren and Kacy, then a couple of years later, their grandson, Kelln. Lovingly called “Daddypop,” Ron was most often seen playing on the floor with his grandkids in their younger years and cheering them on in all their sporting events and activities as they grew. Daddypop made sure each of his grandkids knew how proud he was of them and was a very present and loving support even into their adult lives.

Blessings continued as Ron and Shirley welcomed six great grandchildren in less than six years! Ron loved little more than holding each of them as babies, playing with the toddlers, and diving full-speed into whatever the older ones were into. He knew and dearly loved each one of their unique personalities.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Velma Hensley, sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Thurmond Sanders, and brother-in-law, Jerald Morris.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Shirley Hensley, sister Rexa (Nick) Hall, sons Roddy (Sherry) Hensley and Ren (Tammie) Hensley, grandchildren Kacy (Josh) Putman, Tamren (Austin) Terhune and Kelln Hensley, great-grandchildren Knox and Hensley Putman and Jack, Lonna, Brooks, and Grant Terhune, and dearly loved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.