Tom Ellzey, also known as the "High Loper," was born his grandfather's namesake and mother's maiden name, Thomas Scogin Ellzey, in Shattuck, Oklahoma on December 23, 1941. He passed away October 10, 2014.
He started his cowboy ways growing up on the family ranch on Wolf Creek southeast of Perryton. He was a graduate of Perryton High School where he lettered all four years of his high school career in football, sang in the choir, played in the band and was well liked by his classmates.
After high school he attended Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Anthropology. He received his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.
He then taught at the University of Toledo before heading back to the family ranch where he partnered with his father Lawrence Ellzey and his brother John Ellzey.
That was followed with teaching stints at the college of DuPage in Chicago, Illinois then Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Eventually, he moved to Thailand where he taught English to kindergarten and elementary students with his wife, Wipada. While there, he wrote and published an adventure novel called, The Elephant's Heart.
Tom was a gentle soul who genuinely cared about everyone he met. He would strike up a conversation with strangers wherever he went. He sang cowboy songs all over from the United States to Surin, Thailand. He loved life and lived it large. He was a hero and inspiration to many—children, siblings, cousins, students, and more.
He is survived by his wife Wipada and stepson Kunnamas Somoudon of Surin, Thailand, son Nathan and wife Angela of Oklahoma, daughter Amy and husband Mark Attaway of Salida, Colorado, three brothers and wives Lawrence and Judi of El Paso, Texas, John and Sharon of Perryton, Steve and Susan of Seattle, Washington, and sister Jill of Perryton. There are five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Mary Frances and M. Lawrence Ellzey.
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 30, 2014)
He started his cowboy ways growing up on the family ranch on Wolf Creek southeast of Perryton. He was a graduate of Perryton High School where he lettered all four years of his high school career in football, sang in the choir, played in the band and was well liked by his classmates.
After high school he attended Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Anthropology. He received his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.
He then taught at the University of Toledo before heading back to the family ranch where he partnered with his father Lawrence Ellzey and his brother John Ellzey.
That was followed with teaching stints at the college of DuPage in Chicago, Illinois then Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Eventually, he moved to Thailand where he taught English to kindergarten and elementary students with his wife, Wipada. While there, he wrote and published an adventure novel called, The Elephant's Heart.
Tom was a gentle soul who genuinely cared about everyone he met. He would strike up a conversation with strangers wherever he went. He sang cowboy songs all over from the United States to Surin, Thailand. He loved life and lived it large. He was a hero and inspiration to many—children, siblings, cousins, students, and more.
He is survived by his wife Wipada and stepson Kunnamas Somoudon of Surin, Thailand, son Nathan and wife Angela of Oklahoma, daughter Amy and husband Mark Attaway of Salida, Colorado, three brothers and wives Lawrence and Judi of El Paso, Texas, John and Sharon of Perryton, Steve and Susan of Seattle, Washington, and sister Jill of Perryton. There are five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Mary Frances and M. Lawrence Ellzey.
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 30, 2014)
Tom Ellzey, also known as the "High Loper," was born his grandfather's namesake and mother's maiden name, Thomas Scogin Ellzey, in Shattuck, Oklahoma on December 23, 1941. He passed away October 10, 2014.
He started his cowboy ways growing up on the family ranch on Wolf Creek southeast of Perryton. He was a graduate of Perryton High School where he lettered all four years of his high school career in football, sang in the choir, played in the band and was well liked by his classmates.
After high school he attended Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Anthropology. He received his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.
He then taught at the University of Toledo before heading back to the family ranch where he partnered with his father Lawrence Ellzey and his brother John Ellzey.
That was followed with teaching stints at the college of DuPage in Chicago, Illinois then Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Eventually, he moved to Thailand where he taught English to kindergarten and elementary students with his wife, Wipada. While there, he wrote and published an adventure novel called, The Elephant's Heart.
Tom was a gentle soul who genuinely cared about everyone he met. He would strike up a conversation with strangers wherever he went. He sang cowboy songs all over from the United States to Surin, Thailand. He loved life and lived it large. He was a hero and inspiration to many—children, siblings, cousins, students, and more.
He is survived by his wife Wipada and stepson Kunnamas Somoudon of Surin, Thailand, son Nathan and wife Angela of Oklahoma, daughter Amy and husband Mark Attaway of Salida, Colorado, three brothers and wives Lawrence and Judi of El Paso, Texas, John and Sharon of Perryton, Steve and Susan of Seattle, Washington, and sister Jill of Perryton. There are five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Mary Frances and M. Lawrence Ellzey.
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 30, 2014)
He started his cowboy ways growing up on the family ranch on Wolf Creek southeast of Perryton. He was a graduate of Perryton High School where he lettered all four years of his high school career in football, sang in the choir, played in the band and was well liked by his classmates.
After high school he attended Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Anthropology. He received his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan.
He then taught at the University of Toledo before heading back to the family ranch where he partnered with his father Lawrence Ellzey and his brother John Ellzey.
That was followed with teaching stints at the college of DuPage in Chicago, Illinois then Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Eventually, he moved to Thailand where he taught English to kindergarten and elementary students with his wife, Wipada. While there, he wrote and published an adventure novel called, The Elephant's Heart.
Tom was a gentle soul who genuinely cared about everyone he met. He would strike up a conversation with strangers wherever he went. He sang cowboy songs all over from the United States to Surin, Thailand. He loved life and lived it large. He was a hero and inspiration to many—children, siblings, cousins, students, and more.
He is survived by his wife Wipada and stepson Kunnamas Somoudon of Surin, Thailand, son Nathan and wife Angela of Oklahoma, daughter Amy and husband Mark Attaway of Salida, Colorado, three brothers and wives Lawrence and Judi of El Paso, Texas, John and Sharon of Perryton, Steve and Susan of Seattle, Washington, and sister Jill of Perryton. There are five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Mary Frances and M. Lawrence Ellzey.
(Published in Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 30, 2014)
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