1940
William
2024
William 'Bill' Emil Minkley
April 29, 1940 — February 2, 2024
William 'Bill' Emil Minkley passed away on February 2, 2024 at the Veteran's Hospital in Amarillo, Texas. He was a beloved father to Cathy, Jamie, Christina and Amy; cherished grandfather to Lindsey, Rachael, and Bradley, and loving great grandfather to six great grandchildren.
Bill was born on April 29, 1940 in St. Petersburg, Florida to Ernest Calvin "Cal" and Eva Mae (Pitts) Minkley. During Bill's early years, the family moved frequently, living in Florida, Indiana, and Alabama, while his father worked as a painter for the United States Army during World War II. When Bill was 9 years old, the family loaded up his Dad's 1940 Pontiac and moved to Griggs, Oklahoma to live near Bill's mother's sister, Minnie (Pitts) Cox. Bill went from being a city boy to a country farm boy, learning how to drive a tractor and harvest wheat. Bill's adolescent years on the farm and especially the exposure to the Cox family were one of the most pivotal seasons of his life.
Bill graduated from Stratford High School in 1958 and began his accounting degree at Texas Tech University. In 1962, he married Glenda Lee Green of Stratford, and they started their family. After graduating from Texas Tech, he moved his family to Austin to pursue a law degree from the University of Texas.
After graduating from law school in 1968, he prepared to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War by moving his family back to Lubbock to live near his brother, Joe Minkley and sister-in-law, Jane. While in Vietnam, Bill was a second lieutenant and an artillery officer. He served in the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) program, providing strategy briefings to generals and building collaborative relationships with the Vietnamese.
After his service, Bill moved his family to Dumas, Texas in 1972 and started practicing law. In January 1978, the Metcalf & Minkley Law Practice began, specializing in family law. Bill had a reputation for being tenacious, exemplifying a dogged determination to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He was known for providing his legal services, regardless of a client's ability to pay. Later, after moving to Dallas, he volunteered his legal services to many Veterans and Lone Star Legal Aid.
Bill had many passions, including scuba diving, traveling, fishing, backpacking, and dancing, particularly the Two Step. He loved music and enjoyed singing along with his favorite singers, Chuck Pyle and Willie Nelson, despite his inability to carry a tune. He loved laughing and clowning around, so much so that he went to clown school and delighted many children during his travels with balloon animals. He had an exuberant, adventurous spirit and always enjoyed a good happy hour and party!
In March 2013, Bill married Joanne Carlisle. They loved dancing and traveling together, and he was an excellent caregiver after her stroke in 2016 until her death in 2019.
Bill had a genuine love for people and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere! When he met someone, he would often hand them a notecard with a positive saying or a scripture. His aim was to make sure every person knew how important they were.
Bill loved serving others and helping their voice to be heard. In his three retirement living communities, Bill served on the Resident's Council and organized programs for Veterans to share their stories.
Bill is survived in death by his daughter Cathy Smith and husband Scott, daughter Jamie Carlton and husband Scott, daughter Christina Porter and husband Troy, daughter Amy Minkley and fiancé Matthew Patton; Glenda Minkley, mother of his four daughters; three grandchildren, Lindsey Carlton Nidiffer and husband Brett, Rachael Carlton Wells and husband Britton, Bradley Carlton and wife Kaleigh; six great grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Jane Minkley Baker, two nephews, Mark Minkley and David Minkley; many Cox cousins; stepson Ken Adams and wife Colleen and their children Jubilee and Jasper; and three stepdaughters Amy Adams, Tammy Carlisle, and Kim Riley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lone Star Legal Aid (https://www.lonestarlegal.org/donate/) or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate).
A Memorial service honoring Bill's life will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with David Bagwell officiating.
To honor Bill's love of Happy Hour, a reception will follow nearby at the Shell to share food, fellowship, and memories.
Bill was born on April 29, 1940 in St. Petersburg, Florida to Ernest Calvin "Cal" and Eva Mae (Pitts) Minkley. During Bill's early years, the family moved frequently, living in Florida, Indiana, and Alabama, while his father worked as a painter for the United States Army during World War II. When Bill was 9 years old, the family loaded up his Dad's 1940 Pontiac and moved to Griggs, Oklahoma to live near Bill's mother's sister, Minnie (Pitts) Cox. Bill went from being a city boy to a country farm boy, learning how to drive a tractor and harvest wheat. Bill's adolescent years on the farm and especially the exposure to the Cox family were one of the most pivotal seasons of his life.
Bill graduated from Stratford High School in 1958 and began his accounting degree at Texas Tech University. In 1962, he married Glenda Lee Green of Stratford, and they started their family. After graduating from Texas Tech, he moved his family to Austin to pursue a law degree from the University of Texas.
After graduating from law school in 1968, he prepared to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War by moving his family back to Lubbock to live near his brother, Joe Minkley and sister-in-law, Jane. While in Vietnam, Bill was a second lieutenant and an artillery officer. He served in the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) program, providing strategy briefings to generals and building collaborative relationships with the Vietnamese.
After his service, Bill moved his family to Dumas, Texas in 1972 and started practicing law. In January 1978, the Metcalf & Minkley Law Practice began, specializing in family law. Bill had a reputation for being tenacious, exemplifying a dogged determination to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He was known for providing his legal services, regardless of a client's ability to pay. Later, after moving to Dallas, he volunteered his legal services to many Veterans and Lone Star Legal Aid.
Bill had many passions, including scuba diving, traveling, fishing, backpacking, and dancing, particularly the Two Step. He loved music and enjoyed singing along with his favorite singers, Chuck Pyle and Willie Nelson, despite his inability to carry a tune. He loved laughing and clowning around, so much so that he went to clown school and delighted many children during his travels with balloon animals. He had an exuberant, adventurous spirit and always enjoyed a good happy hour and party!
In March 2013, Bill married Joanne Carlisle. They loved dancing and traveling together, and he was an excellent caregiver after her stroke in 2016 until her death in 2019.
Bill had a genuine love for people and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere! When he met someone, he would often hand them a notecard with a positive saying or a scripture. His aim was to make sure every person knew how important they were.
Bill loved serving others and helping their voice to be heard. In his three retirement living communities, Bill served on the Resident's Council and organized programs for Veterans to share their stories.
Bill is survived in death by his daughter Cathy Smith and husband Scott, daughter Jamie Carlton and husband Scott, daughter Christina Porter and husband Troy, daughter Amy Minkley and fiancé Matthew Patton; Glenda Minkley, mother of his four daughters; three grandchildren, Lindsey Carlton Nidiffer and husband Brett, Rachael Carlton Wells and husband Britton, Bradley Carlton and wife Kaleigh; six great grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Jane Minkley Baker, two nephews, Mark Minkley and David Minkley; many Cox cousins; stepson Ken Adams and wife Colleen and their children Jubilee and Jasper; and three stepdaughters Amy Adams, Tammy Carlisle, and Kim Riley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lone Star Legal Aid (https://www.lonestarlegal.org/donate/) or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate).
A Memorial service honoring Bill's life will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with David Bagwell officiating.
To honor Bill's love of Happy Hour, a reception will follow nearby at the Shell to share food, fellowship, and memories.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William 'Bill' Emil Minkley, please visit our flower store.
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