Gaylon Dale Rhodes, 89 of Bovina passed away on August 5, 2025, in Farwell. Viewing will be held Friday, August 8, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM with family visitation from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of the funeral home with Celebration of Life Services with Military Honors held Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church in Bovina with Pastors Chris Craig and Howard Rhodes, officiating. Burial following in the Bovina Cemetery entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home in Friona.

Gaylon was born on January 10, 1936, in Mountain View, OK to Othel ("Friday") Conner and Maybian Lucy Rhodes. He graduated from Friona High School in 1954 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959 as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. He served again from 1961 to 1962 at Fort Bliss, TX as a helicopter mechanic. While stationed in North Carolina, Gaylon met Shelby Jean Norris in Saint Pauls. They married on October 2, 1959, and eventually moved to Bovina, TX in 1964, where they raised their family and spent the rest of their lives together. This year would have marked their 66th wedding anniversary. Gaylon stayed busy in Bovina over the years. He served on the Bovina ISD School Board, was Fire Chief of the Bovina Volunteer Fire Department, and held leadership roles with the Bovina Chamber of Commerce, Bovina Lions Club, the Bovina City Council, and the Bovina Senior Citizens Association. He was also a longtime Deacon at First Baptist Church. He was proud to support both the Bovina Mustangs and Fillies, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Gaylon spent his life working in agriculture, and at 65, found his favorite job yet—as a crop insurance adjuster. He worked throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and especially enjoyed visiting with farmers and riding his Gator out into the fields to check crops and swap stories. He was all about two things: his bride and his work. He loved his family.

Gaylon was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Margaret and her husband Paul Coker; his brother Cleatus, Cleatus's wife Karron, and their son Kyle; his son-in-law Darryl Heinrich; grandson Brooks White; brother-in-law David Smith; nephews Richard Albertson and Larry Rector.

He is survived by his wife, Shelby; daughter Pam and her husband David White of Bovina, TX; son Jim and his wife Joy Rhodes of Fairview, OK; daughter Mendy and her husband Tommy Hutto of Hereford, TX. He leaves behind a big family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will all miss him deeply: Justin and Ashley Heinrich of Montgomery, TX; Lance and Danielle Rhodes of Fairview, OK; Meagan Rhodes of Washington, DC; Jaxon and Jordan Warlick of Hereford, TX; Macy Warlick of Lubbock, TX; Jonnie and Dustin Glick of Amarillo, TX; Meredith and Craig Garner of Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Wade White of San Antonio, TX; Courtney and Huck Bailey of Odessa, TX. Great grandkids include Harper, Weston, Palmer, Collins, and Hallie Heinrich, Ella Rhodes, John John and William Garner, David II, Braxton, Grayson, and Charlie White, Lincoln and Grant Glick Also surviving are brothers and sisters: Betty Smith of Amarillo, TX; Wayne and Judy Rhodes of Duncan, OK; Howard and Belinda Rhodes of Mechanicsville, VA; Darla (Rhodes) and Jerry Shelton of Hot Springs, AR; Barbara (Rhodes) and Brad Woods of Amarillo, TX. And lastly, survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial in honor of Gaylon to: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 550 Bovina, TX 79009. Bovina Senior Citizens P.O. Box 563 Bovina, TX 79009, American Legion, P.O. Box 553 Friona, TX 79035

You may send blessings to the family and sign the online guest book exclusively at: hansardfamily.com

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." —2 Timothy 4:7