Fay Leroy Stark, 97, of Waco, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
Visitation: 2-4pm Friday, February 18,2022 at Lake Shore Funeral Home.
Burial: Fordland Cemetery, Fordland, MO.
He was born on October 13, 1924 in Pawhuska, OK. In 1938 his family moved to Fordland, Missouri where he graduated from Fordland High School in 1943, and joined the U.S. Army serving in WWII in the Heavy Weapons Platoon, M Company, 3rd Battalion, 409th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division (Cactus). After the war he was part of the Occupation Forces-Central Europe and returned to the United States in 1946.
Lefty met the love of his life, Betty Jean Reynolds, in Wyoming in 1948 and they eloped in 1950. He worked as a roughneck, an oil field warehouse manager, and a petroleum troubleshooter throughout the Rocky Mountain States for over 20 years. In 1968 the family moved from Farmington, NM back to Fordland, Missouri to care for his father and farm. Lefty and Betty moved back to Farmington, NM where he became the Vice President of Refinery Operations for Thriftway Gasoline and Diesel in 1973. They retired to Sun City, AZ in 1992, where Lefty could enjoy his love of golf year-round and continue as an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Daisy; stepmother, Edna; three brothers, Levi, Everett, Deb; sister, Jean; and stepson, Rick (Janie) Garnhart, of Ten Sleep, WY.
He is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Betty Jean Stark of Waco; son, Michael (Bobbi) Stark of Waco; daughter, Cindy (Ron) Schuder of Rogersville, MO; six grandsons; three granddaughters; 25 great grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Betty Stark (and the entire Stark family): Lefty Stark was one of the top 3 men I’ve know that I refer to as “one of the best men GOD ever made. He was 19 years my senior, and when I began to play golf with him and 2 others in 2009 he treated me as an equal and welcomed me to the group. I marveled at his prowess as a golfer, and use to say “Lefty, I can bench press you and your golf cart – so why can’t I out drive you?” His answer was “timing”!! When you left for Waco I didn’t get to say goodbye and no one had a phone number. It was a sad /happy day when I saw his obituary in the Independent paper. I used to tell him when I’d occasionally see him at the course “if I don’t see you again – know how proud I am to be able to call him FRIEND, and how much respect I had for him as a man of GOD. You may remember me for when I came to your home to help him “glean” your fruit tree. My condolences for your loss, and my thanks for sharing such a beautiful man with us who were his friends. I’ve missed him since you moved.
GOD bless you all.
Dear Stark Family,
Lefty and BJ were my Mother in law Catherine Bond and Tom’s best friends for many years.
I had the honor and pleasure of spending so much time with them when they would come to Kirtland NM and stay with Catherine and Tom.
I unfortunately lost touch with them after Catherine past is 2006 and for many years have wondered where and how they were.
Watching the wonderful video on this page it is so nice to see that they continued to live a very happy, full, and long life.
We send our condolences as BJ and Lefty were both 2 of the most amazing people our family has ever known.
Thank you for sharing them with us ❤️