Ellery Aufdengarten

Ellery Pat Aufdengarten, "Elrod", 62, died at the ranch south of Marfa in the saddle on July 17, 2020. It was his dream to be a rancher. He lived and died that dream. It rained that afternoon, a good day.

Public viewing will be held Tuesday, July 21, 2020 between 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Alpine Memorial Funeral Home for anyone who would like to go. The family will not be in attendance at that time. Masks are required at the funeral home.

A private family graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at the Marfa Cemetery with family friend Joni Powers as Celebrant and under the direction of  Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.The number in attendance is strictly limited by regulation and cannot accommodate others. After the graveside service, the family will travel to the outdoor pavilion in Fort Davis and be there from 11:15 a.m. or so until 1:00 p.m. to greet visitors. Anyone is welcome who is not ill, is not medically compromised or has other risk factors. The family fully understands if a person decides to not come as a measure of precaution. There are limitations on total people in the venue at one time, so we anticipate folks will take time to visit with family and each other for a bit and then head out of the pavilion as others come in. Not rushed, but not lingering for the full time. Masks are recommended for the safety of all. There will not be food or beverages other than bottled water served at the pavilion.

.He would need a much bigger casket to make room for all the pallbearers:  Lee Whitlock, Randy O'Mara, Mac Whit, Gary Lewis, Alan Thompson, Harvey Marrow, Dennis Rose, Ryan Wash, Steve Boziden, Tim Leary, Randy Glover, Chris Foote, Bob Anderson, Kirk and Allen Swanson. Ellery loved and was beloved by so many people.

Ellery Pat Aufdengarten was born March 17th, 1958 to Gerald "Spec" Aufdengarten and Lola Swanson Aufdengarten in Ogallala, Nebraska. He grew up in the Village of Arthur rodeoing and raising Cane. He got to Texas a quick as he could. When Lee Whitlock invited Ellery to come down and cowboy, he and a handful of buddies hit the raod. A rodeo scholarship to Sul Ross kept Ellery in Alpine, then, having fallen in love with a local girl, he made Marfa his home.

Ellery and Debbie Mitchell were married December 5, 1980. Soon after, he went to work for his father-in-law William Hayes Mitchell, Jr., Ellery and Hayes wre just what the other needed, and they worked cattle together until Hayes's retirement.

Together, Ellery and Debbie had three children, Kaki, Mitch, and Gerry. He was an endlessly devoted husband, son, uncle, father, grandfather and friend. He never met a stranger and was always quick to laugh. He loved playing cards, riding horses, and what he called bird watching. He was always on the phone, calling cousins in Arthur, visiting with his sister Peg, always checking in on family. He adored and kept close all of his nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his bride Debbie, father-in-law William Hayes Mitchell, Jr. and his partner Marie Claire Kyle, his daughter Kaki Aufdengarten-Scott and husband, Mark, his sons: Mitchell Ellery Aufdengarten and his wife Austin and Gerald Hayes Aufdengarten and his wife Jordan, and his grandchildren Kaelyn Rayne Cash, Mitchell Asa Aufdengarten, and soon little Hayes William Aufdengarten. Missing him in Nebraska is his sister Peggy Aufdengarten Simpson and her children, Wade Simpson, Shannon Allard, Wyatt Simpson, and Mathew Simpson, and in Colorado, his nephews Shane and Stu Nielson and niece Stacy Nielson, and in Arthur, his cousins Kirk Swanson, and wife Becky, and Allen Swanson and wife Joy, and all of their children.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan'sPurse.org., one of Ellery's favorite charities.

Alpine Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with his services. Online condolences may be left at:  www.alpinememorialfuneralhome.com.