Guy Finstad
Guy W. Finstad, 88, went to a new glorious home on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.
Services were Friday, Feb. 11, at the Rock Church with burial in the Rock Church Cemetery under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home.
Guy was born Sept. 12, 1933, in Cranfills Gap. He was baptized Oct. 29, 1933, and confirmed in 1949 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.
Guy received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science at Texas Tech University in 1959 and began a 22-year career teaching agriculture, 20 of which were spent at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch near Amarillo. Guy served as the head agriculture teacher, FFAadvisor and farm and ranch manager.
During his tenure the ag program developed and expanded. Cal Farley Boy’s Ranch FFA program had leadership and judging teams that won recognition across the state and had several vice presidents, two presidents of Texas FFA and one State president who later became a Texas senator and U.S. congressman.
Guy served on the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Board of Directors for a number of years, being elected as secretary-treasurer, vice president and president of the Association. He is the only secondary school teacher ever to be awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers. In 1995, Guy received the Distinguished Agriculture Alumnus Award from Texas Tech University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
In 1981, Guy left the teaching profession to become a legislative assistant and staff director for the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture. Guy worked with legislation dealing with agriculture in the curriculum. Because of his efforts for vocational education in the legislative process, Guy received the Special Legislative Award from the Vocational Agriculture Teachers of Texas and the Distinguished Service Award from the Vocational Home Economics Teachers of Texas. He also received the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Texas Human Society.
Guy worked in Washington, DC, as an administrative assistant for a U.S. Congressman. The final years of his career were spent in Austin as director of the Texas Agriculture Teachers Association.
In retirement he and Geneva enjoyed their ranch and being a conservator of the family land that his grandfather settled in 1886. Improving the land, raising registered quarter and paint horses and watching several grandchildren compete on the horses that were raised on the Drag F Ranch were joys in his life.
The renovation of the Rock Church, cemetery and the building of the Gathering Place was a labor of love in his retirement. Activities held at the Rock Church had increased, and many are blessed as they come for weddings, family gatherings, burials or just to enjoy the beauty and peace of the church.
Guy was preceded in death by his parents, Guy A. and Wilma Finstad, and granddaughters Lexi Finstad and Tracy Finstad.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Geneva; a daughter, Sherry and husband Jimmie Boatwright; sons Gary Finstad, Terry Finstad and wife Kathy and Barry Finstad and wife Jennifer; grandchildren Tammy Finstad, E.J. Roberts and wife Julie, Cole McCown, Kiley Sawchak and husband Jason, Shanna Creech and husband Mike, Chance Finstad, Casey Finstad, Dr. Cara Finstad and Avary Finstad; great-grandchildren Teryn and Signe Senn, Makayla and Peyton Hornik, Dally and Pecos Creech, Cinco and Maudie Roberts and Presley and Bechkam Sawchak; and a sister, JoAnn Abel of Fort Worth.
Pallbearers were E.J. Roberts, Cole McCown, Chance Finstad, Casey Finstad, Jim Canada and Tom Novak.
Honorary pallbearers were Men’s Bible Study group, which Guy enjoyed in recent years.
Memorial donations may be made to Rock Church and Cemetery, P.O. Box 148 Cranfills Gap, Texas 76637.
