Rickey Don Tarrant “PaPa,” born Dec. 30, 1948, on the old prairie of Greenville, Texas, came to this world on the back of an old wine mare, and passed away on March 4, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. Rickey was the son of Doyle William Tarrant and Inez (Ensley) Tarrant and brother to Herbert Randall Tarrant and Bobby Doyle Tarrant.
He loved old music, old cars, and anything he could make come to life as a meticulous tinkerer, capable of fixing anything in need of repair. He spent years creating and repairing industrial equipment during the day and loved fixing up mechanical pieces like sewing machines, cars, and clocks. His Chevy El Camino was among his most cherished possessions.
His tall tales, jokes, and pranks were cherished by his children and grandchildren, and many of his stubborn opinions would turn out to be the best advice one could get. He had special nicknames and greetings for us all, and he spent his last years simply loving his family as only a wise papa could do.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean (Westbrook) Tarrant, who he loved dearly and showed it by often leaving scribbled notes to find. The couple enjoyed camping, taking drives, going to karaoke bars, and opening their home for holidays, special occasions, or any day that ended in “Y.” He loved his fried potatoes, red beans and cornbread, and cold beer. He never met a cheese enchilada dinner he didn’t like or a grape soda that wasn’t filled with peanuts.
From Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band to George Jones to Elvis Presley singing gospel tunes, Rickey loved his music and loved sharing it with his family. He was known to surprise us on special occasions by picking on his acoustic guitar. You could often find him watching Gunsmoke, American Pickers, or The Outlaw Josey Wales.
He loved spending time with his children, Normanda, Samantha, Brandi, and Jake. He was a father-figure to his sons-in-law, Cliff and Jacob, and he also doted over his many grandchildren: Nathan, Carter, Lincoln, Hannah, Kyrie, Asher, Tabitha, Stephanie, Jolee, and Bailee.
His impact on our lives will never be forgotten, his love for us will never fade, and we know he will be waiting on us in Heaven with some stories (some true, others not) to share.
