Brenda Binion Michael

Brenda Binion Michael, 81, of Amarillo TX, died July 27, 2022.

Brenda was the third of Benny and Teddy Jane Binion's five children. She was born in Dallas and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Horses and rodeo were her lifelong passions.

Brenda attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to be near the heart of the cutting horse industry. She helped her family full-time at Binion ranch in Jordan, Montana, before buying a ranch near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. She moved to Amarillo in 1969 and continued her ranching interests.

At the 2020 American Quarter Horse Association convention, she received an 80-year Breeders Certificate for her father's and her affiliation since the association began.

Brenda was selected Tri-State Fair Cowgirl of the Year in 1998. A long-time member of the fair board, she was on the fundraising committee for the Amarillo National Center which opened in 2000.

In 1998, she acquired the Lighthouse Ranch on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon.

In 2015, she was recognized with rodeo's Ken Stemler Pioneer Award "for her commitment to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with her continued support of the Benny Binion World Famous Bucking Horse and Bull Sale, which benefits the Hall of Fame and youth educational scholarships."

Brenda is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mindy and Clint Johnson; grandson Ben Johnson, his wife, Kaitlin, and their children Porter, Emery, Hudson and Henley, all of Canyon; granddaughter Janie Johnson and fianc? Jake Finlay of Weatherford, Texas; sister Becky Behnen and brother Jack Binion, both of Las Vegas, Nevada.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bert France; her parents; her sister Barbara and her brother Ted Binion.

The family suggests memorials be made to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame (prorodeohalloffame.com) or Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund (justincowboycrisisfund.org). Both mailing addresses are 101 ProRodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. Online condolences may be shared at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com Rosary/Vigil will be said at 6:00 p.m., Monday, August 1, 2022 at Schooler Funeral Home, Amarillo, TX. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 605 38th St., Canyon, TX. Interment will follow in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, TX.