Dean Armstrong

Good Ol' Dean Armstrong , truly one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met . I first met Dean when he answered an ad was running in the Tucson Citizen ,30 some years ago . I was selling an old Epiphone electric guitar . He invited me out to Lil Abners , and he told me that he'd bring along his old Martin acoustic guitar . When I got there we walked out back where his Caddy was parked , windows down and the guitar lying on the back seat , I said , Dean are ya nuts , someone could steal it , he smiled and said not out here . Always a tale of his illustreous career , Dean was wonderful to talk to . Many times I took out of town guests out to hear him an they were awe inspired , such a true western musician extroidenaire . Tucson has lost a true gem , I will miss the man for the rest of my life , Adios , Amigo .

I first met Dean when working at PDQ Records in Tucson in the mid 1990's. I never had the honor of seeing him play but my 78 of him is a treasure. One of the nicest people I have ever met.

My parents bought me an electric steel guitar in the mid 1940s. After Dean moved to Tucson, he became my guitar instructor. It wasn't an easy job for him, as I really didn't have an ear for music and we lived southwest of Tucson at Ajo Junction. But he came out and did his best for me, of which I am very thankful. In the 1950s, as a teenager, I danced to his music. Thank you Dean. The man and his music will long be remembered.

I met Dean in the 50's through Bob McKeehan, a D.J. at the time for KCUB. Never forgot his wit, his kindness, and his real love of music and fans. RIP, Dean. Your wings have earned you the flight sraight to the Lord. V.L.M.

Thinking of you Grandma, Uncle Duane, Aunt Lucy, and Aunt Ardith. We love you and pray for your strength across the miles. What a beautiful life for a man loved by so many. Personally, I will always cherish the photos of my first "big trip" to AZ with mom, dad, and Billy to experience what so many find so enchanting about the Armstrong home and the magic of Uncle Dean. Professionally, I will greatly miss hearing the latest-and-greatest stories from my MI students' travels to Lil' Abners to see Uncle Dean perform. How blessed they were to get to see him!

How happy and at peace Uncle Dean must feel to be serenading the angels...

Celebrating his life and the lives he has touched,
Stephanie Rowlee-Irizarry