Clifford Dwayne "Dwayne" Dicken

C. Dwayne Dicken

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Graveside services for C. Dwayne Dicken will be held on Friday, October 17th, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Merit Cemetery in Merit, Texas. As requested by Dwayne, A BBQ lunch will follow at the Dicken residence in order for family and friends to celebrate his life and discuss (or cuss) his memory.

Clifford Dwayne Dicken was born on September 26th, 1954 and after a long, hard fought battle with COPD he passed away in the peace of his home on October 14th, 2025. Dwayne was the youngest son of William Robert and Thora Olivia Dicken. His only sibling, Bobby Charles Dicken, was a mere 18 years senior to Dwayne and graduated high school the year Dwayne was born. The namesake Clifford was bestowed upon him in honor of his paternal Grandmother Clifford Dicken. And boy how he just loved to be called Clifford! Dwayne was born and raised in Greenville Texas, and graduated from Greenville High School in 1972. Dwayne had a strong love for horses, a passion inherited from his father, so with hopes to make a living around that which he loved he went on to attend and graduate from Oklahoma Horseshoeing School. What followed was a 42 year career of hard, back-breaking work of which he enjoyed every minute. Whether trimming a little girl's pony or helping a lame horse get around better Dwayne was passionate about shoeing horses and loved what he did. Dwayne also spent the majority of his adult life as a firefighter. He began his career with the Greenville Fire Department and worked there for 3 years prior to hiring on with Plano Fire Rescue. Dwayne faithfully served the City of Plano as a fire fighter/paramedic for the next 33 years and at the end of a fulfilling career he retired in January 2015. Dwayne cherished the time he spent at the fire station. The camaraderie shared amongst his crew, the life-long friendships developed, and the shenanigans associated with hazing the new guys were among some of his fondest memories. Many Thanksgiving meals and Christmas holidays were spent at his ''home away from home'' and shared with his ''second family.''

Dwayne married his wife Susan on June 19th, 1988 on the steps of the front porch to the home they would go on to share together for the next 37 years. Despite the constraints associated with juggling two careers Dwayne always found the time to be present for all five of his children and their many endeavors. Ball games, awards banquets, FFA competitions, stock shows or rodeos, his absence was a rare occasion. Many miles were traveled in that red '93 4 door Ford, shuffling kids across the country and back. His kids, her kids, others peoples kids….it made no difference, if they got in the pick up they were his kids! Dwayne was a Freemason and a proud member of the Merit Masonic Lodge. He loved to fish, boat, shoot skeet, listen to (or yell at) talk radio, cheer (or cuss) the Texas Rangers, and watch Jeopardy or those corny British comedies. He lived life wide open: rock n roll music on blast, Coors Banquet in hand, and a box of Marlboro Reds in his front shirt pocket. He could cook a fantastic meatloaf, a delicious pot roast, and a mean chicken fried steak. Dwayne also had quite a talent for aggravating those closet to him, and if you knew him well you know that he was very proficient with that skill!

Dwayne is preceded in death by parents William Robert and Thora Olivia, as well as his brother, Bobby Charles.

Dwayne is survived by his wife Susan Dicken of Merit, Texas, son Cody and wife Angie Dicken of Grimes, Iowa, son Jeremy Dicken of Commerce, Texas, son Zach and wife Amber Dicken of Lubbock, Texas, son Lynn Jayroe of Sanger ,Texas and daughter Janis and husband Bryan Glass of Fairfield, Texas. He was a PawPaw to 10 grandchildren: Caleb, Christopher, Thomas and Libby Dicken, Piper and Quade Kelly Dicken, Locke Jayroe, and Collin, Trinity and Daley Glass. Brandon and Jamie Newman and their children Grace and Sadie also held a special place in Dwayne's heart and he loved them as family.

It has been said many times over the years - you either loved him or hated him, there is no in between….but we loved him!

Pallbearers will be Caleb Dicken, Christopher Dicken, Thomas Dicken, Collin Glass, Brandon Newman and Pito Arana. Honorary pallbearers will be Locke Jayroe and Quade Kelly Dicken.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.