Obituary of Dale Saxton

Dale Saxton January 23, 1932 - April 03, 2015 Dale Norris Saxton left us on April 3, 2015. Dale was born in Melrose, New Mexico on January 23, 1932 and passed away in Lovington. He was the son of Charlie and Minnie Saxton, and was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Roland and sister Charlene, and his younger brother Gary. He was also preceded in death by his dearest love, saving grace and guiding hand, his wife Norma (Smith) Saxton. Dale is survived by his daughter, Shelley Saxton and son Mark Saxton and his wife Tania. His two children gave him six beautiful grandchildren. Those grandchildren are Kelly, Lindsey, Whitney, Daley, Sydney and Courtney. He also had three great grandchildren that were extraordinarily dear to him – Taylor, Abbee and Zia. Dale had many names to go by – Dad, Grandad, Flash, Sax, Switch, Mr. Saxton and Big Daddy. He knew them all and embraced them. We think Grandad made him most proud. Grandad was a remarkable man. He was graced with the athletic ability most would never imagine could come from the humble beginnings of a dry-land, homesteaded wheat farm 10 miles north of Melrose. He was always proud to be a Melrose Buffalo. For countless years he felt compelled to attend the Old Timer’s Reunion in Melrose every August – and did. The people he knew from his childhood were people of the earth, people with honor and grit. And, he never lost his love for them. Grandad graduated from Melrose High School and was honored to represent the South in the North/South All-star Football game. He always reminded us the coach of the South’s team that year was the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. After high school, he attended Eastern New Mexico University where he played basketball and ran track for the Greyhounds. It was at ENMU where he met the woman that would help make him the man he became – his wife Norma. They married in August, 1955. In 1956 Grandad competed in the U.S. Olympic trials in the decathlon against the legendary names of Rafer Johnson, Milt Campbell and Phil Mulkey. He placed 15th with 5,597 points. Grandad possessed the skills and traits few people ever have the pleasure of encountering. He was supremely willing to take the uphill challenge…….the tougher the match, the more he embraced it. His grace during competition was unfailing. If you had the ability to beat him on that day, hand or meet, he congratulated you willingly. But you had to beat him – he never gave an inch. Not ONE inch, not ONE time. We have all been enriched by his presence. Not just his wife, children or grandchildren, but his friends, students, neighbors and competitors as well. Some people are judged by the wealth they accumulate, or feats they accomplish, but Grandad taught his family another more important lesson. A person associates with people in their life and the quality of those people reflect on him. Grandad truly embraced and exposed his family to the most extraordinary group of humans a person could hope to know. His wife and closest friends have shown themselves to be gracious, humble, generous, loyal and of great character. We can not ever repay the love, kindness, and decency we have received just by being a part of his family. Dale Norris Saxton left us on April 3, 2015. Dale was born in Melrose, New Mexico on January 23, 1932 and passed away in Lovington. He was the son of Charlie and Minnie Saxton, and was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Roland and sister Charlene, and his younger brother Gary. He was also preceded in death by his dearest love, saving grace and guiding hand, his wife Norma (Smith) Saxton. Dale is survived by his daughter, Shelley Saxton and son Mark Saxton and his wife Tania. His two children gave him six beautiful grandchildren. Those grandchildren are Kelly, Lindsey, Whitney, Daley, Sydney and Courtney. He also had three great grandchildren that were extraordinarily dear to him – Taylor, Abbee and Zia. Dale had many names to go by – Dad, Grandad, Flash, Sax, Switch, Mr. Saxton and Big Daddy. He knew them all and embraced them. We think Grandad made him most proud. Grandad was a remarkable man. He was graced with the athletic ability most would never imagine could come from the humble beginnings of a dry-land, homesteaded wheat farm 10 miles north of Melrose. He was always proud to be a Melrose Buffalo. For countless years he felt compelled to attend the Old Timer’s Reunion in Melrose every August – and did. The people he knew from his childhood were people of the earth, people with honor and grit. And, he never lost his love for them. Grandad graduated from Melrose High School and was honored to represent the South in the North/South All-star Football game. He always reminded us the coach of the South’s team that year was the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. After high school, he attended Eastern New Mexico University where he played basketball and ran track for the Greyhounds. It was at ENMU where he met the woman that would help make him the man he became – his wife Norma. They married in August, 1955. In 1956 Grandad competed in the U.S. Olympic trials in the decathlon against the legendary names of Rafer Johnson, Milt Campbell and Phil Mulkey. He placed 15th with 5,597 points. Grandad possessed the skills and traits few people ever have the pleasure of encountering. He was supremely willing to take the uphill challenge…….the tougher the match, the more he embraced it. His grace during competition was unfailing. If you had the ability to beat him on that day, hand or meet, he congratulated you willingly. But you had to beat him – he never gave an inch. Not ONE inch, not ONE time. We have all been enriched by his presence. Not just his wife, children or grandchildren, but his friends, students, neighbors and competitors as well. Some people are judged by the wealth they accumulate, or feats they accomplish, but Grandad taught his family another more important lesson. A person associates with people in their life and the quality of those people reflect on him. Grandad truly embraced and exposed his family to the most extraordinary group of humans a person could hope to know. His wife and closest friends have shown themselves to be gracious, humble, generous, loyal and of great character. We can not ever repay the love, kindness, and decency we have received just by being a part of his family. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.