Saturday, June 12, 2021
I am so very sorry to hear about Danny's passing. I stopped by to visit him in Ulman a couple years ago when visiting the Lake area after not connecting for over 45 years. It was such a pleasure to see him again to relive old times. I went by his place again this year but could not find him. We visited by Messenger and he said that he had the "Big C" and had moved to Eldon with family. I had no idea that his condition was so serious. I am so grateful to have met up with him again in our "twilight" years. Some of my favorite boyhood memories were those with Danny. He actually stayed with me at our ranch house on Hwy 42 for a couple of summers and we would ride horses each morning to the Ozark Stampede on Hwy 54, where we would help Porter Rodden gather, brush, and saddle about 25-30 head of horses for our dude string each morning. We would guide trail rides for 9-10 hours each day of the week and then would get all riding, harness, and rough stock ready for rodeos/wild west shows at night. Our days would start about 6 am and end about 11 pm. We sure had a lot of fun together......riding horses, bulls, and even boxing some in our "free time". Danny's dad, Jack would be in the grandstands at nearly every night show, and I admired him deeply as well. Indeed, the Wickham family has had a huge impact on my life. I so wish that I could attend the funeral services today, but am in the throes of a kidney stone issue here in south central Texas and could not make the trip. I will be with you all in spirit. Please know that my heart pours out with sadness, but also with great pride that I got to accumulate so many wonderful memories with by buddy, Danny (Bear). May God Bless the whole Wickham family in this time of mourning. Know that we will all be together one day again!
With deepest sympathy and much love,
Dickson Varner
