Taylor Marley, 32, a proud sixth-generation New Mexican rancher, passed away on February 10, 2020 in Roswell on the ranch he loved so dearly. Throughout his life, Taylor cherished the time he spent building a ranching legacy alongside his parents and grandparents and loved sharing this tradition with his beloved wife and daughters. Born on August 28, 1987 in Roswell, Taylor will always be remembered for his sweet and caring spirit, infectious laugh, mischievous smile, hilarious jokes and warm-hearted nature. He simply loved life and shared this with everyone around him. No one could light up a room more than Taylor. Whether he was creating a strategic business plan or showcasing his horsemanship and marksmanship skills with the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, Taylor was all in, all the time. Taylor’s competitive nature fueled him to win a Rifle World Championship title and two AQHA Reserve World Championship titles. A graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute in 2006 and TCU Ranch Management in 2010, Taylor was passionate about his alma maters. He loved watching his beloved TCU Horned Frogs play football and was the consummate tailgate host to his adoring friends. True and lasting friendships were an integral part of Taylor’s life, and he made everyone around him feel special and loved. Family meant everything to Taylor. His loving parents, Kathryn and Mark, and his treasured sister, Kate, along with Taylor, were the closest of families creating memories of a lifetime. Then, in 2014, Taylor married the love of his life, Molly McKinney of Ft. Worth, TX, to begin their own family on the ranch. Molly and Taylor were blessed with two precious daughters, Margot (3) and Charlotte (1), and he loved nothing more than spending time with them. He deeply cherished his roles as husband, father, son, brother, grandson and friend. Taylor Marley made a lasting impact on those he loved and will be profoundly missed. Taylor is survived by his wife, Molly McKinney Marley; his daughters, Margot and Charlotte; his parents, Kathryn and Mark Marley; his sister, Kate Marley; his grandparents, Betty and John King, and Lauralee Marley McCrea, his step-grandfather, David McCrea; his in-laws Mary and Paul McKinney, his sister-in-law Harriet McKinney and his brother-in-law Charles McKinney. Taylor is also survived by numer-
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ous aunts, uncles, cousins and loving friends and family. Anne Burnett Windfohr Marion, 81, Fort Worth, whose epic Texas life included prominence as a leading rancher and horsewo man, p hilanthro p is t , an d an internationally respected art collector and patron of the arts, died on February 11, 2020 in California after a battle with lung cancer. With her husband, John L. Marion, Mrs. Marion founded the renowned Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The museum opened in 1997 with 50 paintings, but today features 2500 paintings and objects and has become one of the state’s most beloved attractions. Mrs. Marion was chairman of the museum for twenty years and was appointed chairman emeritus in 2017. But Mrs. Marion also put her indelible mark on the cultural life of her home city, Fort Worth. She was born Anne Burnett Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, the great-granddaughter of Samuel “Burk” Burnett, legendary Texas rancher, landowner and oilman. The daughter of Anne Burnett Tandy and James Goodwin Hall, Mrs. Marion inherited her parents’ love of horses as well as oilfields and the land. Those holdings today include the historic 6666 Ranch in King County, Texas. The “one of the most storied outfits in Texas,” is world-renowned for its Black Angus cattle and American Quarter Horses. The three ranches today encompass 275,000 acres. According to Western Horseman, which profiled the ranch in a 2019 cover story, Mrs. Marion’s attachment to the ranch was deep and lifelong. She described her youth “growing up on the ranch was one of the most important things that had happened to her,” because of the discipline, work and experience it provided. Her leader ship, ac tive invo lvem ent and management were much appreciated by the ranch’s cowboys. The ranch was among the first in the industry to provide medical benefits and retirement plans to its staff. Mrs. Marion also insisted on excellent living and working conditions and benefits for the cowboys, which inspired their deep devotion and explained why many worked the ranch for decades. In addition to serving as chairman of Burnett Ranches, she was the chairman and founder of the Burnett Oil company, and president of the Burnett Foundation. Over nearly 40 years, the foundation has distributed more than $600 million in charitable grants, supporting arts
and humanities; community development; education, health and human services. Her generous philanthropy was not limited to the financial. Her board directorships reflected her wide-ranging interests. In addition to the Kimbell Art Foundation and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, she was director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in Fort Worth; member of the Board of Overseers of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York City; and director emeritus of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, among others. Her past directorships included the board of regents of Texas Tech University, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Fort Worth Stock Show. Her many awards include the Great Woman of Texas (2003); the Bill King Award for Agriculture in 2007, the first woman to receive this award; and in 1996 the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, in Santa Fe, N.M. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2005; the American Quarter Horse Association’s Hall of Fame in 2007 and The Great Hall of Westerners National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 2009. Mrs. Marion is survived by her husband, John L. Marion, Chairman Emeritus of Sotheby’s and former Chairman and Chief Auctioneer of the international art auction house. He and Mrs. Marion were married in 1988. She is also survived by her daughter, Windi Grimes (husband David); John Marion, Jr.; Debbie Marion Murray (husband Mike); Therese Marion; Michelle Marion; and eight grandchildren. Clayton Williams, 88, Midland, a colorful Texas oilman and philanthropist died on February 14, 2020 at his home after struggling with pneumonia surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. Williams, who graduated from Texas A&M University in 1954, provided millions to the school, including providing the lead gift in 1985 toward the construction of the school’s alumni center, which is named for him, the university’s alumni association said on its website. Williams was known for his cowboy image and colorful phrases, one which cost him the Texas Governor’s seat in 1990. Williams was also remembered as a generous benefactor. Williams, who grew up in Fort Stockton, started his career by selling oil and gas leases there. In 2017, Noble Energy agreed to buy Williams’ Midland-based Clayton Williams Energy for $2.7 billion in stock and cash. Clayton was passionate about everything he did from his family to his ranches and premier Brangus cattle to
