Wayne Tarter

Wayne Tarter, 93, of Amarillo went to be with his Lord and Savior, his wife, son, and son-in-law on August 26, 2021; surrounded by his two grandsons Tim and Jerry.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Interment will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

Wayne was born on August 2, 1928 to J.W. and Rena Tarter. He started his career as an artist in high school during which time he won a national contest in design and produced several award winning sculptures. He worked as an illustrator for 7 years while continuing to improve his techniques in fine arts. His growing abilities in the field of commercial art led him to employment with several advertising agencies. His work has won over 40 awards and three times the highly coveted Meade National Award. His historical illustrations have been featured in numerous books and magazines. His work is sold throughout the country and numerous galleries. “Amarillo Nostalgic,” Special edition 1981, and the Globe News Calendar features 12 prints of Wayne Tarter’s historical oil paintings depicting nostalgic scenes around Amarillo:  Santa Fe Depot, the Red Light District, Amarillo High School original downtown campus and Dependable Cab Company just to name a few. He married the love of his life Betty on July 30, 1948. They had their first child Sonja, in 1949 followed by their son, Shane in 1958. He and his beloved wife spent many months over the years from 1970 until Betty got ill in 2017 at their cabin in Eagle Nest, NM in the Idlewild Community.

Wayne was a member of the 22nd Reserve Mobile Combat Battalion Seabees, Navy Reserves. He served his tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. He was there during the Tet Offensive. His reserve unit MCB 22 was called into active duty April 1968. He joined the Reserves because he always felt guilty he was too young to serve in WW II as his brothers did. He rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer during his 25 years in the Navy Reserves. Following his tour he established his own art studio.

Wayne served as president of Amarillo Ad Club around 1966, and he became “Member of the Year” in 1972. He received the Silver Medal Award in 1981, the highest honor of the Amarillo Ad Club. He was a man of great faith, dearly loved his family and his country. From 1981-1983, Wayne was retained by Bob LaRoche to paint murals inside and outside the Ruby Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents; J.W. and Rena Tarter; wife, Betty Tarter; son, Shane Tarter and son-in-law, Jack Stanley.

He is survived by his daughter, Sonja Stanley; 5 grandchildren, Jerry Stanley and wife, Rachel of Austin, TX, Tim Stanley of Salt Lake City, UT, Jeremy Tarter and wife, Angela of Albuquerque, NM, Chris Fangio and wife, Melissa and T.J. Fangio and wife, Amanda; 9 great-grandchildren, Ellie Kaye and Maddie Jo Stanley, Jaycee Tarter, Tyler Fangio, Anthony Fangio, and Kaylin, Kendra, Presley and Cash Fangio; 1 great-great grandchild, Asiah Fangio; and daughter-in-law, Karin Tarter and her husband, Ken Downs of Albuquerque, NM.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Friends of Israel or Samaritan’s Purse.