Gregory Fanning

In the early hours of January 28, 2021 Gregory Dale Fanning passed peacefully at home after a long battle with MS.

Greg was born on August 3, 1946, at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco, Texas, to Charles W.D. “Dalton” and Madge Fanning. His younger brother Mike, was born 6 years later. Greg’s family lived in Axtell, Texas.

His youth was spent going on frequent hunting and camping trips with his late cousin, Gary Statham. He loved to share the stories of their trips into the woods, rebuilding cars, racing, dirt bike riding and other adventures. He developed a tremendous love for the outdoors, a passion that would follow him for the rest of his days as he shared it with family and friends.

As a young man, he lived in the DFW area and worked for a defense contractor. While there, he was blessed with his daughter, Cindy (Fanning) Amburgey and son, Jeff Fanning. Later he moved to Houston, Texas, and spent time driving short and long haul trucks before striking out on his own to start his first of many businesses.

In 1984, he moved to Waco and began working for Orkin pest control. In time, he found himself at the door of a young woman named Betsy who needed help with an infestation of venomous spiders. Little did he know, at that time, that he had met the love of his life. On July 12, 1986, they said "I Do" and he welcomed a new son, Kevin Moore, into his life. For the next 35 years, Greg and Betsy supported each other through many wonderful and fun times, business ventures and challenges.

He taught the value of hard work, problem solving, and meeting challenges head on. He allowed his kids to make their own mistakes, but was always there to help when they fell...and was NEVER shy about pushing them beyond what they thought they could do to achieve new successes. He liked to say “Can’t” was not in the dictionary…and even more frequently said, “can’t never could, never would, never will.” Always quick with a smile, a joke, or a prank, he taught the value of humor in bringing people together.

Greg loved to take the family camping in pastures, the lake and on the river. Many weekends were spent learning to build a proper camp fire (less than 5 feet tall was unacceptable) or taking boats and canoes down the Brazos River. He showed friends and family alike how to take a few moments to sit and enjoy the trees, the stars, and the majesty of nature. As the years progressed, camping evolved to keep up with his changing abilities, leading to many trips around the state with his beloved Betsy.

His years in Waco saw him develop many business opportunities, many centered around the vending industry. His favorite venture was his vending machine repair company, which he grew from a solo operation servicing local Waco vendors into an enterprise that offered opportunities to multiple employees and spanned a service area across Central and Eastern Texas. He developed a tremendous reputation for his ability to fix just about any vending machine, even 60 year old models, and cultivated many friendships through the industry. Retirement was bittersweet, but afforded him time to engage in his other passions of camping and square dancing.

At Allemande Hall, square dancing became a passion and a tremendous source of camaraderie. Greg and Betsy learned together, got to know callers in the area, and helped others learn to square dance. As his mobility began to limit his ability to participate on the dance floor, Greg still found joy in going out to the hall just to visit with friends, listen to the music, and watch the dancers. The friends they made were tremendous in the support they showed for them.

In his latter years, roles pivoted, with Betsy taking up the mantle of protector and caregiver. They had challenges to overcome, but he had prepared the family well for solving problems and finding new ways to do things. Through all of it, he never lost his smile.

He is survived by his spouse, Betsy Fanning; daughter, Cindy Amburgey and husband Richard; sons, Jeff Fanning and wife Loretta and Kevin Moore and wife Miranda; grandsons, Richard "Bub" Amburgey and wife Christy, Justin Amburgey and wife Lisa, and Brian Amburgey; eleven great-grandchildren; brother Mike Fanning and wife Ronnie, nephew David Fanning and more grand-dogs, grand-cats, and grand-chickens than we can count.

The scripture that reveals Greg’s faith is 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Visitation will be February 5, 2021 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Connally Compton Funeral Home, Waco, Texas. Funeral services will be held on February 6 at 11:00 AM, with Pastor Wayne Williams officiating. A short reception to follow and Interment at Moore Cemetery at 1 PM. Honorary Pallbearers are Dale Smith, Dalbert Thiele, John McCoy, John Larpenter, Wendell Moore and Harold Armstrong.

Memorials may be made to Allemande Hall, c/o Dalbert Thiele, P.O. Box 40, Aquilla, Texas 76622.