Auber Duren Dean

WEATHERFORD, TX - Auber Duren Dean, 97, of Weatherford died Monday, December 25th at Medical City Hospital.

Auber was born on October 14, 1926 in Columbiana (Shelby County), Alabama and was the youngest of ten children born to Rev. John William Dean and Elizabeth Antonette Dean. At age 15, Auber was enrolled in ninth grade at Cragford High School in Cragford, Alabama for what would be some of the most memorable years of his life. In May of 1945, he graduated high school in a class of nine. Auber would continue to return to his beloved Cragford for school reunions until the age of 88.

With our country at the height of WWII, Auber was eager to enlist in the US Army after graduation and joined many friends and family in defending our country's freedom. In July of 1945, he was inducted into service and completed basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. He was then assigned to the US Occupational Forces in the European Theatre. He spent the majority of his time in Vienna, Austria - a place that he spoke fondly of until his death. After attaining the rank of Sergeant, Auber was discharged from service in 1947 and returned to Cragford, Alabama, then enrolling at Jacksonville State University where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. 

Soon thereafter, Auber began working in the Oil and Gas Industry in pipeline construction. This was labor that took him all over the country, including the tiny West Texas town of Seagraves, Texas where he met Mary Frances Manning working behind the drug store soda fountain. On December 22, 1956, Auber and Frances were married in Odessa, Texas where they spent the majority of their lives and raised their two boys, Mark and Kent. The love and acceptance of Auber into the Manning family was immediate and mutual. He and Frances were blessed to build unforgettable memories with them throughout the years. 

Auber continued his career in pipeline construction and retired as Executive Vice President of McVean & Barlow Pipeline, Inc. in 1984 following a 26-year stint. In 1986, he took the position of State Coordinator for the Texas Notary Public Association and retired again in 1996. 

To know Auber was, of course, to know his passion for serving God, serving others, loving his family & friends, and building birdhouses. Steeped in a foundation of faith from his father's pioneering years of ministry in Alabama, Auber served as a deacon or in other roles of leadership (and always in the choir) of every church he attended throughout his life. He was truly a man of God and an obedient servant. He and his wife were blessed to build lifelong friendships with many of the families with whom they worshipped throughout their lives.

Throughout 1998-1999, Auber played a vital role in founding the Permain Basin Mission Center in Odessa, Texas. This was a true labor of love for him as he served in leadership and met with, counseled, and attended to the needs of thousands of individuals over a period of 15 years. In 2013, Auber left PBMC and moved to Weatherford, Texas where he would spend the final ten years of his fruitful life. Upon arriving to Weatherford, he quickly joined Northside Baptist Church, jumped into a wonderful Seniors Sunday School class, and continued his mission work as a weekly volunteer at the Parker County Center of Hope. He would continue this service until he was physically unable. 

And finally, those birdhouses. A 30-plus year hobby of Auber's was building birdhouses, or maybe better described as bird destinations - cabins, cottages, churches, barns, hotels, gas stations, country stores, lighthouses, and the list goes on. While he was never a woodworker nor an artist, he had a knack for rekindling the memories of days gone by with his birdhouse creations. Many people around the nation have either purchased or been gifted with one of his birdhouse designs and each truly carries an imprint of his passion and his patience.

Auber was preceded in death by his mother and father, six brothers and three sisters, and his wife, Mary Frances. He is survived by his sons and their wives: Mark Dean & Bobbi Updike of Weesatche, Texas and Kent & Gigi Dean of Weatherford, Texas, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. 

Please join us in celebrating the life of Auber Dean at one of two Life Celebration services:

Thursday, 1/18/24 - First Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas at 2:00 PM 
Friday, 1/19/24 - Northside Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas at 10:30 AM

In lieu of flowers, the family would humbly request that you send donations to one of the places that meant so much to Auber:

Permian Basin Mission Center - https://www.permianbasinmission.org
Parker County Center of Hope - https://centerofhopetx.com
Cragford Community Center - P.O. Box 123, Cragford, Alabama 36255