Gregory Alvin Gruben

Gregory Alvin Gruben

Obituary

Gregory Alvin Gruben, 57, of Snyder, Texas, passed away on July 6, 2023, surrounded by family and close friends.

Greg was born in Sweetwater, Texas, to Wilber Lee and Carol Ann Gruben on October 3, 1965.  He grew up in Rotan and graduated from Rotan High School in 1984. Greg married Liesel Gruben of Snyder on July 8, 2009.

Greg had a servant heart and spent his life serving and helping youth and adults across the entire state of Texas. After graduating from Tarleton State University with his Bachelor and Master degrees, he began his career with Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension in 1989.  His first job with AgriLife Extension was as the Assistant County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Midland County.    In March of 1992, he was named County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Crane and worked there for 5 years. He then moved to Snyder in 1997 and continued his extension career as the County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Scurry County.

Greg was extremely passionate about livestock and sharing his knowledge with youth.  Greg was committed to helping young people and spent countless hours teaching them essential life skills. There is no way to adequately capture every aspect of Greg’s involvement with AgriLife Extension and the impact he had on others or to calculate the number of youth that he has taught, encouraged, helped with animal selection, feeding techniques, evaluation livestock and showmanship skills. As a County Extension Agent, Greg provided his expertise in working with 4-H youth through their livestock, horse, shotgun, and archery projects and many of the other aspects of the 4-H program in Scurry County.  He has served on numerous district and state 4-H committees, including Trap and Skeet, Archery, Horse Show, and Junior Leader Lab. Because of Greg’s vast knowledge related to beef cattle, he served on the State Steer Classification Committee to help develop new steer classification standards that are used at each major show for steer classifications.  He has also served in various leadership roles for at the district and state level of the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association (TCAAA). Greg was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Scurry County Junior Livestock Association in 2023.

In Greg’s 34 years of service, he mentored countless county agents in developing quality agriculture programs in their counties as well as serving farmers and ranchers in Scurry County. He was highly respected throughout the state for his expertise and knowledge in the livestock industry.  Greg was extremely passionate about livestock and sharing his knowledge with youth.  He had a huge heart and his love for his 4-H youth was evidenced by his constant  “pestering” and picking at the kids.  He never hesitated  to express his thoughts and opinions or even criticize someone’s lack of performance when needed.

If Gruben knew you, then you probably had a “special” nickname that will stick with you for the rest of your life.  You undoubtedly have a few Gruben “quotes” and Gruben language that will stick with you too.  You also knew that he loved and believed in you, and he would never forget your phone number….ever.  Greg has made lasting imprints in so many hearts and he will be forever missed.

Greg was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Ann Gruben.

Survivors include his wife Liesel; his sister Evette Peterson of Snyder, TX; his father Wilber Gruben (Meg) of Rotan, TX; his beloved son Clancey of Snyder, TX; Jacob Lehrer of Brownwood, TX; Joshua Lehrer of Midland, TX; Tatum (Tyler) Parker and daughters Peyton and Dallas of Lubbock, TX; Tess (Kyle) Burklow and daughter Madilynn of Amarillo, TX; brother in law Dale (Carole) Daniel of Jacksonville, FL; mother in law Erma Daniel of Rotan, TX; his nieces and nephews Madison Peterson, Gage Peterson, Olivia Daniel, and Garrett Daniel; and many other aunts and uncles, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be this Sunday, July 9 at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home from 6 to 7 pm.

The service will be Monday, July 10 at Colonial Hill Baptist Church in Snyder at 10 am.  Graveside will follow at Hillside Memorial Gardens in Snyder.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to The Scurry County Junior Livestock Association’s “Greg Gruben Memorial Scholarship Fund” at 2605 Avenue M, Snyder, TX 79549.