Gordon J. (Rick) Mayer, Jr.

Gordon J. "Rick" Mayer, Jr., P.E., 76, brother of Pati Mayer Milligan, of Waco, lost his battle with COPD on Friday, December 6, 2021. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Waco, with the Rev. Brandon McGinnis officiating. Rick was born on March 21, 1945, in Longview, Texas to Gordon J. and Nauty Byrd Pelphrey Mayer, Gladewater, Texas, civic leaders. His grandparents were road-construction pioneer Lasco Wheeler Pelphrey and cultural leader Nauty Byrd Wornell Pelphrey of Gladewater. His father was in Europe during WWII when he was born and said, “If it is a boy name him after me.” He was christened Gordon Joseph Mayer, Jr.; however, his mother really wanted to name him Richard, so she called him Rick. A precocious child, Rick first walked at 9 months for his father, just home from the war. Rick was always happy to explain, “I am an engineer,” when jokingly discussing his personality type. His grandfather had him “on the job” as a baby, and his father did the same. He first started picking roots from roadbeds at 15. He graduated as a civil engineer from Texas A&M University in 1972 after volunteering for a tour of duty in Viet Nam for the Air Force. He received a master’s degree in traffic engineering from Texas A&M which led to a career in city management. He decided he needed an MBA to succeed in city management and progressed from City Traffic Engineer to Director of Public Works in multiple cities. He retired as Engineering Deputy Director of Public Works and City Engineer from Southlake. A quote from his department at South Lake: “He is a straight shooter with a wicked sense of sarcasm and a great sense of humor.” He spent the first few years of retirement in Public Works management for Jersey Village, Athens, Tyler, then Athens and Tyler needed him back. He finally retired for health reasons. Rick was a lifelong Episcopalian. He served on the DeSoto, Texas, city council for many years. He was a member of the Rotary Club and the Texas Association of Professional Engineers. He has been a member of many other organizations and volunteered in many non-profit events. After retirement, he and Barbra moved to a lakefront house with a boat and a terrific view at Hideaway Lake in East Texas. At home he had his dogs, often grandchildren, and constantly watched the Weather Channel. He loved his West Highland Terriers and longhaired Jack Russell. He always had to have the newest and biggest toys; he had to remodel the cabinets in his living room to hold a humongous TV. He loved new cars and trucks. Corvettes were his passion and he had three. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbra Whisenhunt Mayer, Ellis County Planner; his parents; and his grandparents. He is survived by his sister, Dr. Pati Mayer Milligan of Waco; nieces, Dr. Mindy Milligan and Simon Reeves, Ben, Charlotte, Crewe and Laurel of Manchester, England, Dr. Mitzi Milligan and Dr. Sam Taylor, Mackenzie, Sonora, and Millie of Rangiora, New Zealand; and his “adopted” daughter Michelle Lancaster of Waco. He is also survived by his beloved wife’s children and grandchildren: son, Stefen and Isabel Glenn, Nando, and Daniel of Moore, Texas; daughter, Danielle Walker of Plano; granddaughter Haley Walker and Dustin Durrett; great grandchildren, Eli and Mary of Mesquite; grandsons Stefan and Mikayla Valasquez of San Diego, and Ian Cummings of Plano; and son, Zachary Leftwich and Marissa Recht of Portland, Oregon. He always said, “To not have any natural children I sure ended up with a lot of them.” What can I say about my brother? He was brilliant, a great thinker, a very successful engineer, an avid reader of current events, spy novels, histories of battles, biographies of political leaders past and present and an expert in trivia. We spoke to each other in musical lyrics or trivia and we always understood the references. I could ask him anything about why or what caused a certain happening in today’s world and he would enlighten me. He was a wonderful boss and colleague as proven by many of his close friends from the office. As a young man he was a really fun guy; Rick and his friends didn’t think they would live to 30 but they all proved that wrong. As a child he was a big brother who I thought was always mean to me but now I know he loved me dearly. He did hit me in the forehead with a shovel, but he claims I was in the way. I lived with Rick the first 18 years of my life and I adored him. After Barbra’s death, he moved to Waco because I told him I had resources to help him. He remembered it differently. He kept saying, “She said she was going to take care of me.” I was with him when he last spoke and when he died. I will forever treasure these last four years. I still adore him. Donations may be made to the American Lung Association or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to share a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.