05/07/2024
Clyde Vance Dunnam died peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2024, at home with his family, and sweet dog Ginger, by his side. Vance was born on Nov 6, 1929 in Waco, Texas. He grew up in Speegleville and attended public school and graduated from Waco High School.
In 1952, Vance married Vicki Hohertz of San Angelo. Vance and Vicki had three children, Vance Dunnam Jr, Cathy Dunnam Pleitz and Jim Dunnam. Vance was widowed from Vicki in 1995, and he married Merrilee Lafferty Harmon in 1997.
Vance earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Baylor University in 1951. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Baylor School of Law in 1952. Upon obtaining his law license, Vance joined his father and brother at Dunnam, Dunnam & Dunnam. Over the years, he practiced law with all three of his children, two of his grandchildren and his wife, Merrilee.
Vance practiced law his entire adult life, spending 70 years in active practice, and never retiring. He continued to go to the office and work until just a few weeks before his passing. Board Certified in Family Law and Civil Trial Law, Vance actually worked in almost every area of law and represented clients from all walks of life. Vance established a reputation as being one of the most active, most skilled and most successful trial attorneys in the history of Central Texas. He worked with and mentored hundreds of attorneys, including several who went on to hold state and federal legislative and judicial offices.
Vance was a member of and held numerous leadership positions throughout our community, including the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish and York Rite Bodies, and the Karem Shrine. Among numerous other organizations and roles, he served as President of the Waco Jaycees, Chancellor Commander Knights of Pythias and President of both the McLennan County Jr Bar Association and the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association.
Over his lifetime, Vance was heavily involved in many hobbies and interests, ranging from sail boating, motorcycle riding, fly fishing, beekeeping, trapping and hunting everything from deer, quail, duck, and dove to hunting arrowheads. His greatest love, other than his family and the law, was ranching. All who came to know Vance took great joy in his wisdom, his humor and his generosity.
Vance was a lifelong member of the Methodist church and taught Sunday School for several decades. One particular sermon he was often asked to deliver to numerous local churches during the Easter season focused on the Trial of Christ.
Vance is survived by his wife - Merrilee; his children - Vance Jr and wife Irma, Cathy and husband Dan, and Jim and wife Michelle; nine grandchildren - Vanessa Dunnam Evans, Jennifer Dunnam, Stephanie Dunnam Mabry, Joshua Pleitz, Jacob Pleitz, Jordan Pleitz, Lauren Ratway, Mason Dunnam, and Rachel Dunnam; and twelve great grandchildren.
Visitation with the family will be at Connally-Compton Funeral Directors 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8th. Funeral services will be held at Cogdell Methodist Church starting at 1:00 p.m on Thursday, May 9th. Graveside will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
Celebrate the life of Clyde Dunnam, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Connally-Compton Funeral Directors.
