Nickie Ray Hand

On 26 April 2020, Nickie Ray Hand, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 70 in Dumas, Texas. Nick was born on December 18, 1949, in Clovis, New Mexico, to LR Hand and Dimple (Brannon) Hand. He was raised in Friona, Texas, where he started his law enforcement career as a city police officer in 1977. He went on to graduate from the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy in October 1981 and served as a Senior Corporal State Trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety working on the highway for almost 36 years, with assignments in Vega, Dimmitt, Claude, and Dumas. On January 23, 1999, he married his best friend and the love of his life, Deni, with whom he just celebrated 21 wonderful years. As a dedicated public servant, Nick took great pride in serving his beloved state of Texas and upon his retirement in June of 2016, he was appointed as a Texas Special Ranger. He and Deni shared a deep passion for hunting, fishing, wildlife, and the outdoors that took them on unforgettable trips to places across the country, including Colorado, South Dakota, and Alaska. On and off the highway he was best known for his no-nonsense personality, his unwavering sense of professionalism, and his wry sense of humor. Nick was preceded in death by his father, LR Hand; his mother, Dimple; and his brother, Burke. He is survived by his wife, Deni; his children, Stacey, Lynn and Kami; his sister, LeVada; and his brother, Mike. A public viewing will be held at Morrison Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Dumas Ave, Dumas, Texas, on Monday, May 4, 2020 from 2 oclock in the afternoon until 8 oclock in the evening. A private graveside service will be held in Friona, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made in Nicks name to Tunnel2Towers.org.