Carrol “C.L.” Bentley was born May 17, 1945, in Amarillo to B.K. and Helen Bentley. C.L. grew up in Panhandle, where he graduated from Panhandle High School in 1963. He attended West Texas State University on a football scholarship. He married Marilyn Rogers of Panhandle on Jan. 30, 1965, and enjoyed 52 years of marriage. C.L. farmed and ranched west of Panhandle until 1988. He founded Bentley’s Auction Service in 1979.

C.L. enjoyed spending time working at the auction business in Amarillo and Albuquerque. He was also a very active part of his six grand joys lives. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; four sons, Neil and wife Dawn, Bradley and wife Deedra and Cory and wife Jaime, all of Amarillo, and Jeffrey of Albuquerque; six grand joys, Lauren, Barek, Paige, Taylor, Brandon and Brooklyn; three siblings, Gene Bentley and wife Gabina of Anna, Bennita Skidmore and husband Bob of Miami and Ben Bentley and wife Pam of Canyon; and many nieces and nephews.