DALLAS -- T. Boone Pickens was remembered at a funeral on Thursday for his humor, tenacity and larger-than-life personality.
"Boone was bigger than life. In fact, Boone was bigger than Texas itself," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at the service at Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Abbott recalled that when Pickens was once asked if he was from Texas or Oklahoma, he replied: "Both." Abbott said, "Boone was too big to be confined to just one state."
The brash and quotable oil tycoon, who grew even wealthier through corporate takeover attempts, died Sept. 11 at the age of 91 at his Dallas home.
There will be a public memorial Sept. 25 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. Pickens donated hundreds of millions of dollars to OSU.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told those gathered that when faced with difficulties, Pickens often used humor and tenacity. Jones said that was especially true as Pickens' health failed near the end of his life.
"Boone would get slapped back. Boy, here he'd come again. He'd get slapped back. He'd call on that humor. He'd call on everything he could. He would inspire the people around him," Jones said. "Boone was a fourth-quarter player. Probably the best fourth-quarter player you and I will have ever had the privilege of being on the team with."
A message Pickens wrote before his death recalling life lessons was posted online Wednesday.
"If I had to single out one piece of advice that's guided me through life, most likely it would be from my grandmother, Nellie Molonson," part of the message read. "She always made a point of making sure I understood that on the road to success, there's no point in blaming others when you fail."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.