JD Aronce, 40 of Friona passed away December 17, 2021 in Amarillo. Viewing will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM with Rosary Services at 6:00 PM Wednesday, December 22, 2021 in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY with Mass of Christian Burial Services scheduled for 11:00 AM Thursday, December 23, 2021 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church of Friona with Father Gregory Bunyan as Celebrant. Burial following in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
JD was born February 15, 1981 in El Paso, Texas to Jesus David and Nellie Castro Aronce.
He grew up in Friona and graduated with the class of 1999. Following graduation, he attended WT A&M and South Plains College earning his Associates of Arts in English and Music Engineering.
He was a gifted musician, talented singer, and passionate songwriter. He was the lead singer of Downpour and Red Republic. He had hundreds of fans, friends, and family that followed his musical career from the Panhandle to San Antonio, and Phoenix, AZ. He was a front man in every sense of the word and loved performing and entertaining people. He later worked in financial services.
JD enjoyed hiking, camping, skiing Black Diamond trails, and traveling around the United States, Mexico, and Scandinavia. His true joy was spending quality time with his family and friends.
He loved his family, nephews, and nieces and will forever be "Uncle Jelly". He had many, many close friends who became his brothers and sisters. He treasured his beloved dog, Friona. His voice and his laughter were contagious to all around him and his nature of making everyone feel special will be impossible to forget.
He will be greatly missed and his legacy of compassionate love, overflowing joy, and positive energy will continue to live on in all the people's lives he has touched.
Those to carry on his legacy include his parents David and Nellie Aronce of Friona, 4 sisters-Martha Aronce Hartgen and husband Kenneth of McCamey, Anna Aronce Hernandez and husband Jonathan of San Antonio, Marie Aronce Cocian and husband Emanuel of Aurora, CO., and Rebecca Aronce and wife Amanda of Littleton, CO., nieces and nephews- Luke Mata, Ethan Mata, Shiloh Cocian, Gracen Cocian, Amberly Hernandez, Brooke Hernandez, Kayla Hernandez and Camden Cocian, and his beloved Maltese that he so lovingly named Friona after his hometown.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online guest book at: hansardfamily.com
Dora Geneva Bentley, 82 of Friona passed away December 14, 2021 in Friona. Viewing was held from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, December 19, 2021 in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY with Celebration of Life Graveside Services scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday, December 20, 2021 at the Friona Cemetery in Friona with Jeff Procter, officiating. Burial following by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Dora Geneva was born January 15, 1939 in Stevenson, Alabama to Alvin and Ella Mae Evans Wilkerson. She later married Alvis "Dave" Bentley December 3, 1955 in Dimmitt.
She loved to spend time with her family and enjoyed cooking for them. Her caring heart also went to love and care for her animals.
She is preceded in death by her parents Alvin and Ella Mae, husband Dave, 1 son-Danny Ray Bentley, 1 sister-Dorothy Benson, 1 brother-David Wilkerson, 1 son-in-law-Tommy Walker, 1 daughter-in-law Rhonda Bentley.
Those to carry on her legacy include 1 son-Ricky Don Bentley, 1 daughter-Susan Elaine Walker of Muleshoe, 2 brothers-Rayford Wilkerson and Kenneth Wilkerson, and 1 sister Alene Gamble, all of Friona, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online guest book at: hansardfamily.com
James "Larry" Buckley, 75, passed away at Covenant Medical Center of Lubbock on Tuesday December 14, 2021, after a brief battle with an aggressive lung cancer. He was born December 8, 1946, in Dimmitt, Texas, to Gwen and James F. Buckley. His siblings are Janet (Jobey) Claborn of Muleshoe, Steve (Vicki) Buckley of Dimmitt, and Darrell (Beth) Buckley of Dimmitt.
A multi-year letterman at Friona High School in football, basketball, and track, Larry was a top contributor in all sports. In basketball, he was the leading scorer for three consecutive years, ultimately leading them to their first district championship in 20 years. After graduating in 1965, Larry spent a brief time at West Texas State University before joining in the U.S. Air Force. Initially stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, he later transferred to Bangor, Maine, where he met Myrna Joyce Eastman. They soon fell in love and were married on October 14, 1967. They lived at times in Dimmitt, Hereford, and Littlefield, and he cherished each day of their 54 years together.
Larry was a true jack-of-all-trades, a Renaissance man born to the wrong century. He was a tall-sitting Cowboy driving cattle on horseback; a skilled Welder fashioning oil rigs, trailers, truck beds, and woodburning stoves; an independent Mountain Man creating a Colorado cabin to escape the confines of "city life"; a Farmer driving a harvester and raising goats with equal skill; a diverse Restaurant Owner of The Ranch House, City Pizza, and Cross Roads BBQ; an Entrepreneur of 12V Air Compressors and personalized antler hunting knives; an Outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and spending time in God's creation; a Brother who treasured his sibling relationships; a Father who taught his sons to seek God, love their wives, and lead their families; a loving Husband who always picked the last rose for his wife. Finally, he was a man of God, dedicating the start of each day to speaking with God and the rest of the day listening.
Larry is survived by his wife Myrna of Littlefield and sons Blake (Jenny) Buckley of Frisco and Benton (Ashli) Buckley of Shallowater. He was blessed with 7 grandchildren.
Larry donated his body to the Texas State Forensic Anthropology Center in San Marcos. A small family gathering will be held in January to remember him and share memories. In lieu of flowers, please remember Larry by fighting cancer via donations to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org. Go to https://www.cancer.
org/ and click "Give in Honor & Memorial."
Cruz Rodriguez, 76 of Friona, passed away December 15,2021 in Hereford. Viewing was held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary Service at 6:00 PM Tuesday December 22, 2021 in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY. Mass of Christian Burial services are scheduled at 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church of Friona with Father Gregory Bunyan as Celebrant. Burial to follow in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Cruz was born on May 3, 1945 in Mexico to Vicente Rodriguez and Fabiana Bueno. She married Martin Gomez in 1964. She was a homemaker. Cruz loved crocheting, cooking, and taking care of her home and family. She was greatly involved in the church in Mexico.
Cruz is preceded in death by her parents Vicente and Fabiana Rodriguez.
Those to carry on her legacy include her husband Martin Gomez of Friona, Texas. 4 sons - Luis Gomez and wife Gabriela of Greeley, CO, Jorge Gomez of Greeley, CO, Socorro Gomez and wife Rita of Denver Co, Martin Gomez and wife Carla of Herford, 5- daughters Delfina Gomez of Chihuahua, Mexico, Carolina Alvidre and husband Federico of Chihuahua, Mexico Fabiana Gomez of Friona, Cruz Vela and husband Juan of Bovina, and Zimi Loera and husband Ramiro of Elk City, OK., brothers, sisters, 30 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online guest book at: hansardfamily.com
Thelma Coffey, 95, of Clovis, NM passed away December 21, 2021, in Lubbock, TX. Thelma was born October 12, 1926, in Melrose, NM to Floyd Traylor and Wilma Rumbaugh Skeen. She graduated from Field School, then married the love of her life John Leonard Coffey in 1943. She then became the consummate homemaker. In 1964 she fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams by beginning college at West Texas State University, where she graduated in 1968. She then taught school in Friona, Lazbuddie and Clovis Community College. She was a member of Central Baptist Church.
Loved ones include daughters, Carol Taylor and husband, Bill; Kay McGee and husband, Edward; Becky Weatherly and husband, Bill; and Kelli Coffee; grandchildren, Heather, Taylor, Ben, Brook, Beth, HaliAnne, and Samantha; and 6 great-grandchildren; sisters Juanita Woods and Doris Welsh and husband, Marvin.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Leonard; grandson John; four brothers Clifford, Archie, Charles, and Don; and two sisters Anna and Mary.
Memorials are suggested to New Mexico Baptist Children's Home P.O. Box 629 Portales, NM 88130.
Family visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Zone, Thursday, December 23, 2021, at Central Baptist Church 2501 North Norris Street Clovis, NM 88101. A celebration of her life will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 23, 2021, in Central Baptist Church in Clovis New Mexico, with B.J. Brooks officiating. Graveside services will follow in Melrose Memorial Cemetery. Please celebrate the life of Thelma by visiting www.sandersfuneralhome.com.