Jim Roy Wells, 81 of Friona passed away November 12, 2025 in Amarillo. Viewing was held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM with family visitation from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Friday, November 14, 2025 in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of the funeral home. Celebration of Life Services were at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Friona Methodist Church with Pastor Duke Underwood, officiating. Burial followed in the Friona Cemetery entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Jim Roy was born January 21, 1944 to Harland Clay and Jewell Lola Johnson Wells. He later married Cherry Beck July 26, 1969 in Ballinger, Tx. Together they raised two children, a daughter Dara and a son Jason. Jim Roy was a longtime area farmer who dedicated his life to farming the land through a variety of crops mainly corn and wheat. His true love was cattle. He took tremendous pride in his crops and the joy of his cattle. He was very passionate about his life on the farm.
He was preceded in death by his parents Harland and Jewell, a nephew, and two brothers- Harold Joe Wells and Max Dewaine Wells.
Those left to mourn his passing are his wife Cherry, daughter Dara and husband Keith, son Jason and wife Pat; and grandchildren Alek, Avril, Cody, and Wellsley, along with several nieces and nephews.
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Rosario Villarreal, 75 of Friona passed away October 22, 2025 in Friona. Viewing was from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, October 24, 2025 at Iglesia La Nueva Jerusalén in Friona with Celebration of Life Services 10:00 AM Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Iglesia La Nueva Jerusalén with Pastor Benito Mejia, officiating. Burial followed in the Friona Cemetery entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Rosario was born September 8, 2025 in Zacatecas, Mexico to Antonio and Tomasa Segura Garcia. She was a very active member of Iglesia La Nueva Jerusalén and loved to go to church. She was a great family woman, very loving and caring to family and friends. She loved knitting and made and gave away many handmade blankets. When not inside her home, she was outside tending to the gardening and vegetables.
Rosario was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ramon Villarreal, and granddaughter Breanna Mannrique.
Those to mourn her passing include 1 daughter-Erica Olivarez of Bovina, 1 son-Ramon Villarreal, 1 sister-Martha Contreras of Big Lake Texas, 4 brothers-Juan Garcia of Big Lake, Salvador Garcia of Friona, Antonio Garcia and Gus Garcia, both of Brush, CO., 3 grandchildren-Rebecca Rocha, Justin Bailey, Angel Villarreal, 4 great-grandchildren-Ayden Rocha, Audree Rocha, Avayah Rocha, and Abrian Rocha.
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Gay Welch Jucha, age 72 of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2025. She was born May 20,1953, in Friona, Texas, to Louis and Mamie Lou (Wilson) Welch. Gay was known for her strong will, determination, flair for style, adventurous spirit and love of family. Gay attended first through twelfth grades in the Friona Schools. After graduating in 1971, she attended Stephen F. Austin University and later graduated with a degree in Education from West Texas State University.
Gay had an entrepreneurial spirit. While working as a restaurant hostess in Amarillo, she started baking desserts. One such dessert became her famous three-layered coconut cake. This was the beginning of her catering business. Gay came from a family of wonderful cooks, so she knew how to make more than desserts. She decided to open her own restaurant, the Trade Wind Diner. There, her homemade cooking quickly made the diner a beloved local spot.
One of Gay’s greatest joys was spending time at the family cabin, Cresta del Monte, in Northern New Mexico. She loved to quilt with her grandmother and mother. Gay enjoyed the outdoors: gardening, water and snow skiing, and hunting.
Gay had a special place in her heart for helping those in need. She gave freely, whether it was clothing, household goods, groceries, or simply her time and attention. She cared for animals of all kinds; stray dogs, cats, rabbits, and whatever came across her path.
Gay married Anthony Jucha in 2004 and lived in Connecticut for several years. Later they moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Gay worked as a teacher-registrar at the Rio Cyber Academy.
She was preceded in death by parents, Louis and Mamie Lou Welch and brother David Craig Welch.
Gay is survived by her husband Anthony Jucha; son Logan Bingham, Stuttgart, Germany; grandchildren, Hayden, Audrey, and Simon Bingham, Stuttgart, Germany; sister Jan Bogard (Billy), Brownwood, Texas; sister Holly Easley (Wade), Hereford, Texas; brother Lynn Welch (Peter), Flint, Texas; stepsons Adam Jucha (Sarah) and children, Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Michael Jucha, Connecticut. Nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends lovingly remember Gay.
Gay felt blessed to have had high school classmates as lifelong friends, as well as two special friends she called her “Angels” because of the love and kindness they showed her near the end of her life. The family thanks both Effie Layman and Rachell Odessay for selflessly volunteering to give Gay excellent care and warm friendship, and to Interim Hospice of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Gretchwin Carlotta Bates, 83, of Lubbock, Texas, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025, at Raider Ranch in Lubbock, leaving behind a legacy painted in vibrant colors—both on canvas and in the lives she touched. A Celebration of Life Graveside Service was held at 3:00 PM on Saturday October 18, 2025 at the Friona Cemetery with Jeff Procter, officiating. Burial following in the Friona Cemetery entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Born December 8, 1941, in Houston to William Benjamin and Wilda Ivory Chamberlain Brown, Gretchwin met her future husband, Phillip Dean Bates, at Abilene Christian University. Their love story began on campus and led to marriage on November 30, 1964, in Taylor County. She set aside her degree to become an Air Force officer’s wife, embracing two decades of relocations across the country and abroad with grace and adventure. Through every move—from Germany to Wyoming to California to Montana to Alabama and back to Texas—she created a home filled with warmth, laughter, and the organized chaos of raising six children.
Demonstrating the resilience that defined her character, Gretchwin returned to college years later, earning her degree while managing a household that resembled a small village. After Phillip’s retirement as a Major in 1986, the family settled permanently in Lubbock, where Gretchwin transformed her passion for art into a calling. She spent years inspiring young artists in Lubbock ISD before retiring from Levelland ISD, where generations of students discovered their creative voices under her patient guidance. Her classroom was a place where mistakes became opportunities and blank canvases held infinite possibilities.
Gretchwin’s devotion to family remained her greatest joy. Her six children—Amy Bailey (Bossier City, LA), Daniel Bates (Dallas), Robert Bates (Springfield, MO), Jay Bates (Lubbock), Duane Bates (Los Angeles), and Melissa Richling (San Diego)—along with 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, brought immeasurable happiness to her life. A faithful member of the Church of Christ, she lived her beliefs through quiet acts of service and unwavering support for those she loved.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of nearly 49 years, Phillip Dean Bates (February 17, 2014); her parents; and her brother, Keith Barry Browne.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Children’s Home of Lubbock, 4404 Idalou Road, Lubbock, TX 79403.
From Texas classrooms to military bases abroad, Gretchwin painted her world with love, faith, and the steadfast belief that every life—like every canvas—holds beauty waiting to be revealed.
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Johnnie Ruth Ray, 99 of Friona, formerly of Bovina passed away November 15, 2025 in Friona. Celebration of Life Graveside Services was held 11:00 AM Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the Bovina Cemetery in Bovina. Burial following entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Johnnie was born January 4, 1926 in Greenville, Texas to Virgil Lee and Maggie Myrtle Kuykendall and was just a few weeks away from celebrating 100 years. She married Benjamin Franklin Ray Jr. in 1947 and enjoyed life on the family farm helping him. She took care of all the finances and business of the Ray family farm for many years. Her morning started early gathering eggs from their chickens and enjoyed the chicken pecks while doing it. She loved cooking, and canning, especially homemade pear preserves, and going to auctions.
Preceding her in death was her parents Virgil and Maggie McFarland, her husband Benjamin Franklin Ray Jr., 1 daughter-Donna Gail Smallin, 2 brothers-Billy Ray McFarland, and Leo Franklin McFarland, and 1 sister-Mamie Jo Wineinger.
She will be missed by her son- Dan Ray of Bovina and several distant relatives.
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