Weldon Eugene Lloyd

Weldon Eugene Lloyd passed from this Earth Sunday, April 22, 2018. Born October 12, 1945 as the lucky #7 child of Raymond and Leta Oramae (Gray) Lloyd, life wasn’t always easy for Weldon – but it was rich. He was a 1964 graduate of Snyder High School and was active in the FFA. He attended Howard County Junior College before being drafted into the Vietnam War and served in the US Army until 1971.  He received the Army Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Combat Certificate for the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the 82nd Airborne.

In a moment of serendipity he ran into Billie Sue Herring at the Scurry County Fair just before shipping out. Much of their romance plays out in letters from the War – she saved every one. When Weldon returned from the war he enrolled at South Plains College and later graduated from Texas Tech in 1972 under the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Dan Krieg.

Weldon and Sue married June 10, 1969, and lived in Lubbock. D’Lyn, M’Lys, and A’Lise completed the family – along with a series of dogs – Festus, Pepe, Blanco, Bluebell, Bitsy, Little Bit, Evant and finally Skeeter. They were hard on dogs. Weldon had a penchant for nicknames – D’Lyn was Binky, Binky Marie, Myrtle Magillicutty and finally Aggie. M’Lys and A’Lise were Sissy and Da-da or Mutt and Jeff. A few good friends called Weldon “Well Done” or “Burnt,” so it worked both ways.

Weldon was a farmer and sold agricultural chemicals across much of Texas and the Southwest. Cargill, Stauffer, Rhone-Poulenc, Bayer, and DeltaPine all benefited from his ability to make friends, loyalty, and the fact that he could sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo. He loved their deer leases. He had a brief foray into the lamb business but got out as soon as he figured out they woke up every day looking for a place to die. Sue was relieved she could reclaim the bathtub and didn’t have to fish baby lambs out of the frozen water trough any more.

He never made it to a basketball game or band concert, but he never missed a stockshow (priorities.) Borden County 4-H alumni may remember the time he was run-down by a Santa Gertrudis in Big Spring. That was the year the steers were named Hellfire and Brimstone. They both lived up to their names, and after that Weldon outlawed “mean” names, and said his girls had to name them all Fluffy.

He didn’t have much growing up (nine kids in a family will do that), so he was proud to buy his first-ever brand-new pickup D’Lyn’s Senior year in High School. And he eventually forgave her for leaving a package of hamburger meat under the passenger seat. With the ladies, he was a legend in his own mind and had a penchant for redheads and blondes.

Weldon loved to cook and feeding people was his gift. He had 50-yard-line seats for Tech football for years and was notorious for hosting the best tailgate parties. He never missed the races, and his NASCAR buddies have been a ROCK for the family this last year. He was there for every fundraiser, every time food was needed. His walls are lined with awards from Chili and BBQ cook-offs. And he left the girls a surprise gift of two frozen rattlesnakes. Bless.

He was happiest when on the water, most often with a beer in his hand. He bought a boat when the girls were in Junior High and was evil with the inner tube, not at all coordinated on skis, and fuming when they got powdered sugar donuts all over the maroon carpet. When he was finally done with the boat, he took it to D’Lyn in Plano, parked it in front of her house, and drove off. He forgot to mention it didn’t really run. After a few repairs, the girls just sold it. They forgot to mention it didn’t really run.

Just dropping stuff off was kind of a trend. When Weldon’s granddaughters Abbie and Kait were 6 and 4, he bought a “dollhouse” at a Habitat for Humanity auction. He was so excited to bring “the dollhouse” to them for Christmas. He arrived on Christmas Eve with a HUGE, wired-for-electricity playhouse on a flatbed trailer, told son-in-law John to have fun unloading it, and drove off.

A world traveler, Weldon loved Australia, Costa Rica and cruises. He wore his boots, jeans and cowboy hat everywhere. In Germany they thought he was JR. Fishing, deer hunting, Miller Lite, hauling home junk no one wanted, calling EVERYONE at 3:00 a.m., and threatening to call the sheriff were all ways he enjoyed retirement. He kept the USPS busy writing letters to politicians. (God bless John Cornyn and Ted Cruz for their patience.)

He loved as Jesus loved. He was friends with the rich and the poor. If he didn’t call the sheriff on you, you had a loyal friend for life.

Weldon is survived by D’Lyn and John Biggs of Austin, M’Lys Lloyd of Midland, and A’Lise Lloyd of Plano. His granddaughters, Abbie Grayce and Kaitlyn Biggs, will miss the never-ending supply of Dr. Pepper in the porch refrigerator. Weldon is also survived by sisters Patsy Cornett of Snyder and Dorthy “Dot” Beaty of Granbury. The “in-laws,” Janice Lloyd, Carol Lloyd, LaVell Lloyd, Gale Lloyd and Lane Beaty will miss him as well. Twenty-nine nieces and nephews round out the Lloyd side of the family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Leta, and siblings, Carl Ray, Eltine Vines, Jerry Bob, Billye Joe, Keith and Jimmy Don “Goober.”

The family would like to thank the incredible community of friends and family who have supported them this last year. Weldon was determined to do this his way, and was blessed with the help of Willie, Andre and Martin in doing so. Dr. David Close and Dr. Harold Smith were always available to help, and the girls will never forget the kindness and support received from their nurses.

The staff at the West Texas VA in Big Spring have been remarkable. They loved Weldon and grew to know his spirit. They provided incomparable care through the most difficult days.  The girls are so thankful for family and friends who took the time to visit Weldon and make his time at the VA Hospital and during chemo treatments more bearable.

A memorial service has been planned for Monday May 28, 2018 at LuKacy's Event Center in Hermleigh, Tx. The family is going to have lunch at 12:00 and a time of sharing around 2:00. "Since Daddy was all about cooking and feeding people,  we're just asking everyone to bring their favorite dish." The family requests that you not send flowers but instead plant a row of cotton in his honor, share a round at your favorite watering hole, give to any group honoring Veterans or donate to Team Tiara at www.teamtiara.net/donate .