WELDON JERRELL HAYES
Weldon Jerrell Hayes, 93, passed away on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the Childress Church of Christ with Mr. Bob Thomas officiating. Prior to graveside services, a visitation was scheduled immediately following the church service. Graveside was held at 4:15 p.m. at Childress Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.
Weldon was born on Sept. 8, 1932, to Henry and Eula Hayes in Kress, Texas.
He attended school in Kress and Tulia, Texas, then high school in Plainview, Texas. His nickname in high school was “T-Bone.” After high school, he received a full scholarship to Abilene Christian College to run track, where he still holds the record for the 120-yard high-hurdles in 1954 and received the nickname “Gabby.”
It was there that he met and married Helen Brown, the love of his life. Their journey together took them to California, where he served in the Army. After his service, they returned to Childress, Texas to work for his father in-law, W. L. Brown, at Brown Auto Supply, later taking over the business.
Weldon has been a lifelong member of the Childress Church of Christ, where he was the song leader for many decades and also served as deacon. Weldon was a member of the Lions Club and was instrumental in getting the first air show in Childress because of his love of flying. Weldon’s second love was his eight grandchildren, who kept him busy and young. He loved to make his award-winning homemade ice cream for every occasion. Weldon was a true gentleman whose love for the Lord never wavered.
Weldon is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Hayes and Eula (Van Dalsem) Hayes; wife Helen Hayes; sister Cina Ann Hayes; and brothers Howard Hayes and John Hayes.
Weldon is survived by son Russell Hayes and wife Gayla, of Littlefield, Texas; daughter Margie Strebeck and husband Brett, of Canyon, Texas; son Billy Hayes and wife Shauna, of Childress, Texas; grandchildren Valerie Strebeck, of Austin, Will Strebeck, of Canyon, Allison Sanchez and husband Eli, of San Antonio, Brenna Hayes-Oswalt and husband Walt, of Cotton Center, Texas, Blair Hayes and fiancé Alex Balboa, of Lubbock, Texas, Logan Hayes, of Childress, Taylor Hayes and wife Aubrey, of Littleton, Colo., and Austin Hayes and wife Rachel, of Lubbock; and great-grandchildren Josey Wells Oswalt and Jesse James Oswalt, both of Cotton Center.
