Willis Brunson

Graveside services will be held at 2 pm Monday, May 19, at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, New Mexico for Willis W. Brunson of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Brunson, 102, died on May 14, 2025 at his home in Artesia.

David Brunson will officiate at the services.

Willis was born on January 5, 1923 in Midland, Texas; the son of Gilbert C. Brunson and Anna Holder Brunson.

Willis married Nettie Ann Moyers November 16, 1944, a short time before he was drafted into the Army and was sent to Europe toward the end of WWII. He served for two years and returned to his wife and newborn son, Ron, to cowboy on the L7 Ranch south of Crosbyton, Texas. While there his second son, Allan, was born and in 1950 partnered with his dad, G.C. Brunson and bought a ranch north of Roswell, New Mexico. A third son, David, was born there and Willis and his dad ranched there until 1959. Gilbert retired and they sold that ranch and Willis and Nettie Ann bought their ranch at Corona, New Mexico where they ranched until 2000. He sold his cattle and leased his ranch then and lived on the ranch until 2009 when he and Nettie Ann moved to Artesia, New Mexico near son David and wife Brenda. Nettie Ann passed away in 2010 and Willis lived in Artesia until the present time.

When asked what his aspirations in life were, Willis always simply said he wanted to be a good cowboy. We are confident he attained that goal. He ranched 50 years raising good quality Herford cattle with his cow-calf operations. He was a good hand breaking colts, training roping and barrel horses, and won his share of calf roping and team roping over the years. In 1987 he was all around champion in the New Mexico Old Timers Rodeo Assn., being 64 years old. Roping was his passion and sport. He and his close friend John D. Hollyman traveled and rodeoed together in his later years.

Willis loved the Lord and his church family at Grace Bible Fellowship in Artesia. He was surrounded by people who loved him and respected him. A life well lived!

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nettie Ann Brunson, brother Curtis, and sisters Carol, Dorothy and Bonnell.

Survivors include his sons Ron Brunson(Marianne) of Plainview, Texas, Allan Brunson(Debbie) of Stephenville, Texas and David Brunson(Brenda) of Artesia; a sister Darlene Hendriecks of Lubbock, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. We all loved him and will miss him.