Wynona Byrl (Willett) Arnett, age 85 passed away Saturday August 31, 2013 in Pueblo, Colorado. Wynona was born December 19, 1927 in the family home near Guy, New Mexico to Alzo F. and Bessie (Cooper) Willett.
Wynona spent her childhood on the family ranch near Guy, New Mexico. She started school at the age of three in the one room Guy school. She graduated from Des Moines High School. She went to college at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico where she met and married Vernon Welch in 1949. Vernon`s job took them to live in many places: Elkhart, Kansas, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Broomfield, Colorado. In 1983 Wynona married Phillip Arnett and after 40 years returned to the family ranch near Guy which she called home for the rest of her life.
In addition to her husbands Vernon Welch and Phillip Arnett, Wynona was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Anna H. Brown and niece Brenda Ann Christy.
She is survived by her son Kent and wife Carol Jean Welch of Raton, New Mexico, and daughter Suzanne (Welch) and husband Ted Bennefield of Des Moines, Six grandchildren: Jeremy Cook and wife Pam of Clayton, New Mexico, James Welch of Gering, Nebraska, Samantha Rohwer and husband John of San Tan Valley, Arizona, Evan Cook and wife Danielle of Mesa, Arizona, Vicki Owens and husband Ryan of Queen Creek, Arizona, Mike Bennefield and wife April of Colorado Springs, Colorado and 12 Great grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services and a celebration of love will take place at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, New Mexico, Friday September 6, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. with Pastor Adrianne Coleman officiating. Burial will follow in the Des Moines Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Sangre de Cristo Joni Fair Hospice House 1107 Pueblo Blvd Way Pueblo, Colorado 81005 or Grace United Methodist Church. Arrangements for Wynona Arnett are under the direction of Yaksich-Long Funeral Home.
