Roger Jolly

Roger Curtis Jolly, father, brother, PawPaw, friend, passed away on April 27, 2024, after a long and hard-fought battle with a rare cancer.

Roger was born on July 5, 1963, to Bill and Reva Britton Jolly in Brownfield, Texas.  He grew up in Tahoka, Texas, where he attended school and played sports.  While taking college classes at Texas Tech University, he met Wendy Lynn Tucker.  They were married for 19 years and raised two daughters.

A jack of all trades, Roger worked in various industries.  He started working as a young boy, helping in the family custom harvesting business.  Along the way, Roger picked up mechanical skills, working on the family’s farm equipment, as well as carpentry skills starting with a whittling project in grade school.

Both agriculture and carpentry would prove to be his preferred trades throughout his life.  He continued in the family business, Jolly Harvesting, until 2020.  During the off-season, Roger also worked with his oldest brother, framing houses in some of the most prominent neighborhoods in Lubbock, Texas.  The last ten years of his life; however, he truly found the place he belonged the most, working for the Womble family.

Although Roger was a rather reserved man, he had a group of friends that spanned the state of Texas.  He enjoyed fishing trips to the Pecos River and Possum Kingdom Lake.  These annual “guys” trips were full of memories of camping, good times, good food, and a little bit of fishing!  Roger was also a big-time friend of Las Vegas.  Whether it was trips with his daughters, friends, cousins, or nephews, he enjoyed a few trips to the strip each year.  Breaking even was the goal, but more often than not, he returned with only stories and smuggled barware.

Roger’s pride and joy were his grandchildren.  From the moment his oldest grandchild was born, a renewed spirit washed over him.  He had a new purpose, to be the best PawPaw he could be.  Up until the bitter end of his cancer battle, Roger could be found holding a grandbaby, playing in the floor with the kids, being the ringleader of epic water gun fights, bearer of donuts and other sweet treats, and a cheerleader in the crowd at various soccer, martial arts, and elementary school programs.

Roger is proceeded in death by his parents, Bill and Reva Britton Jolly, two sisters in law, Donna Jolly and Cindy Jolly; in addition to many beloved extended family and friends.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Jessica Waits and husband Christopher, Courtney Russell and husband James; his siblings Billy Wayne Jolly, Ricky Jolly and Debbie, Ronny Jolly, Sharon Buck and Jackie; his four grandchildren, Ashlynn (6) and Camryn Waits (3) and Michael (7) and Harper Russell (5) many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and his cat Ollie.

Roger will be remembered for his unwavering resilience in the face of a terminal disease; one who was hardworking, devoted, talented, and caring.  We will miss him but know his legacy will live on in all those who loved him.

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