Derrell Jennings, 74, passed away Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at Raider Ranch in Lubbock.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Muleshoe with Dr. Stacy Conner of Muleshoe officiating. Burial will be in Lazbuddie Cemetery under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home in Muleshoe.

Derrell was born August 25, 1942, in Clovis, New Mexico, to Joe Bates and Cora Belle (Page) Jennings. He married Glenda Jay Robinson on September 9, 1962, in Lazbuddie, Texas, where he lived most of his life. Derrell graduated from Texas Tech University and was a cattleman and a feedlot owner/operator. He was a board member at Bovina Feeders, as well as a member of both the Muleshoe Hospital Board and the Lazbuddie School Board. He was a member of the Lazbuddie United Methodist Church.

Derrell was a respected businessman who had an admirable way of making everyone feel valued and important. His greatest assets beyond his big smile, huge heart, and gentle kindness were his family and friends. Although he welcomed all with open arms, he was fiercely protective of those he loved, and worked hard to make their lives better in any way that he could, if only with humor or one of his trademark hugs. His smile and laughter lit up the room and will be missed as seemingly simple, yet authentic and treasured gifts.

Derrell is preceded in death by his son, Derren Lynn Jennings, in 1972 and his parents.

Derrell is survived by his wife of 54 years, Glenda; daughter, Jonessa Brockman and son-in-law, Guy, of Shallowater, Texas; sister, Tamra Jennings, of Twisp, Washington; brother, Hoppy Jennings, of Hurst, Texas; and two grandsons, Derren Gage Brockman and Beau Phillip Brockman, both of Shallowater.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at http://alz.org or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/.

Online condolences may be shared at www.ellisfuneralhomes.com.