Johnny Ray Whelan

Johnny Ray Whelan, age 73, formally of Las Cruces, NM who was born in 1946 in Willcox, AZ went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 19, 2019. Johnny Ray was preceded in death by his father, Charlie; older brother, Chucky, and his oldest son, Danny. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; four children, Johnny Ray, Andrea, Luther, Matthew and wife, Amir; mother, Louisa; siblings, Suzie and husband, Tim, Ana, Mary and husband, Leonard and Freddy and wife, Debbie; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law. Christie; daughter-in-law, Shirley; and many nieces and nephews. Johnny and his family lived and grew up on the Sierra Bonita Ranch in Arizona. As a boy he learned to rope cattle, ride bronc, work on the ranch and play several instruments with his dad and uncles. He later joined the military as a young man and married his high school sweetheart on November 25, 1967. They spent 52 years together. He started coal mining in East Carbon, UT and later moved to Mesquite, NM where he worked for Silva Sanitation and then retired from Southwest Disposal. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the army stayed with him as he proudly served his country for six years and fought in the Vietnam War in 1969. He was known for his musical talents and toured throughout the U.S. singing, playing guitar and his harmonica. He was a natural when it came to song writing, playing his country music and corridos. His musical talents allowed him to perform in museums like the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and country folk festivals like the Barns and Wolf Trap in Virginia. In the mid-90s he was featured on the Discovery Channel series called Rediscovering the American Cowboy which was a national tour of cowboy songs, poetry, humor, and fiddling. These were only a few of his musical accomplishments. His legacy and love for music will forever live on as his friends and family will attest.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

A tribute video will be played prior to service from 9:45 a.m to 10:00 a.m.

A Funeral Service will proceed at 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH - Westside. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m.

A reception will take place on Thursday evening from 5-7 location to be announced.