Kent Dudley Winders (Plainview)

Kent Dudley Winders, 67, of Lubbock, Texas, passed away peacefully at a loved ones home on June 18, 2026. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose presence and conversation will be deeply missed. Kent is survived by his wife, Deborah Winders of Lubbock, Texas; a daughter, Jennifer Jordon and her husband, Wade, of Denver City, Texas, and their three children, Macey McDonald, Marley Jordon, and Miranda Jordon; a son, Cory Winders and his wife, Jennifer, of Plainview, Texas, and their two children, Brennen Ballard and Chance Winders, and one grandchild, Salvy Ballard; a son, Cody Winders of Snyder, Texas, and one child, Jordyn Winders; and a daughter, Natalie McDaniel and her husband, Rusty, of Snyder, Texas, and four children, Ian McDaniel, Cora McDaniel, Rylee McDaniel, and Mesa McDaniel. In addition, his high school sweetheart and mother of his children, Jody Winders of Clovis, New Mexico; a brother, Mike Winders of Lazbuddie, Texas; and a brother, Kerry Winders and his wife, Jill, of Plainview, Texas. Kent was blessed with a large extended family consisting of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dud and Evelyn Winders; his in-laws, Alfred and Peggie Hicks; and a sister-in-law, Roxanne Winders, and nephew Joshua Winders.

Kent was born November 23, 1958, in Littlefield, Texas. He was raised in Lazbuddie, Texas, on the family farm and graduated from Lazbuddie High School in 1977. Admittedly, he wasn’t the greatest of students but was, evidently, quite the track athlete. He married Jody Hicks on August 13, 1976, and they did indeed quickly start a family. Early in their marriage, Kent served as the pastor of a small church in Valle de Oro, Texas. When returning to Lazbuddie, with two kids in tow, he went back to farming as well as caring for cattle on wheat pasture. He also worked in custom farming and feedlots until the family was moved to the L7 camp on the Bojax Ranch, Elida, New Mexico, in 1992.

His time spent on the Bojax would be his last full time job as he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) in 1993. Kent fought to preserve every stage of his life as the PPMS quietly worked at taking his body away from him. He remained in the Elida area as each of their four children graduated high school, married, and started their own families. Over time, his disease had progressed to a point that walking using a walker was no longer possible. This was a major milestone in the progression of Kent’s battle with PPMS as he had heavily resisted the idea of a motorized wheelchair feeling he would lose not only his independence, but also his body control at an even quicker rate. However, in 2002, he agreed to try a motorized chair and quickly realized he had some independence and speed back. He often sped out in front of those he was walking with and did donuts in his chair…or he was asking anyone who would to race him. Some great memories were made in his motorized chairs over the years including Kent being able to finally carry around his first grandchild, Macey, and giving a ride to Natalie down the aisle as he gave away her hand in marriage in 2008. Eventually, Kent needed more support than could be offered at home and, in 2009, he entered his first nursing home in Plainview. After an amicable divorce with Jody in 2010, they remained close friends. Over the next 11 years, he would live in nursing homes in Plainview and Lubbock, where he was an outspoken advocate for not only himself, but all nursing home residents, even serving as the president the Resident’s Committee at one time. In 2020, he met his wife, Deborah, and they were married shortly afterwards on October 3, 2020. He moved into her home to begin their life together while getting to escape many of the restrictions of the COVID pandemic. His last years were spent going to church, countless hospital and rehab facility visits, as well as additional time in more nursing homes.

Until it wasn’t possible anymore, Kent loved to team rope, winning many jackpots and buckles over the years. He also enjoyed supporting his kids and grandkids at various sporting events, including team roping, volleyball, basketball, and baseball. He was an avid baseball fan and his favorite team was always the Texas Rangers. In his younger years, Kent played the guitar and enjoyed singing as well. He even taught himself how to yodel by listening to Bob Wills and Jimmy Rogers while he was driving a tractor. While Merle Haggard was his favorite artist, he loved to sing the song, “Jesus put a Yodel in my Soul.” It should be noted though that his favorite pastime was to tell people about Jesus and that, he did do! After pastoring the small church in Valle de Oro, Texas, early in life, he filled in for many pastors throughout his lifetime. He also served as pastor of Kenna Community Church, Kenna, New Mexico, for a short time in 1995 as well. He would never pass up the opportunity to visit with people, young or old…stranger or friend, about how Jesus had changed his life. He believed that through his battle with PPMS, he was supposed to share his testimony and minister to others while bringing as many people as he could to Jesus. This will always be Kent’s greatest accomplishment.

The memorial service for Kent will be on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST at First Baptist Church, Lazbuddie, Texas (official church address: 651 FM 1172, Muleshoe, Texas). After more than a 35-year battle with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Kent chose to donate his body to science for research purposes. It was his hope that through the Texas Tech University of Health Sciences Institute of Anatomical Sciences, and their research of his body, that he could continue to give back and, hopefully, help others who are still living with PPMS. Upon conclusion of the research, it was Kent’s wish to be cremated.

In lieu of flowers or plants, donations in Kent’s memory may be made to The Clay Walker Foundation to further advance the hope that, in death, he could still make an impact.