Wade Lewis, 76, resident of Hereford, Texas, passed away on Sunday September 21, 2025, in Amarillo, Texas.

Wade was born on December 27, 1948, in Amarillo, Texas to Walter Reese Lewis Jr. and Marcella Catherine Landers.  Wade married Debbie Furgeson on September 1, 1971.

Wade grew up on various ranches in eastern New Mexico where he worked alongside Walt working cattle and breaking horses.  In the mid to late 1960's, Wade competed in the American Junior Rodeo Association and was multiple time AJRA world champion in the calf roping and all around. Wade graduated from Palo Duro High School in Amarillo in May 1968.  That same year the family moved to Hereford and Walt and Wade together built and managed Cattle Town Feedyard.  In the early 1970's, Walt and Wade also built and managed Hereford Feedyard, two of the first major commercial feedyards in Deaf Smith County. Wade attended South Plains College, Tarleton State University, and West Texas State University where he rodeoed and won the Southwest Region in the calf roping and won the Intercollegiate National calf roping title in 1970.

Wade and Debbie lived in Hereford for 54 years.  Wade managed Hereford Feedyard for 48 years. He also had a ranch where he raised cattle and broke horses, just like in his early days.  Wade loved to rope calves and steers.  He made the National Finals steer roping in 1982 and 1984 and won the average in 1982.  He won Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1982, 1984, and 1989 in the steer roping and won the senior steer roping in 1999.  He was a proud member of the Senior Steer Roping Association and won the world championship multiple times.

Wade did not have a lot of hobbies, but he did have a few likes.  He liked a good-looking broke horse, a straight fence, a good-looking rig, and a good- looking saddle.

Wade did not put up with laziness.  He believed hard work would definitely cure all the world's problems.  Post hole diggers, pine trees, and raising baby calves were a few of his methods.

Wade loved Debbie.  They rode horses together, worked cattle together, and raised a family together.  They endured the good and the bad together.  Debbie was Wade's true life partner, and he was hers.

Wade loved the Lord.  He had recommitted his life to Jesus and just like with all Wade did, he was totally committed. He read the Bible every day and a devotional each morning.  He loved going to church and called it school, because he went to learn.  Wade loved his church family. Wade loved Jesus and knew his home was forever in heaven.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie; son Monty Lewis and daughter-in-law Jessica of Canyon; daughter Regina Kiehne and husband Kurt of Canyon; grandson Kole.  Sister Linda Donais and brother-in-law Paul of Canyon; and aunt Mary Lewis of Hereford.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family request that any memorials be made to Crossroads Country Church, PO Box 50608, Amarillo, Texas, 79159-0608.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service honoring Wade will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the CrossRoads Country Church, 14425 S FM 1541, Amarillo, Texas with Pastor Bob Miller and Pastor Joe Watkins officiating. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford, Texas.