Page 18 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2018- Online Magazine

Arlen Jeri Wesley
Like Christmas Everyday
by Lara Woodham
n January of 1954, the Red
Raider football team was
Ireturning from their first ever
Gator Bowl win. Texas Tech had
played Auburn in Jacksonville,
Florida and Tech had won 35-
13, capping an 11-1 season for
Red Raider football. For Texas
Tech and for Lubbock, this was
an exciting time. But for Arlen
Wesley, his return home from that
game was pivotal. As he exited
the plane and looked down on the
crowd that had assembled to greet
his team, he had two young ladies
waiting to welcome him home. He
had gone on dates with both of
those women that fall, but he then
had to make a choice, and he had
to make it quickly. He will tell you
now, after 62 years of marriage, that
he made the right decision. Waiting
for him at the bottom of the stairs
was Jeri Anglin.
Arlen and Jeri (my parents) married
two years later in January of 1956.
Arlen graduated from Tech and took
a coaching job at the high school in
Jeri’s hometown of Plainview, Texas.
In 1958, they had their first born, a
son they named Kyle. They stayed in
Plainview until 1960, moving back
to make Lubbock their permanent
home. They worked together in
insurance and expanded their
family with two daughters, Lydia in
1960 and Lara (me) in 1970. In the
spring of 1970, Lubbock experienced
the destruction of an F5 tornado.
Their family was all safe, but their
insurance business was decimated
as insurance companies would no
18 Lubbock Senior Link
business more than once when
things didn’t go as planned. It
wasn’t easy, but they always
seemed to manage to find a way
to make ends meet, working hard
together and relying on their faith
in God.
In 1992, they faced their greatest
challenge with the death of their
daughter Lydia. But true to form,
they did not fall into the large
percentage of couples who divorce
after the loss of a child; they held
on tighter to one another. They
continued to work together, with
Jeri opening her own real estate
sales office in conjunction with
their property management office,
once again working in the same
location. They also took on the
longer write policies for the area. A task of raising their then three-
change of direction was needed. year-old grandson. By example,
they have taught us all how to
Lubbock was expanding, housing stay together - that when times are
was needed, and Arlen and Jeri tough, we need each other more
decided that building and operating
apartment housing would be the than ever - and that family doesn’t
next step. King’s Park Apartments end with your immediate siblings.
(now Indian Creek Apartments) One of the greatest traditions
would be their first venture into that our family shares is how we
real estate. There was a lot to learn celebrate Christmas. Back in 1960,
and much to do, but in 1973, their when they first moved back to
first 206-unit complex was open for Lubbock, Arlen and Jeri decided
business. In the late 1970s, Arlen that they would invite the entire
and Jeri both got their real estate family to spend the night on
licenses. They shared an office at the Christmas Eve. That way, everyone
same real estate agency, with Arlen could all wake up together on
focusing on commercial sales and Christmas morning. For 59 years,
Jeri focusing on homes. Jeri went this is what my family has done.
on to get her broker’s license; Arlen All the grandparents, children,
continued to build and operate cousins, spouses and, oftentimes a
multi-family housing. friend or two, sleep at their house.
Where do they sleep you might
Life is never simple. Together, they ask? The answer is everywhere, on
rebuilt their property management