Gene Albin Welna

My foster grandfather was the sweetest man I knew, other than my father. He always used to say that drinking pop from aluminum cans gives you Alzheimer's, so he always refused to drink from them. Unfortunately, he ended up getting Alzheimer's, anyway. I remember spending Easters at the home he and my foster grandmother, Beth, had created in Mesa, Arkansas. We had so much fun on those trips. I really missed spending time there, after my he could no longer live on the mountain and had to move to Collinsville to live with my foster mother. He changed after his diagnosis, as did my foster grandmother. I imagine the stress of their lives changing had something to do with it. I do not, however, want to remember him the way he was when he was ill. I prefer to remember the way he was in Arkansas.

Family

Spouse:
Beth Welna (deceased)

Children:
Diana Ray of Collinsville, Oklahoma

Grandchildren:
Justin Ray
Alexa Taylor and husband Trey
Janettee McCrary and husband Nathan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Daisha Ray
Kaci Ray of Collinsville, Oklahoma

Great-Grandchildren:
Christopher
Peyton
Heidi