Joe Llanes

A celebration of life for Joe Llanes will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 3:00 pm at Harmonie Hall, located at 509 West FM 389, Fayetteville, TX 78954. Come as you are and stay as long as you would like.

Joe Llanes, 58 of Fayetteville, passed away peacefully at home on August 29, 2024 after a two-year fight with colon cancer. He was born on August 10, 1966 in Wharton, Texas to Valerio Nunez Llanes and Frances Salazar Llanes. He was baptized on September, 4, 1966, First Communion was on May 12, 1974 and he was Confirmed on April 30, 1978. He graduated from Boling High School in 1984.

Joe grew up helping his family farm in the Wharton area. He loved to ride and train roping horses and work on trucks. While in high school, he worked at a barn, where he learned to drive and train carriage horses. 

After high school, Joe was hired to drive a carriage in the movie "Gone to Texas," a role that would forever change his life. He soon moved to the Fayette County area and found a new career in the movie industry. For nearly 40 years, he worked as a wrangler, truck driver, extra, and stuntman. When he wasn’t on a film set, he could be found working cows or shoeing horses.

Joe was a jack of all trades and could fix almost anything. He was known to be the man to call when you needed help with anything or needed an extra hand working cows. He had a deep love for good horses, loyal dogs, and his family. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and even dabbled in taxidermy for a while. Although he never had children of his own, he cherished the many special kids in his life and was incredibly proud of them.

He fought a courageous battle for nearly two years with colon cancer, enduring numerous rounds of chemo, exploring alternative medicine, undergoing multiple surgeries, and even participating in a clinical trial—all with an unwaveringly positive attitude. Joe will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

Joe is survived by his wife, Ashley Mitchell Llanes; brother, Valerio Llanes, Jr.; sister, Barbara Llanes Carter and husband, Michael; nieces and nephews, Bobby & Karen Gonzeles, John & Keri Gonzales, Joni & Jason Browning, Matthew & Haley Carter, Thomas & Kaci Carter, Cheyenne & Allan Parsons, Payton & Kaily Coleman; great nieces and nephews, Fayth & John Daivd Gonzales, Jr., Cason Carter, Carlos, Scarlett, and Hunter Gonzales, Kelli Yaws, Creed Parsons, and Greyson Coleman.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Bernie Gonzales.

The family requests that monetary donations be made at the celebration or to Industry State Bank- Joe Llanes Scholarship Fund. All contributions will be given as scholarships in Joe’s memory.

Services are under the Care and Direction of Fayette Memorial Funeral Home of La Grange Texas. Please visit www.fayettememorialfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave your condolences for the family.