John Wayne Alley, Sr.

John Wayne Alley Sr., 73, of Alleyton, Texas passed away on Friday, June 28, 2024. He was born on July 22, 1950 in Houston, Texas at Jefferson Davis Hospital to Wylie Wayne Alley and Mary Laura Cook Alley. 

John attended Columbus ISD and left as a teen to work in the oilfields to help his parents support their large family. John also worked on steel buildings and helped build the Astrodome in the early 1960’s. 

John was drafted into the US Army around the age of 18 and was stationed in Germany and France. He was honorably discharged a short time later due to a medical condition. 

Once he returned to the states, he married the love of his life, Sharon Marie Holland, on October 20, 1972 in Eagle Lake, Texas. Together they had three children: Stacy Cardenas, Wendy Mladenka and John Alley Jr. John also had children that were not biologically his, but he loved them as his own. They were Carol Cardenas, Audrey Kowalik, Amy Kowalik and Shelby Dillon. 

John worked several jobs during his life, including being part owner of a family owned business — Lissie House Moving. He also worked in the rice fields for Ralph “Rooster” Gertson, and was employed by Colorado County Precinct 4 and 3, at the time of his retirement. Once retired, John kept busy by running a small at-home business — John’s Small Engine Repair. He worked on tractors, lawn mowers and weed eaters of all makes and sizes. Nothing was too big or too small for John to fix; it’s what he loved to do. 

John’s favorite pastime was watching his great-grandchildren play in the front yard, followed closely by his love of fishing. John’s laugh will forever be heard in the hearts of the loved ones he leaves behind. It was the loudest and was contagious and could be heard for miles! 

John Wayne Alley Sr. is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-one years, Sharon Alley of Alleyton; his children, Stacy (David) Cardenas of Alleyton, Wendy (Patrick) Mladenka of Weimar, and John (Tressa) Alley Jr. of Altair; his brothers and sisters, Elnora (Daniel) Matura of Eagle Lake, Gladys Moore of Columbus, Josie Blount of New Braunfels, Billie Jean (Marcus) Guthmann of Alleyton, Gary Alley of Eagle Lake, Michael Alley of Columbus, Connie Alley of Schulenburg; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

John Wayne Alley Sr. is proceeded in death by his parents, Wylie and Mary Alley; sisters, Elizabeth Schnider and Bonnie Alley; brothers, Joe “Buddy” Alley, and twins David and Daniel Alley. 

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, July 25th, 2024, beginning at 10am, at the Glidden Baptist Church in Glidden Texas and will be officiated by Clayton Wallin. A reception for immediate family and friends will be held after services at Pilsner’s Place in Alleyton. 

Honorary pallbearers are: Leet Ethridge, Jesus “Chewy” Castillo, Jimmie Class, Shelby Dillon, David Pilsner, Jody “6-pack” Kucera, Sonny Jones and Mark Fernandez. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to Columbus Rescue Dogs - Columbus Texas. Direct donations can be made to https://wwwpaypal.me/columbusrescuedogs or to Oak Grove Vet Clinic, Weimar TX or Colorado Valley Veterinarian Services, in Columbus, TX.