Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Wendel Sloan
No matter how ill-fated your life, all it takes is one person to turn it around.
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Portales music professor/opera singer Jean Ornellas met her life-changer 31 years ago on a date arranged by mutual friends. They became an instant, devoted couple until Jerry’s sudden death in 2008 from cerebral hemorrhaging.
“Jerry was a gentleman. He always opened doors for me, and was very protective,” Jean remembers. “You didn’t want to hurt my feelings because Jerry would take on anyone who did. I loved his kindness and humor … He could never see a stray — human or animal — without taking them under his wing. ”
They both came into the relationship with baggage from other relationships — and had to let go and realize they were now with partners with loyal motivations.
Because of Jean’s singing career and Jerry’s overseas work as a construction supervisor — including in Kuwait after Iraq invaded it — they were often apart. After seven years, they decided to get married that day in Portales’ Southside Church of Christ.
They talked Frank Poynor into marrying them on short notice, with two students (one nine months pregnant) as witnesses.
As Poynor stressed the importance of humor in a marriage, a man in a white rabbit costume — arriving early for a costume party — strolled through the sanctuary.
They never officially honeymooned, but spent time in Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Greece, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
Jerry brought a world of speed and adventure into Jean’s world: bungee-jumping, stock cars, water sports, airplanes…
He took Jean, son Greg and daughter Christine — whom they adopted when she was 18 and is an “animal whisperer” like Jerry — deep-sea fishing and scuba diving.
Jerry, who enjoyed “chick flicks,” learned to love fine arts, including opera, from Jean. “Her voice is so big it hurts my ears,” he complimented his wife.
Although not believing in a physical afterlife, Jean hopes to join the one who changed her life in a spiritual reuniting — perhaps “exploring other solar systems.”
Contact Wendel Sloan at [email protected]
