Xan Lemons

1953 - 2025

Xan Lemons was born in Big Spring, Texas, on April 13, 1953, the eldest daughter of James Henry and Rhoda Frances (Miller) Lemons. As a child, she lived in O'Donnell, Odessa, and Big Spring with her parents and younger sister.

Xan loved animals of all kinds, having childhood pets of dogs, crows, a ground squirrel, and a horse she named Mariah. She received her driver's license when she was 14 years old and would drive the big Lincoln sedan, affectionately called "Queen Mary", or the red GMC pickup sixteen miles north of Big Spring to the family farm, known as "The Place", to spend as much time as she could with her beloved horse in that beloved spot.

Xan considered becoming a veterinarian, but that dream was derailed by an accident when she was 16. She instead became a devoted Mother to five children, and in addition to vetting the various household pets and farm animals, was also a teacher, a nurse, a chef, a housekeeper, a psychologist, a chauffeur, a counselor, a cheerleader, a gardener, a breadwinner, a wrangler (of snakes, badgers, racoons, bobcats, etc.), a homemaker, a singer of songs (many choruses of "Alexander Beetle"), a teller of tales, and a reader of books. She moved her family out to The Place in 1980 and raised her children and farmed and gardened there for 45 years.

Xan was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978, and never waivered in her testimony of the Restored Gospel. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ was central to her identity. She shared the love of God with all who knew her through her attitudes, words, and actions. She tirelessly, and often anonymously, served her family, friends, and community.

Xan loved family history, and was proud to be a seventh-generation Texan descended from original "Old Three Hundred" stock, and a fourth-generation resident of Howard County, as her great-grandparents were pioneer settlers in West Texas. She spent many hours researching her roots and sharing stories of her ancestors with her children and grandchildren.

Xan was a hands-on grandmother for more than three decades, imparting unconditional love and important life lessons to her grandchildren - especially teaching them about Jesus Christ. Her grands all knew her as "Maca" after her eldest grandson persistently mispronounced Grandma. She was delighted to learn that in Hawaiian, "maka" means "eye" and "makamaka" means "friend". She certainly had her eye on each of her precious grandchildren, and they could not have had better friends than their Maca and Jesus.

Xan stepped into Paradise on August 21, 2025, joining her Savior, Jesus Christ, her parents and grandparents, her son, James Zachariah Seely, and daughter, Melanie Janene Seely, on the other side, where she will await those left behind. She is survived by her daughters, Tonya Spence and husband Garry, and Camilla Strande and husband Brent; her son, Joseph Seely; her grandchildren, Regan Coy (Alex), Cavan Spence (Brooke), John Michael Spence (Delilah), Hannah Spence, Brayden Settles, Luke Settles, Erin Payne, Kaegan Robertson, Madison Seely, Eleanor Correa, Adam Strande, Jillian Strande, and Kennedy Strande; her great-grandchildren, Gavin Thornhill, Parker Spence, Skarlyt Seely, Phoebe Spence, Henry Spence, Isla Spence, Gabriel Coy, and Ethan Coy; her sister, Lisa Lemons Nichols, and husband Jerry Wojtek of San Angelo; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Memorial service will be 10:30 AM Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Arrangements are by Myers & Smith Funeral home. Pay your respects online at www.myersandsmith.com