Funeral service for Avis June Kellum, 93, of Hobbs, NM will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Fellowship of Believers Church, 5609 North Grimes St with Pastor Johnnie Blalack officiating. Burial will follow at Prairie Haven Cemetery. Avis was born in Lazbuddie, Texas on June 3, 1932 to Claude and Zethel (Freeman) Welch and passed away on April 19, 2026 in Hobbs, NM. Avis was a high school graduate and shortly after graduation she married her life long love, Fred Kellum, in Clovis, NM. They shared a life of love for 56 years before his passing in 2006. She and Fred loved to dance together, especially the Schottische, the waltz and two-stepping. Avis was a person who never met a stranger and could make the most delicious, mouth-watering divinity. She enjoyed people and was always a helper. She liked the Billy Graham Crusades and always helped out with them when she was available. Being a minister's wife and a Masonic widow, she was always ready to lend a hand. She joined the Order of Eastern Star in 1990 and served for many years as the prompter, which she loved to do and was always able to be heard. She could always be counted on to be there with the word or helped you if needed when you stumbled. She was faithful and loved being a member of Stars. There were only a couple of things that Avis was adamant about; one being cooking or preparing food for a meeting and people would come and try to get in the silverware drawer, messing it up, and for sure, you did not mess with her grandchildren! She spoiled them "big" and she definitely loved them and her whole family totally. Avis was an amazing artist!! She painted some of the most beautiful pictures, winning many awards and blue ribbons for her talent. She had many attributes and she had a strong, blunt, passionate personality and tempered it with a kind and loving heart. She was "one of a kind" and will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents: her husband Fred; one brother: J. D. Welch and three sisters: Sara Pippen, Claudette Biggins and Rita Zick; one daughter-in-law: Sandra Kellum and one great-granddaughter: Alexis and one great, great grandson Samuel.

Surviving her is one daughter: Westlena and husband Isaac Huskey; One son: James Kellum: one brother: Gary and wife Linda Welch; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Fellowship of Believers Church from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon.

Arrangements are under the care of Kirby-Ratliff Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.