Honorable Robert Alan Junell

Robert Alan Junell passed away from complications of Lewy Body disease on November 1, 2025, in Midland, Texas. He was born on January 27, 1947, in El Paso, Texas, to Robert Frank Junell and Maxine Simmons Junell.

After several moves during his early years, the family settled in Lubbock, Texas, in 1954. Robert graduated from Monterey High School in 1965 and went on to attend the New Mexico Military Institute, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree. He continued his education at Texas Tech University, playing linebacker for the Red Raider football team and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. While at Tech, Robert met Beverly Ann Singley and the two married and became affectionately known by friends as “Rocket Rob” and “Bullet Bev.” He was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and was always eager to sing the Red Raiders fight song at the drop of a hat. He proudly wore his college letter jacket to Texas Tech sporting events in his later years.

After graduation, Robert and Beverly moved to Germany, where he served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Battalion. During his service, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas. Following his honorable discharge as a Captain in 1973, Robert and Beverly spent a ski season in Grindelwald, Switzerland, before setting off on an extended trip through Europe and North Africa with their newborn son, Robert Ryan. Upon returning to the United States, Robert enrolled in the Texas Tech University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree with honors in December 1976.

After earning his law degree, the family moved to El Paso, where Robert began his legal career and where their daughter, Keith Elizabeth, was born. In 1979, they settled in San Angelo, where Robert practiced law and their son, Clay Jones, was born.

In 1988, Robert was elected to the Texas Legislature, representing Coke, Mitchell, Sterling, and Tom Green Counties. During his distinguished tenure, he championed numerous initiatives to improve the lives of the people in his district and of Texas. He chaired the House Appropriations Committee for a decade and received many honors for his service, including Freshman Legislator of the Year in 1989 and multiple Top Ten Legislator recognitions from Texas Monthly. He was also named Legislator of the Year by several organizations, including the Texas Municipal League, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards. In 1994, he was honored as Citizen of the Year by the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce– twenty-five years after his father received the same distinction. His alma mater, Texas Tech University, recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1997 and later as the first Outstanding Alumnus of the Texas Tech University School of Law.

Robert also served as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo and lent his leadership to numerous community boards and organizations, including the Shannon Health System, First National Bank of Mertzon, West Texas Boys Ranch, San Angelo Area Foundation, United Way of the Concho Valley, Adult Day Care of San Angelo, and the Texas Tech School of Law Association, among many others. His deep commitment to service and leadership left a lasting mark on the community he loved.

In 2002, Robert was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas. After unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate, he was sworn in on February 13, 2003. Robert and Beverly moved to Midland, where they became active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Midland. He served as an elder, participated in Sunday School and Community Bible Study, and established the Midland Prayer Breakfast. A man of discipline and relentless energy, he worked out at least once a day at the YMCA and played polo with the Midland Polo Club.

In May 2012, Beverly passed away from pancreatic cancer after 43 years of marriage. In October 2014, Robert married Jayne Geurkink Krawietz. He assumed senior status for the federal courts in 2015 and moved to Santa Fe in 2017, where he continued to serve as a Senior U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico. Robert and Jayne returned to Midland in 2019.

Robert was a lifelong athlete and adventurer. He played baseball, football, and tennis; skied avidly; ran marathons; roped steers; played polo; climbed mountains; and cycled both road and trail. Among his proudest achievements was summiting the highest point in Texas– Guadalupe Peak– 203 times! He also summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa four times, including one climb just two days after his 70th birthday. His mountaineering pursuits took him to Island Peak in Nepal, Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Mount Rainier in Washington, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Wheeler Peak in New Mexico, and attempts on Cayambe in Ecuador and Mount Denali in Alaska as well as a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp. Together with Jayne, they hiked the Inca Trail in Peru, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Jungfrau in Switzerland and the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. For 18 years, he served as a Ski Patroller at Ski Apache in Ruidoso, New Mexico– many of those years alongside Jayne. He also cherished time spent with family and friends on the lesser peak of Mountain Nebo in Grape Creek, Texas.

Robert and Beverly were the proud parents of three children: Robert Ryan Junell; Keith Elizabeth Junell Statler and her husband, Aaron; and Clay Jones Junell– all of Austin, Texas. He was “Granddaddy Rocket” to seven grandchildren: Robert Ryan Jones Junell, Jette Astrid Junell, Felix Frank Statler, Lyle James Statler, Beverly Reid Statler, Rowan Ryan Junell, and Leif Ryder Junell– all of Austin. Robert was also stepfather to Christine Elizabeth Krawietz of Silver Lake, California, and David Patrick Krawietz of Arlington, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, his parents, and his sister, Janice Junell McDonald. He is survived by his wife, Jayne Junell; his children, grandchildren, and stepchildren; his brother, Dan Junell and wife, Debra; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Manor Park’s Vogel Center and Hospice of Midland for their compassionate care of “The Judge.”

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Midland, with visitation at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home the evening before from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will take place at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following scholarship funds established in Robert’s name, or to the YMCA of Midland:

• Judge Robert A. Junell Endowed Scholarship at the Texas Tech University School of Law
  -Donate online at https://donate.law.ttu.edu/ or by mail to:
  Texas Tech Law School Foundation, 3311 18th St., Room 207, Lubbock, TX 79409
• The Robert Junell Endowed Scholarship at Angelo State University
  -Donate online at Robert Junell Scholarship Endowment or by mail to: Office of Development and Alumni Relations, ASU Station # 11023, San Angelo, TX 76909-1023

• The YMCA of Midland
  -Donate online at https://operations.daxko.com/online/2133/OnlineGiving/Donation.mvc
   or by mail to: The YMCA of Midland, 800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, TX 79701

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