Wynelle Catlin

Wynelle Catlin was born on July 29, 1930, in rural Jack County, Texas. Her given name, Zelmadena Wynelle Smith, was one she rarely used and never preferred, a detail even her self-proclaimed favorite granddaughter only learned this week. A fourth-generation Texan, Wynelle was the last surviving member of her family’s generation and a lifelong steward of learning, Texas history, justice, connection, and overall health.

The daughter of Dovie Powell Smith and George Washington Smith, Wynelle grew up in a large family deeply rooted in Jack County. Wynelle was preceded in death by her siblings: Alta Loretta Smith, Wayne Harlan Smith, John Robert Smith, George W. Smith Jr., Fearl Fain Smith, Harvey Keith Smith, Shirley Joan Smith, and Gary Clifford Smith. She was previously married to L.E. Catlin Jr., with whom she had her beloved children: James Catlin, Karen Laliberte, Laura Catlin, and William Catlin; and by her grandchildren: Charlotte Baggett, Brian Laliberte, Mark Catlin, Malika Harmon, Whitley Delgado, and McKenzie Catlin.

Wynelle had a fierce independence and a lifelong devotion to learning, she lived with a rare sense of responsibility to her community and to the broader human story.

For many years, Wynelle was a familiar voice in Jack County through her writing, frequently featured in the Jacksboro Gazette-News. Her words educated readers, preserved Texas history, and encouraged civic responsibility. Writing was not simply her gift it was her craft. She once said, “I always keep a pen and a pad beside me; they have been my life-long companions.”

In 1974, Wynelle published Old Wattles, a children’s book inspired her mother’s upbringing. The book remains a meaningful record of local heritage and storytelling rooted in a Texas setting.

Wynelle’s dedication to her community extended well beyond the page. Wynelle founded and led Concerned Citizens, a grassroots organization devoted to meeting the needs of Jack County residents, particularly seniors and individuals requiring transportation and support services. Newspaper records document her leadership, fundraising, and hands-on involvement.

That belief inspired her trek across America. In 1986, Wynelle participated in the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament, walking nearly 4,000 miles over nine months from California to Washington, D.C. Reflecting on the journey years later, she shared that she was inspired by the extraordinary generosity of people with little to give but much to share. Wynelle did not view the march as a political statement alone, but as participation in humanity itself.

Earlier in life, Wynelle challenged expectations in quieter but equally courageous ways. In the late 1970s, she set out on the road and supported herself through freelance writing and various jobs while traveling across the country. She once reflected that women of her generation were not expected to have voices, and that “Writing was a way to have a voice in a man’s world,” she said.

Professionally and personally, Wynelle explored many paths. Her proudest and longest-lasting business was The Learn’n Tree Health Shoppe in Mineral Wells, Texas, which she owned and operated from 1984 until 2022, when the impacts of COVID brought its chapter to a close. For nearly four decades, the shop reflected her dedication to learning, healing, and long-term health. Well into her 90s, Wynelle remained a vital, curious, and welcoming presence in the store, which became a place of refuge and guidance for many.

Wynelle Catlin outlived the Great Depression, World War II, and COVID and will be remembered not only as a writer, business owner, activist, community builder, and storyteller, but also as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and beloved member of her community.