Wesley Jerome Fojtik

Wesley Jerome Fojtik     How do you put all of the goodness of the best person you have and ever will know into one article? You don’t. It just isn’t possible. I will try my best, but please know that this does not do my Wesley, the love of my life, near the justice that he deserves. He would tell me to keep it simple and not worry about it, but then again, he knows that I just don’t work that way. We are both stubborn, so he’s just going to have to laugh from above and smile that beautiful smile of his that will light up even the darkest room.     

Wesley Jerome Fojtik was born on November 21, 1977 in Victoria, TX to Wesley Gene Fojtik & Linda Parker Fojtik. He is their youngest child, and quite honestly, the most stubborn. He comes by it naturally.     Wesley is survived by his loving wife, Amy Fojtik; son, Cort Fojtik; parents, Wesley Gene and Linda Parker Fojtik; sister, Nicole and Robert Long; niece, Brittany Long; nephews, Collin Long and Matthew Long; maternal grandma, Dorothy Parker; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; father-in-law, Buck and Diane Dabney; mother-in-law, Linda Canion Dabney; brother-in-law, Aaron and Alisa Dabney.     

Wesley is preceded in death by his three angel babies in Heaven; sister, Kimberly Fojtik; maternal grandpa, Gene Parker; paternal grandparents, Albert and Mary Fojtik, aunt, Cheryl Fojtik; uncles, Allen Parker, David Fojtik, and Wilburn Lambert.     Visitation was Friday, October 19, 2018, from 4-8 p.m. in the Oaklawn Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Service was at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2018, in the First Baptist Church of Edna. Interment followed in the Fojtik Cemetery in Edna the (Fojtik Residence). Rev. Robert Krause officiated.     Pallbearers were Eric Cruz, Jason Gibbs, Manuel Gonzales, Travis Stall, Bill Fojtik, Eric Nelson, Justin Huber, and Jason Sugarek. Honorary pallbearers are Collin Long, Matthew Long, Timmy Gonzales, Justin Pesch, Toby Garza, Corey Fojtik, and Donnie White.     Wesley loves hard. Plain and simple. It radiates from him. I feel his love every moment of every day. He doesn’t meet a stranger. He gives the shirt of his back if that is what is needed. Even if it isn’t needed, he will help. You don’t even have to ask. The way he loves his family, all of us, especially me and Cort…  He tells us, he shows us, he makes our world right. When he walks into a room, even just my phone ringing and it shows his name, all is right in the world. A simple “I love you” text brings the biggest smile. God broke the mold for sure on Wesley, but we are proud to be raising Cort to be the gentleman that Wesley was, is, and ALWAYS will be. You may notice that I write this in present tense, not past.  That’s because he is still here with us.  Forever.     

Wesley is a man of many talents. He would always claim to not be the smartest, but let me tell you, he is not only amazingly smart, but the most loving, kindest, most sincere, honest, helpful, fun, genuine person any of us could ever meet on earth. He will jump in to help you without being asked, just show up unannounced and ask what needs to be done. And he won’t leave until the job is done. Then again, he is probably going to hang around for an hour after and visit till it gets dark and he gets a call wondering where he is.     

The way he was and is with his friends and family…They all mean the world to him…His niece Brittany and nephews Collin & Matthew – He loves them like they are his own and has always been so proud to be their uncle. His sister Nicole, his parents, grandparents…They brought him up right and shaped him into the wonderful man I met so many years ago. Manuel Gonzales, his brother for life. Jason Gibbs – Best friend from hay and cattle…Between those 3, the cattle and tractor talk will never cease. So many pilots, so many men that have been huge parts of his life. If you met Wesley, you were part of his life and he would do anything for you.     

Then there is the flying. Ask any pilot – When flying enters your bloodstream, it is there for good. It is not something that you just like to do. You live for it. It is your passion. Wesley has 3 passions. God, his family, and flying. I could throw out working on our land in there as well, but if flying called, he is gone.     Wesley worked for Arenosa Flying in his teen years as a flagger on the ground. It is there that he caught “the buzz” for flying. In April 2001, Wesley and I met. We were talking about flying, specifically crop dusting, by the time our 3rd dance came around. It’s been nonstop ever since. He took his first ride in my grandpa’s J-3 Cub on June 23, 2001 at Jim Pearson’s ranch in Yoakum. My brother took him up and our lives were never the same. He started taking flight lessons on October 25, 2003, soloed on Dec 13, 2003 at VCT, and earned his Private Pilot’s License on Feb 20, 2004. He earned his right to solo the J-3 on April 10, 2004. After getting the all clear in the cub, Wesley would be at Ball Airport in Victoria non-stop. That was his Saturday hangout spot, known as “the kid” among all the old men. He would fly all morning, then go to my grandpa’s ranch to work to trade for some of the flying. Wesley took his commercial check ride on June 2, 2006, came home to celebrate, and left for Gulf Shores, Alabama the next morning for his first paying flying job. He pulled banners across the beach for 2 summers before landing his first ag seat in Utah. Before heading to Utah, he bought his beloved Cessna 140 from Mr. Jeffries, who would fondly call Wesley “Lesley My Boy!” at Ball Airport. Wesley was the son Mr. Jeffries never had and learned so much invaluable information from him. We were broke, but we made buying that 140 a priority. She’s always been good to us.     

The job in Utah was an adventure to say the least, but it also was a stepping stone to bringing him home to Edna. Donald White gave Wesley his first shot at home. Although Donald originally told Wesley not to fly and to “go be a school teacher instead”, those 2 had many great years together and became good friends. Between Donald and Donnie Jr, Wesley gained his confidence as a spray pilot and loved serving those in our area. Donald had to tell him to fly a little higher because he didn’t need to try to pick the cotton with his wheels. Donnie and Wesley spent many months out of state together in the Mid-West working and sharing stories and are still good friends to this day.     

Wesley started working for Coastal Flying Service in the very early 2011 season. He was working with one of his best friends there, Travis. They were school friends, banner tow friends, and now spray pilots at the same service. Wesley enjoyed every minute of the flying (well maybe except for the wire traps and some of the herbicide work that was a little tricky, but he would do it regardless, as long as he felt safe with it). He’s going to tell me not to say that last part, about not loving all of it, but it’s the truth. Even if he was having a rough day, when he got into the air, all was right in his world. We talked about this many times over the years. I would beg him to not fly frustrated or upset, but he always assured me that as soon as the wheels came off the ground, he was at peace. The air was and is Wesley’s happy place. Well, there and our land. And anywhere with our family.     

Wesley and I were married on December 11, 2010. The most perfect, special day ever. Also, my birthday.  What a present, to marry your best friend!!! We welcomed Cort on August 27, 2012. After a super short 2 hour somewhat comical labor, we had our son. Shortly after 7:48 p.m. that evening, Wesley held Cort first in his arms because I had already been holding him in my belly for 9 months, so I wanted him to hold Cort in his arms first. Since that evening, Wesley & Cort have been inseparable. Our world has been richer, brighter and happier. The perfect life. The perfect father & son. They are 2 peas in pod, both can light up any room with a simple smile or laugh, but can frustrate the living daylights out of you just as easy. They have a special bond like nobody else you will ever meet. Cort is and always will be the brightest spot in Wesley’s life and he is the legacy that my Wesley left the earthly world with. Cort and Wesley have talked daily since Wesley flew off to heaven. Cort is the proudest son ever, so happy knowing that his daddy is in heaven with the babies that we weren’t able to carry to full term. Cort prays for his daddy to teach his brother and sister about him so that they know us when we get to heaven one day.     

Shortly after welcoming Cort to the world, we bought our property. Wesley and I, especially Wesley, had always dreamed of having our own place to raise our family, work the land, tend to the cattle, and build our dream home to shelter our family and keep us together, on the land he worked so hard for. Blood, sweat and tears, and a few cuss words, went into building our dream. But, it was completed. From the barn, the road, fencing, the cattle, the hayfield, his runway, and ultimately our dream home, which we only spent 28 nights in as a family, Wesley provided us anything we could ever need or want. He was and is a God fearing family man first and foremost, above all else. When Wesley loves, he loves hard. Plain and simple.     Wesley loves the Lord with a fierce passion. He has always been at peace with God, never questioned him, always trusting his purpose. Friday afternoon, Cort and I were going to talk to Wesley about being baptized as a family, giving our intent on Sunday at church. We didn’t get to have that earthly conversation with him, but I know he is so proud of us and smiling so much that we went ahead and did it. I know he was with us, and always will be.     Wesley Fojtik, You are a Good Man.