Betty Jo Hamil

Betty Jo Hamil, age 75, of Potosi went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday morning, December 23, 2006, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Caddo, Texas on August 29, 1931 to E.V. and Bill Waldrop. While attending elementary school in Caddo, she met the love of her life, Ken Hamil, passing notes back and forth on the school bus. Always an achiever, she graduated from High School at the age of 16. She attended Business College for two years in Fort Worth, Texas. Ken and Betty married on October 22, 1949. Their marriage produced two children: a son, Mike in 1950 and a daughter Linda (Lynn) in 1953. During the years that Ken served with the Abilene Police Department, she worked tirelessly as an active member of The Abilene Policemen Wives Auxiliary. Betty obtained her real estate license in 1974 and worked for many years for Mike Childers and John Beall. A devout Christian and a faithful servant, she was a member of the Potosi Baptist Church for over 34 years. She was a minister to many as a pianist, organist, interim choir director, faithful choir member, and a long time Sunday school teacher of the Reapers Class, and ultimately became the initial Historian of the church library. Additionally, she worked for many years with the jail ministry and the nursing home ministry through the Potosi Baptist Church. A talented homemaker, devoted wife and mother, her love for her family was apparent to all that knew her. Betty's love spread to many extended family members through the years, always welcoming and encouraging unconditional love and acceptance to all those who entered her life and her home. Through the illnesses of both her mother and mother-in-law, Betty became the primary caregiver until their deaths. She had many hobbies including gardening, doll collecting, antiquing, and estate sales. Betty spent countless hours studying and researching the genealogy of both the Waldrop and Hamil families. She published books for both families and additionally authored and illustrated her own cookbook. She was an accomplished seamstress who enjoyed teaching her granddaughters to sew. For many years, she bred and raised miniature horses and was a member of the Miniature Horse Association. She was preceded in death by her parents, E.V. and Bill Waldrop: her brother, Robert Waldrop: a son, Mike Hamil in March 2006: and a granddaughter, Kelley Jo Hamil in 1992. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Ken, of the home. Daughters and sons-in-law: Lynn and Dan Peterson of Potosi: Charleen and Greg Garner of Potosi; Lara and Vic Wilson of Fort Worth. Grandchildren: Paige and Bob Taillet of Potosi, Stephanie and Jessie Auld of Plano and Kathryn (Katie) Garner of Fort Worth and one great grandchild, Travis Taillet. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Hart of Fort Worth and a sister-in-law, Nannette Waldrop of Granbury, many nieces and nephews and a beloved friend, Brenda Gerard of Abilene. Visitation will be held at 1:00 P.M. at the Potosi Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 26, prior to the service conducted by Jim McCurley and Donny Harbers at 2:00 P.M. under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow at the Potosi Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers are: Jessie Auld, Larry Brown, Tom Cowley, Melvin Faircloth, Jerry Gerard, Chuck Hicks, Ben Jaramillo and Lynn Turner. Honorary Pallbearers are: Paul Angleton, Jim Kelly, Kirby Krupa and George Maxwell. Memorial contributions may be sent to: Potosi Baptist Church Nursing Home Ministry, 2826 Potosi Road, Abilene, TX 79602 or Rescue the Animals, 4620 N. 1st, Abilene, TX 79603. The family wishes to extend a special word of thanks to the 4th and 5th floor nursing staff of Abilene Regional Medical Center, Dr. Shayne White, Dr Sandy Hazelip, Dr. Victor Hudman, Dr. Nancy Daggabuti, West Texas Rehab Sports Center and Interim Health Care.