Blanche Evelyn Petree

Evelyn Petree, 93, of the View community passed away on November 17th, 2009. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 19th at 2:00 PM at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow the service at Elmwood Memorial Park. Evelyn, born on June 22, 1916, was the first child of Eva Lee and R. Y. Buchanan. She attended Wylie schools and completed high school at Abilene High. Evelyn married Raymond Petree on July 28, 1938. She began teaching in the Delk community with her husband before they both graduated from McMurry College in 1940. She left teaching and worked in the Abilene Post Office while her husband served in the Air Force during World War II. Upon his return, they both began teaching in Tuscola in 1945. She campaigned with Raymond as he ran for County Tax Assessor in 1946 and was so proud as he was sworn into office. Her only child, Richard, was born in 1947, and she enjoyed staying home with him for four years. She then had the opportunity to return to teaching at Wylie Elementary. After teaching there until 1954, she moved to Butterfield Elementary where she taught kindergarten, first, and second grades for 31 years, often teaching more than one grade at a time. She was loved and respected by her many students. She not only taught school, but every Sunday she would serve her Lord by teaching a group of young children in her church. After retirement, she became a student again in Bible Study Fellowship and later taught the children of mothers who attended the classes. Every summer she would lead Vacation Bible School for another group of youngsters. Teaching was so important to her, but she taught her students more than reading, writing and arithmetic - she taught them about God and life. Evelyn enjoyed cooking and was very successful in West Texas Fair baking and canning contests, several times winning sweepstakes honors. She also entered each of her grandchildren in the Grandma Brad contest at the fair, always believing hers to be the best. She also entered the West Texas Pecan Show and won several years with her entries. She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond. She is survived by her son Richard and his wife Cammie of Abilene. Grandchildren: Angela and Brian Carter of Lubbock; Robert and Keva Fowlkes of Iraan; Shawn and Anna Petree of Seattle; Jason and Leslie Petree of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; Chance and Whitney Petree of Abilene; Megan Rausch and Austin Petree of Abilene. Great-grandchildren: Scout and Will Carter, Addison and Asher Fowlkes, and Moriah and Elijah Petree. Other survivors include her brother Hollis Buchanan and wife Marcia Lee and their children. Memorials may be made in Evelyn's honor to Sears Community Hospice Services, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas 79605; or the church of the donor's choice.