Bobye Eagleston

Bobye Lea Cheek Eagleston, the youngest of 9 siblings passed away on Sunday January 28th shortly after celebrating her 99th birthday. Bobye was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on January 6th, 1925, and moved to Abilene with her family as a toddler in 1928.

After her freshman year at Abilene High, she moved to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Val and Bruce King, in Harlingen, Texas. She was very active in school and was a cheerleader at Harlingen High before graduating in 1942.

While in Harlingen, she met her future husband, Ed Eagleston, as she shopped with a girlfriend for a gift at a men's clothing store where he was working. Ed was immediately smitten. Later, he and his family moved to Galveston, Texas and he started college at Texas A&M. As the story goes, he couldn't stand to be away from her, so he dropped out and returned to Harlingen to pursue her! His persistence paid off and they were married on June 6th, 1942.

Upon graduation from business college, Bobye was employed in a war related industry until their first son, Mike, was born in 1944. At that time, she became a stay-at-home mom. Her three children are especially glad about that decision! Margie was born in 1952 and Matt, in what was a bit of a surprise, was born in 1960. She was a wonderful mom, nurturing and loving all of them.

The family moved often as Ed changed jobs. They started in Galveston but spent time in Texas City, Texas (they were there at the time of the Texas City disaster), New York City, Carlsbad, New Mexico, Los Angeles, and Midland, Texas before finally moving back to Abilene in 1957.

A big advantage of living in Abilene was that Bobye's beloved mother and most of her brothers and sisters lived there. All of them were very close and enjoyed spending time together - they were a fun-loving bunch and didn't take themselves too seriously. As they got older, they would take turns cleaning each other's homes and playing 42 (a game with dominos).

Ed and Bobye were charter members of Brookhollow Christian Church in Abilene. They were very active, serving in many capacities over the decades. Bobye also delivered meals for Meals on Wheels for a time. Bobye loved the Lord and talked of "going home" often in the last few years.

What a wonderful life she lived! In her 99 years, she witnessed many incredible changes that revolutionized how we conduct our daily lives. Through it all, she was a sweet loving spirit to everyone. She moved to Keller, Texas in 2019 to be closer to her children.

Bobye was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Eagleston, her brothers, Sam, Albert, Bill, Archie, and Herbert, and her sisters, Elsie Cheek Carpenter, Val Cheek King, and Fannie Cheek Box. She is the end of a great generation. She was also preceded in death by grandson, David Eagleston.

She is survived by her three children, Mike of Southlake Texas (wife Jill), Margie of Keller Texas, and Matt of Keller Texas (wife Chris). Also, by 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild!

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 5, 2024, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, with Rev. Penny Biddy officiating, burial will follow the service at Elmwood Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.

The family requests that memorial donations be sent to Meals on Wheels Plus of Abilene, 717 N. 10th Street, Abilene, Texas 79601, or Brookhollow Christian Church, 4606 S. 14th Street, Abilene, Texas 79605.