Charlene McLeod

Charlene McLeod passed from this earth on July 28, 2018 surrounded by loving family.  She was born January 26, 1938 at Graham, Texas to Gifford Othar and Grace Pauline Hamilton.  Her father was killed in an accident when she was five years old and her mother married James R. Johnson in 1946.  The family moved to Abilene in 1946 and Charlene remained in Abilene throughout her life.

Charlene graduated from Wylie High School in 1956.  She married Maurice James McLeod on July 24, 1956.  She began her working career in the Taylor County Clerk's office and went on to work at Thornton's Department Store, Central West Texas Milk Marketing Co-op, Foremost Dairy, the City of Abilene, and Dunnam-Allen Wireline Service. The highlight of her working life was the last twenty years which she spent serving the members of St. Paul United Methodist Church as the church's financial secretary.

Charlene devoted her life to selflessly caring for others. After retiring in 2007 she served as the primary caregiver to her elderly parents and was also a great help in caring for her aging aunt and uncle, Loyd and Evalyn Hamilton of Weatherford, Texas, and her close friend Dalene McMinn of Tahoka, Texas.

Charlene also continued to serve at St. Paul after her retirement on many committees and in varied activities as a volunteer.  She was a member of the Pathfinders Sunday School Class.

She was preceded in death by her father Gifford Othar Hamilton, her mother Grace Johnson, step-father James R. Johnson, nephew Doug Miller, niece Michelle Lassiter and aunt and uncle Evalyn and Loyd Hamilton.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years Maurice McLeod, her son and daughter-in-law Kenneth and Tonya McLeod of Houston, Texas, and her daughter and son-in-law Paula and James Fehleison of Arlington, Texas. She is also survived by her four grandsons Matt McLeod and wife Sarah, David McLeod and wife Emily, Jase Fehleison, and Ben Fehleison and wife Mary.  She loved her grandsons so much and was so proud of them.  She had six beautiful great grandchildren: Abigail, Marielle, and Hazel McLeod and Mason, Merritt, and Maren McLeod.  Her surviving siblings are sister Marsha and Carroll Lassiter, brother Ted and Pat Hamilton, sister Linda Miller, and brother David and Karen Johnson along with their children Cindy Page, Lori Boydston, Melissa Lassiter, Kim Hamilton, Bretta Maldonado, Lacy Hay and Lance Johnson.  Other survivors are uncles Bill Hamilton and Gary Hamilton and brother-in-law Gary Miller.

Special thanks to: Dr. Hari Kalla, Amy Newquist, Ann Herrara, Elizabeth Rodriguez and all of the caregivers at Texas Oncology in Abilene; Hospice of the Big Country; and all of the wonderful nurses who cared for her at Abilene Regional Hospital.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, July 30, 2018 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Honorary pallbearers are her four grandsons along with Bob Gill and Dennis Newquist.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church Shared Ministries or to a favorite charity.