Easter Hothan

Easter Belle McMillon Hothan, lifelong resident of Taylor County, passed away on January 22, 2025 at the age of 97. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Hamil Family Chapel, with burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. A visitation with friends and family will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Hamil Family Chapel.

Easter was born on April 17, 1927 in Guion, Texas (Taylor County) to parents Luther McMillon and Tennie Haynie McMillon. Luther and Tennie raised their six children in the Dewey Primitive Baptist church. Easter was a lifelong resident of Taylor County. She attended school in Ovalo through the first grade, then transferred to Bradshaw to continue until her graduation in 1944. Upon graduation, she moved to Abilene to work for and later manage the Salle Ann Dress Shop. After two years at the dress shop, Easter went to work for Sears and Roebuck in Abilene. During her time there was awarded the "Sears and Roebuck 4 Star Award" for being the outstanding employee in the credit department.

In 1949, Easter married Bill Hothan of Ovalo and they were married almost 58 years before his death in 2007. In 1954, Easter left Sears and Roebuck to become a full time mother and homemaker when she and Bill started their family. Her passion for organizing and attending family and community gatherings led her to hosting many such functions at her home in Abilene and at the renovated "old home place" in Guion through the years. She was very active in the Bowie Elementary School PTA (past president), the Bradshaw Homecoming Association and the Ovalo Exes Association. In 1968 she was named "Coming Home Queen" at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola.

Perhaps her greatest legacy is the "Christmas Tree for All" on the roadside of Highway 83 at the family farm place at Guion. In about 1987, Easter created a project for her grandchildren of making homemade ornaments signed with the names of family and friends. She and her grandchildren decorated a small cedar tree in the fence line along the highway with the ornaments. Through the years and with the help of many family members, the tree has grown and so has the number of decorations. Travelers on Highway 83 have added hundreds of unique ornaments with their names attached. Easter did her best to contact the people who added new items to the tree each year. She hoped that in some small way, the tree brought Christmas cheer to all that passed by.

Preceding Easter in death were her parents; an infant son, Stacy Mack Hothan; her husband, Bill Hothan; sisters, Freeda McMillon and Imogene Boozer; brothers Regnal McMillon and Dub McMillon. She is survived by her son Don, and his wife Cindy Hothan; grandchildren; Amanda and her husband Kyle Wiskow; and Andy Hothan. Great grandchildren, Addison and Reece Wiskow. She is also survived by her sister and best friend, Betty Rankin along with several dearly loved nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers for Easter will be Andy Hothan, Kyle Wiskow, James McMillon, Larry McMillon, Dr. Joe Rankin, John Rankin and Bryan Jennings.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Abilene Education Foundation or your charity of choice.