Elaine Rose Talley

Elaine Rose Talley, 85, of Abilene, passed away on Flag Day, Thursday, June 14, 2018.  Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 am, with services beginning at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.  Rev. Amy Wilson-Feltz will officiate. A graveside service will follow at 3:30 pm in Rosemont Cemetery, 4441 Southwest Parkway, Wichita Falls, TX; directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Elaine was born March 7, 1933, in Waco, Texas, to George and Vona Lane Rose.  Reared in Wichita Falls, she began her career as a legal secretary to Coit Mock.  She married Hugh C. Talley, Jr., on December 25, 1949, and divorced in 1958.  They had two children: Steve and Debbie.  Elaine was active in her professional field, serving as President of the Texas Association of Legal Secretaries and Vice President of the National Association, among other offices.

The family moved to Abilene in 1964 where she was Ross Tippett’s secretary at Tippett & Gee, Consulting Engineers, before entering the Congressional field.  She attended school at night and graduated with honors from Cisco Junior College.  She worked for Congressman Omar Burleson five years before he retired and then twenty years for Congressman Charles Stenholm before her retirement in February, 1999.

She was a member of Faith Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, in Wichita Falls for over fifty years; on the Taylor County Extension Service Leadership Advisory Board for many years; participated in organizing the Food Bank of Abilene, serving two years as chairman of its Board; active in her church, serving on the Administrative Board, Trustees, Finance Committee, and Aldersgate United Methodist Women as its President for two years.  She enjoyed traveling, golf, watching professional football games, reading, vacationing on South Padre Island, being with friends and family, and being a part of The Breakfast Group which met weekly for many years.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, older infant sister, Helen, and her brother, Franklin.  She is survived by her son, Steve Talley and wife Chris of Arlington; her daughter Debbie Merket and husband Jackie of Beckville; granddaughter, Shana Talley Wright and husband Chris; grandson Johnny Merket and wife Melody; three great-grandchildren, Harmony, Jeremy and Landry; and her sister, Elizabeth Anne Rose of Plano.  She is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews, including her special niece, Anne Sluhan, with whom she shared many happy European trips and one in 2013 to South America and an Antarctica expedition cruise.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials in Elaine’s memory be made to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Foundation or to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.