Ella Pender

Ella Faye "Bopeep" Pender, of Abilene, passed away Monday, June 25, 2007, at the age of 84. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2007, at First Christian Church with Dr. Tom Lyda. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bopeep was born January 30, 1923 in Plains, Texas, to E.B. Free and Ruth Bedford Free. She moved to Abilene when she was 3 years old. Bopeep graduated from Abilene High School in 1941 and attended Hardin-Simmons University. On December 28, 1943, Bopeep married Hal A. Pender in Abilene, Texas. She was a member of the Junior League for many years and was a sustaining member until her death. Bopeep was a longtime member of the Women's Golf Association at the Abilene Country Club. She was an active member of First Christian Church. Preceding Bopeep in death were her parents, E.B. and Ruth Free, one brother, E.B. Free, Jr., and two sisters, Dixie Presley and Bopeep's twin Lura "Muffet" Sivley in March, 2006. She is survived by her husband, Hal A. Pender of Abilene, two sons, Robert Charles Pender and his wife Demetra of Round Rock, Texas and Bradley Raymond Pender, M.D. and his wife Virginia of Schertz, Texas, and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent in remembrance of Bopeep Pender to First Christian Church Building Fund, 1420 North 3rd, Abilene, Texas 79601.