Eva M. Middleton

Eva M. Middleton Eva M. Middleton, 93, a longtime resident of Abilene died Tuesday, June 4, 2013 in Abilene. Eva was born Eva Marie Taylor on March 13, 1920 in Lexington, Texas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Taylor. She was the eldest of eight children. She lost two younger brothers during their childhood. In 1946, she met and married Joe Lee Middleton to whom she remained very much in love until his death on January 22, 2006. Eva had many varied jobs over the years, ranging from hanging wallpaper to pastry chef. She and Joe ran a couple of small cafes in Abilene back in the fifties, the first off of North 13th and Treadaway, strangely enough named “Dorthy and Joe’s”. The Dorthy was an inside family joke. She also worked for a now long gone restaurant named “The Chicken Shack” owned by local restaurateur Leslie Strange who loved her pies and assorted pastries. Eva would eventually go to work at the (then called) Abilene State School where she would work for 20 plus years and work her way up to Head Cook II in charge of the kitchens before her retirement. She loved cooking, gardening and canning the products from her labor. Eva loved fishing and spent many a vacation with brothers enjoying their company while trying to catch the big one (fish). Eva was preceded in death by three younger brothers, her mother and father, and her husband of 60 years Joe Middleton Sr. Eva is survived by her daughter, Patricia Ann Crook and husband Kenny of Waco, and her son, Joe L. Middleton Jr. of Abilene. She is also survived by three brothers and one sister, A.A. Taylor of Wichita Falls, Charles E. Taylor of Martinez, CA, Philip E. Taylor of Odem, TX and Nina G. Lucas of Abilene; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. A simple graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Potosi Cemetery officiated by Rev. Keith Clifton. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., in Abilene. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite Hospice group.