Helen Hogan Davis

Helen Davis passed away on August 6, 2013, in Hendrick Medical Center Hospice. Visitation will be at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2013. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, August 10, at Ridgemont Baptist Church, with grandson, Tate Ellison, and friend, Rudy Fambrough officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Please wear red. Helen Margaret Downing was born 12/8/26 in Van Zandt County, Texas, to Walter Webert Downing and Veda Lee Norris Downing. She moved to Abilene in fifth grade, attended ACHS and graduated from Abilene High School. Helen married Oliver Tate Hogan in September 1946. He preceded her in death in July1974. In October 1975, she married Delmar E. Davis. He preceded her in death in September 2000. She worked in several areas, including three years as school secretary at Johnston Elementary, bookkeeper for Georgia Pacific, secretary/assistant administrator for Care Inn and in the personnel department first as secretary then as Interviewer at Timex Corporation, from which she retired after almost 25 years. She was a member of Ora Negra Chapter of American Business Women’s Association, then was a charter member of Western Horizons Chapter, where she served in all offices. She taught Sunday School and GAs and sang in the choir at North Park Baptist Church for many years; and was a member of Ridgemont Baptist Church at the time of her death, where she is most notably remembered for her laughter. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; her brother, Thomas Eugene Downing; her son-in-law, Sterling Ellison; and special friend and companion, John Durham; one brother-in-law and wife, JC and Vivian Hogan, one nephew, Warren; two sisters-in-law and husbands, Lucille and B. G. Clinton, and Dorothy and Bill Reynolds, and one niece, Pam. Helen is survived by her daughter, Sharon Hogan Ellison of Abilene; grandson, Tate Ellison, wife Abbye, and great-grandchildren Truett, Liam and Sophye of Clyde; step-grandson David of Abilene; step-grandson Patrick, wife Jessica and step-great-grandchildren, Payton and Paige of Pennsylvania; step-grandson Luke Patterson and wife of Abilene; step-granddaughter, DeDe Grumbles, husband and step-great-grandson, Oliver of Abilene; step-daughter Debbie Patterson of Abilene; step-son Weston Davis, wife Sheryl, and step-grandchildren Sara, Garrett and Rachel of Abilene; sister-in-law, Norma Downing Vickers of Abilene; seven nieces, one nephew, several cousins and multitudes of friends. Pallbearers will be Martin Jensen, Brandon Rogers, Joe Cantrell, Dale Jones, Lupe Ledesma, and Truett Roberts. Memorials may be given to Ridgemont Baptist Church building fund, 4857 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, TX 79606; or Beltway Park Baptist Church Mission Fund, 4009 Beltway South, Abilene, TX 79606. The family wishes to thank Drs. Carlson and Fakhoury, as well as nurses, staff and respiratory personnel in ICU, fifth floor, sixth floor and Hospice at Hendrick Medical Center, as well as friends and family for cards, visits and words of encouragement during her 68 days in the hospital.