Helen Joy Egger

Helen Joy Egger, of Abilene, passed away, Monday, August 4, 2008 at the age of 88. Funeral services, with Rev. Greg Kennedy, Rev. Bob Ford and Dr. Robert Monk officiating, will be at 10:00 am Thursday, August 7, 2008 at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Helen Joy Egger was born on November 11, 1919 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to her parents Elmer and Olive Davis. She was born exactly one year, to the hour, after the signing of the Armistice that ended the First World War. Her father Elmer, wanted to name her Armistice, but her mother prevailed and so we had Helen in our lives. Helen Davis met and fell in love with Darris L. Egger at a Methodist Epworth League youth assembly at Mt. Sequoyah, Arkansas. They became engaged May 28, 1942 and later married on October 25, 1942 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Helen received a Bachelor's degree from McMurry University in 1973 and in 1980 proudly received a Master's degree at age sixty from Hardin Simmons University. Helen and Rev. Darris Egger lived in many West Texas communities during their married lives in service of the Methodist Church, making many dear friends along the way. Helen was instrumental in reestablishing the library at St. Paul United Methodist Church and founding a branch library at Sears Methodist Center in Abilene. Both of these libraries have been dedicated in Helen's name. Helen is preceded by her husband, Darris Leon Egger, Sr., son, Charles Frank Egger and two brothers, Charles and Mace. She is survived by one son, Darris Leon Egger, Jr. and his wife Cheryl, of Huntington Beach, California, daughter-in-law Melody Egger of Abilene, TX, one granddaughter, Amy Yoder and her husband Mike of Navarre, Florida, three step grandchildren, Russell Buccola and wife Lori, Kevin Buccola, Ryan Buccola and wife Andrea, two great grandsons, Brenden and Derek Yoder, one great granddaughter Paige Buccola, and one sister, Mary Geer of Grand Junction, Colorado. Memorials may be made in honor of Helen Egger to the libraries that were dedicated in her name at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; or at Sears Methodist Center's, 3202 South Willis Street, Abilene, Texas 79605.