James Belcher

Jim Belcher, 64, of Abilene, TX passed away on Friday, May 27th, 2016 in Abilene. Visitation will be 5:00 - 6:30 PM on Monday, May 30th at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, May 31st at the Southern Hills Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Buffalo Gap Cemetery directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Jim was born in Wichita Falls, TX to Jim and Peggy Belcher on May 17th, 1952. He graduated from Rider High School in Wichita Falls in 1970. He studied chemistry at Midwestern University and then graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 1977. It was there that he met his future wife, Diane, who was attending dental hygiene school. They married in 1975 and lived in Houston where Jim practiced dentistry with Dr. Walter Jarrell. In 1978, Jim and Diane moved to Lubbock, TX where Jim completed the Basic Ministerial Program at the Sunset School of Preaching. Jim and his family moved to Abilene, TX in 1980 and Jim became a member of the first graduating class of ACU's Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program. In Abilene, Jim worked for the State of Texas as a public health dentist from 1981 to 2004 and was on staff at the Southern Hills Church of Christ as a counselor from 1982 to 1992. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Peggy Belcher. Jim is survived by his wife Diane, his daughter Rebecca Hunter and husband Ryan of Tuscola, his son Andrew Belcher and wife Julia of Bedford, sister Lane Kingcade and husband Dan, sister-in-law Marsha Robbins and husband Ron, grandchildren Lillian and Ethan Hunter, and Perry and James Belcher, nephews Matthew Kingcade, John Robbins and Austin Robbins, and niece Katie Robbins, uncle Richard Clark and wife Mava, cousins Kay Nelson and husband Mark, Kim Kirkpatrick and husband Richard. Pallbearers will be Eddie Browder, Dan Garrett, Will Gray, Steven Leggett, Allen Neece, Mike Schweikhard. Memorials may be given to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory St., Abilene, TX 79601. The family of Jim Belcher wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Ferrell, Dr. Templeton, and Dr. Goodman and the wonderful nurses of Hendrick Hospice Care. »(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)