John F. Stash, Jr.

John Fred Stash, Jr. "Johnny", 87, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 17, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 18, in The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel with Tim Bluhm officiating. Burial will follow in Tye Cemetery. John was born on February 13, 1930 in South Standard, Illinois to John Fred Stash, Sr. and Anna Dzuris. He lived in South Standard until age 15, then moved to Streator, IL to be near his sisters and to work at Illinois Glass. He joined the United States Air Force September 16, 1950. John spent his time in the service at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, working as an Airplane Engine Mechanic. It was in Wichita Falls that he married Mitzi Morrisset and his only child, Eddie Don Stash, was born. After being discharged in 1953, he moved to Abilene, Texas, where he opened Key City TV, worked as an Abilene Firefighter, and farmed his land in Hamby and Elmdale, Texas. John met and married the love of his life, Frances Pauline, while he was a Real Estate Agent with Senter Realtors specializing in farm and ranch properties. He built houses and developed subdivisions at Elmdale, Texas. He and his son, Eddie, built Abilene Executive Residential Airpark. John and Pauline opened Academy of Homes Real Estate in Abilene and later the first franchise of Re/Max Real Estate in Abilene. They were married 38 years. The career of his choice was to farm. He loved planting seeds and watching them grow. John was an avid reader, especially westerns. He was a longtime member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna; a brother, Eddie Stash; and four sisters, Esther R. Stash, Marie Alsvig, Leone Ross, and Margaret Hall; stepson, Curtis Hammond; and great-grandchildren, Little Jack Pinnick and Jacob Decidue O'Dell, as well as a very special person in his life who was like a mother to him, Aradia Morrisset. John is survived by his beloved wife Pauline; his son Eddie Don Stash and wife Jean Alfonso Stash; grandchildren Bryce Decidue Stash, Randi Stash O'Dell, Joshua Wade O'Dell; and great-grandchild Digger Wade O'Dell. Survivors also include stepdaughter Shirley Diane Pinnick and her husband Lloyd Allen Pinnick, grandchild Lance Pinnick and wife Amber Pinnick, and great-grandchildren Law Pinnick, Landon, Liem and Kyler; and John and Richard Ross, Jerry and Norman Alsvig, and David Hall and wife Karen all of Illinois. Grandsons serving as pallbearers will be Bryce Stash, Josh O'Dell, Lance Pinnick, Dave Hall, Cole Edmondson, and Mat Riley. Memorials may be made to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation 3800 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110; Meals on Wheels; and Tye Cemetery Association.