Juanita Marie Ellison

Juanita Marie Ellison, died Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at the age of 99. Funeral services, with Rev. Eddie Castaneda officiating, will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 29 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow in the Hamlin Memorial Cemetery, in Hamlin, Texas. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home. October 18, 1907, Juanita was born in Texarkana, Texas to James Franklin Hensley and Leona (Patterson) Hensley. She grew up in Texarkana and graduated from Texarkana High School. Juanita moved to Abilene in 1929. She worked in retail sales of women's clothing and fashions for Lerner's, Switzers, and LaMode's department stores in Abilene. January 6, 1934, Juanita married Earl Houston Ellison in Abilene. Earl preceded her in death in 1979. She was a fan of baseball, following the Texas Rangers, and she was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Juanita was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl Ellison, two brothers, Leon James Hensley and Lewis Truman Hensley, and one sister-in-law, Ann Pauline Grannis. Juanita is survived by four nieces, Erin Farrar and husband Vern, Loretta Mole and husband Dave, Lynndie Wagner and husband Alan, and Grace Johovich; four nephews, Rich Ellison and wife Patty, B.J. Ellison and wife Sue, Charley Ellison, and Mike Ellison and wife Jody; and one brother-in-law, Jack Ellison and wife Leona. She is also survived by numerous other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews. Vern Farrar, Dave Mole, Joe Tauer, Rich Ellison, Charley Ellison, and Mike Ellison will serve as pallbearers. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Jack Ellison.