Katie Rhea Poer

Katie Newman Poer, 85, met her Lord and Savior June 4, 2016 in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home with Chaplain Paul Matta officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Katie Poer was born August 3, 1930 to Tom and Frankie Newman. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1948. She married Garland W. "G. W." Poer on July 3, 1948. They were married 53 years at the time of his death in 2001. Katie was a homemaker. She volunteered in the library at Bonham Elementary while her children were there and again when her grandson was there. Katie was always the first one to volunteer to do anything to help children. Katie was preceded in death by her husband G. W. Poer; her parents; a sister Ethel Boyd; a sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and J. B. Patterson; a step-grandson Dirk Rankin; a brother-in-law Forest Underwood; and a host of wonderful friends waiting to greet her. Katie is survived by one daughter, Frances Kay Poer of Abilene; son and daughter-in-law, John and Kathy Poer of Plano; and a sister, Tommie Underwood of Austin. Katie is also survived by one grandson and wife, Stacey and Julie Poer of Abilene and their daughters Kayla Jackson of Abilene, Krista Jackson of San Marcos; and step grandson, Dr. Ron Rankin and wife Jeana of Amarillo and their children Marshall and wife Jodee, Nicholas, Olivia and Sharon Rankin. Pallbearers will be Michael McCaleb, Joe Colyer, Duane Farr, Buck Rhyner, Ty Rhyner and Jake Rhyner. Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Colyer, Michael Macias, Jr., and Ronnie Riddle. Memorials may be given to Kinder Hearts Hospice, 842 N. Mockingbird Lane, Abilene, TX 79603; Rescue the Animals SPCA, 4620 North 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79603; or Ben Richey Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 6839, Abilene, TX 79608. The family expresses sincere thanks to John and Laurie Miller and family, Ronnie and Patty Riddle, Vicky Wright, the Rhyner family and Lisa Bridgestock, as well as Kinder Hearts Hospice.