Mary Lantrip

Mary Kathryn Stephens Lantrip, 79, of Abilene, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2015 in New Braunfels, Texas. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, January 4, 2016 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Mary was born January 3, 1936 to Charles T. and Loretta L. Stephens in Anson, Texas. She was the third of five children and attended Anson High School. She married Kenneth Elwood Lantrip on July 15, 1950 in Hawley, Texas. He preceded her in death on January 31, 2005. Mary was a homemaker raising four children. She was very active in Cub Scouting, wearing the district award of merit. She was a partner in the Lantrip’s Pflash Mart Convenience store chain with her husband Kenneth and their son Gene for 40 plus years. After Kenneth died, she sold her interest to her son and traveled and cruised with her children and their families. She visited Alaska and most of the Caribbean Islands by cruise ship. On February 16, 2010, Mary met Frank Coleman and they became companions and traveled extensively together until her death. After she met “Coley” she traveled all over the United States visiting several states from Virginia to Washington state. Mary was well loved by all who she came in contact with. She loved her family, traveling, her cats and just sitting on her back porch drinking wine and talking with friends and family. She was awesome in Trivia Pursuit and enjoyed playing it with her family. Mary was a member of Broadview Baptist Church, but had also attended Tuscola Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Loretta Stephens; her husband of 54 years, Kenneth Lantrip; two sisters, Dorothy Ketchum and Lois Ingram; two brothers, Jack Stephens and Bobby Stephens; and one great-granddaughter, Xoe Steele. Mary is survived by her daughter, Barbara Ann Curtis and her husband Hargus of Flat Gap, Kentucky; three sons, Gene Lantrip and wife Cindy of Abilene, Randy Lantrip of San Antonio and David Lantrip of Abilene; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her companion, Frank Coleman and his daughters, Lynette Whitlock and her husband Tom, Tracee Coleman and her fiancé Scott Fuller and her daughter, Katrina Kim. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604 or to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory St., Abilene, TX 79601.