Mattie B. Moran

Mattie B. Moran, 95, died Saturday, December 3, 2011, at her residence in Abilene. The daughter of Katie Mae (Woodson) and Stephen Frank Sims, Mattie was born on February 28, 1916 in Hardeman County, Texas, and attended school at Hollis Hill in Jones County. At the age of 55, she received her GED which allowed her to receive promotions to become a supervisor at Timex for which she worked 26 years. She also worked at T.S. Lankford's three years and Texas Instruments 2 years, but her real job was in the cotton patch picking bolls. She was one of six children reared by her widowed mother out in the shinnery in Jones County. She married Frank N. Moran on November 17, 1934 in Abilene. She moved to Abilene from Anson 74 years ago. Mattie was a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene. She was a member of Rose Park Senior Citizens, where she enjoyed square dancing, line dancing and quilting. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 1965; a grandson-in-law, Kelly Ostlien; her parents; three brothers, Tony Sims, Carlos Sims and Otis Sims; and two sisters, Velma Folsom and Fonda Day. Mattie is survived by two daughters, Hymonda Merkel (Bill), and Fonda Winter (Tom Jordan) all of Abilene; one sister-in-law, Jo Boy Sims; three grandchildren, Trina Ostlien, Traci Yandell (Tim), and Brandi Mixon (Frank); three great-grandchildren, Katie Mixon, Makaley Ostlien and Kauy Ostlien; one 5th generation great-great-granddaughter, Mattie May Bryan; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, at Southern Hills Church of Christ with Bill Merkel and Phil Ware officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers - the ones who made "the list" - Her boys: Jackie Smith and Landon Neece; Sanctuary Class: John Thacker; WATS Day Elder: Mark Hanner; Her Handyman: Tony Yandell; Brandi's Dad: Randon Winter. Honorary pallbearers - Grandson-in-law: Frank Mixon; Great Grandson: Kauy "the boy" Ostlien. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels Plus, P O Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604, or Big Brother and Big Sisters, 720 Pine St., Abilene, TX 79601.