Monty Wayne Oates

Monty Wayne Oates, 56, passed away Friday, January 20, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, January 22, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 23, at Three Crosses Cowboy Church, 4038 Hwy 351, Abilene, with Pastor Greg Clemmer officiating. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco, Texas. Monty was born in Post, Texas to Jackie and James Oates on October 17, 1960. For 56 years Monty lived in Abilene where he graduated from Abilene High School in 1979. He married the love of his life, Jana Johnson, on June 6, 2009, at the Cowboy Heritage Church in Clyde, Texas. He worked for 32 years for Union Pacific Railroad as a maintenance foreman. He was a member of Three Crosses Cowboy Church. Monty was a professional bull rider and a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), 1983-1988. He won his first rodeo at the Wylie Rodeo at age 18. He placed third in the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo in 1983 in front of his brother Mark's Oklahoma University gymnastics team. Monty and his dad made a yearly trip to Lake Fork for the Big Bass Splash. He dearly loved bass fishing. He was also a Little League Baseball umpire. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Tom and Nydia Oates, and Jack and Tommie Gean Hunt. Monty is survived by his wife, Jana Oates of Abilene; daughter, Haley Jo Oates and husband Bryan Tolliver, and grandchildren Bronson Cash Tolliver, Tinley Belle Tolliver and Stratton Holt Tolliver of Abilene; stepson, Brice Johnson, wife Amanda and grandchildren, Braxton and Hayes of Abilene. Survivors also include his brother, Mark Oates, wife Jeanie and three daughters, Rose, Jacqueline and Alexandria, residing in Edmond, Oklahoma; sister, Jamie Shannon, husband Patrick Shannon, and two daughters, Addison and Emma, residing in San Angelo; parents, James and Jackie Oates of Abilene; in-laws, Jimmy and Annie Harris of Abilene; and brother-in-law, Robert Harris, wife Donna and children, Avery, Annie, Johanne and Emmanuel of San Antonio. He is also survived by his beloved min pin, Honey. Pallbearers will be Gus Summers, Jimmy Saunders, Pat Harwell, Robbie Williams, Derek Williams, Mark Oates, LeRoy Nettles and Mike Ray. The family extends our sincere thanks to Dr. Reed, Dr. Kalla, and the nurses and staff of Hendrick Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Three Crosses Cowboy Church Arena, P.O. Box 1920, Abilene, TX 79602.