Robert Avery Mayfield

Robert Avery Mayfield, 81, passed away Monday, December 1, 2008 at Hendrick Medical Center after a battle with cancer. Funeral services, with Rev. Lee Fuller officiating, will be today, Wednesday, December 3, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. Robert was born the youngest child of Robert Henry Mayfield and Sarah Annie Story Mayfield on June 1, 1927 in the Union Community of Jones County. He attended school in Union and graduated from Anson High School in 1945. Upon graduation he immediately joined the Navy, where he served in World War II, mostly at PT Boat Base #17 in the Philippine Islands. He was discharged in August 1948. Robert married Bobbie Proffitt in Anson. They celebrated 60 years of marriage on September 4, 2008. Robert worked for Halliburton Company, first in Anson, then in Cisco and finally in Albany, where he retired. He was always active in civic organizations, church and school actives, as well as the Masonic Lodge. He was presently a member of Wylie Baptist Church, the Reliable Sunday School Class, the DAV, VFW and John Sayles Masonic Lodge, where he was honored with a 50 year member ceremony in 2007. He was privileged and honored to serve as Mayor of Albany from 1972 to 1974, when they moved to Abilene. Robert's hobbies included gardening, reading and watching sports. He was well known for his recipe for growing tomatoes and state winning pecans. He loved taking his grandchildren fishing and arrowhead hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and four sisters, and his lifelong best friend, Leon Blankenship. Robert is survived by his only sibling Bea Simpson, of Abilene; his wife, Bobbie, also of Abilene; daughter, Christine Key and her husband Joe, of Dallas; son, Joe Mayfield and his wife Shelia, of Tuscola; granddaughter, Lorie Key Haas and her husband Hunter, of Dallas; grandson, Robert Key and his wife Kirby, also of Dallas; great-granddaughter, Piper May Haas; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and in-law family, which he considered his own. He will be sorely missed. Memorials may be made in honor of Robert Mayfield to the Living Christmas Tree Fund, in care of Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas 79606.