Roy Helen Mingus Ackers

Born in the horse and buggy days – August 26, 1921 – to Roy E. and Oma Jones Herndon, of the Pleasant Hill Community, south of Anson, Jones County, Texas, Roy Helen Mingus Ackers passed from this life on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the age of 95. Her grandparents were: Jim N. and Evie Johnson Herndon and Mose and Rebecca Jones. Roy Helen's early years, and those of her younger sister, Joan were greatly influenced by her grandmother Herndon, who had time to teach manners, reading and writing. After graduation from Anson High School in 1938 as Valedictorian, she taught at Draughon's Business College, had courses in Drama and English at McMurry College, and was the first woman in West Texas to earn a Chartered Life Underwriter Diploma from Bryn Mawr College. She worked in the business world for some 48 plus years, almost equally divided among legal, oil and gas, and life insurance fields. Some of her employers were outstanding in reputation and skill: Kirby, King & Overshiner; Judge A. K. Doss; Wagstaff, Harwell, Douthit & Alvis; Sayles & Garrett; Melvin Dixon Drilling Company; Great Lakes Carbon Corporation (J. V. Polk); Elbert E. Hall; LeRoy Bell; Roy Helen Mingus, CLU. She rather enjoyed working as a Temporary on week-end assignments for unknown employers and unfamiliar businesses. She was often the first woman to chair organizations….i.e.……President of Abilene Life Underwriters (164 men); President of Business & Estate Planning Council; first woman chair of Women's Division of Community Chest (forerunner of United Way); first West Texas woman on Judging Panel of Writers Roundup; organized and chaired the Pathfinder event of the old Abilene YWCA which recognized and honored "first" women in their particular fields of endeavor plus service to the community (she was a 1995 Pathfinder in Business); and dressed the Longhorn steer and herself in a coordinating fashion to greet guests arriving for Western Heritage Classic. Her "elocution" background with Elva Mae Pittard in Anson prompted her to have an early interest in book reviewing and dressing appropriately for the subject – giving programs at many elementary and high schools. She was President of many Book Review and Federated Clubs; an early officer in Abilene Fine Arts Museum; active in Los Aficionados, an auxiliary of The Grace Museum; chaired the Paramount Performing Arts Series; was active on the Board of Center of Contemporary Arts; early work with USO prompted her and other ladies to visit Camp Barkeley where they learned that this city needed a symphonic orchestra - fruition of the dream was Abilene Symphony Orchestra – with the Guild organized soon for its support. Roy Helen held various offices – was chair of the Peacock Philharmonic Ball Fundraiser in 1992 and President of the Guild in 1994, and Grande Dame of the February 5th, 20ll Ball. She has been President of the Abilene Woman's Club, and is still active with commitments. Since 2000 she has written a weekly society column for Abilene Reporter-News called "MizCheevus." Her website was www.mizcheevus.com, which gave her a great deal of pleasure. She has taught Sunday School for long periods of time and compiled, wrote and delivered the 50th Year History of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she joined in 1947 and where she still attended up until her death. On September 26, 1947, she married radio expert John A. "Bro" Mingus who programmed and read poetry on the air to piano musical accompaniment by Mildred Allen and sometimes Pete Elliott. Bro and Roy Helen often performed style shows for Minter's, Grissom's and Thornton's during the noon hours. They had two children – John A. Mingus III (Kayren) of Houston and Melinda Mingus MD (Michael Weiss) of New York City. Bro died in 1980. There are seven grandchildren: Samuel Roy Weiss, Mary Ann Weiss, Kevin Mingus, Kenneth Mingus, Matthew Mingus, Liz McDaniel and William McDaniel. She is also survived by two stepsons, Gary Ackers and wife Terri and Larry Ackers. There are five Ackers grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Bro's sister Frances Mae (Mrs. Lance) Sears – age 102 - lives in Sweetwater; her two daughters (nieces of the late Bro Mingus) are Suzanne Sears Hagino and Sandra Sears Lowenfield. Roy Helen's sister Joan, retired teacher of calculus and trigonometry, and husband, the Reverend Father William H. Martin, live in El Paso. They are McMurry exes and have been married for over 69 years! On May 8, 1986, she married Dale Ackers who, with his family, owned KRBC an NBC affiliate – the peacock station. With him she had many volunteer opportunities to work on community projects. He died in 1993. Among her many interests has been a Hat Collection and Vintage Clothing which she often wears. The hats have come from family and Abilenians which have in a way served as history of fashion which tread unpaved streets on both sides of the railroad track. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Rev. Bill Libby and Rev. Felicia Hopkins will officiate. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorials may be made in Roy Helen's honor to the Community Foundation of Abilene, P.O. Box 1001, Abilene, TX 79604-1001; Hendrick Home for Children, P.O. Box 5195, Abilene, TX 79608-5195; or to the donor's favorite charity.