Susanne Chalcraft

Susanne Chalcraft, 74, of Abilene, died on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at a local medical center. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, with Rev. Greg Kennedy officiating, assisted by Rev. Bob Gillette. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Susanne was born in Hamlin, Texas to the late Marvin T. (Red) Hudson and Annie Belle (Moore) Hudson on August 19, 1934. She graduated from Hamlin High School in 1952 and attended McMurry College (now University) where she participated in band and the McMurry Chanters. Susanne married Walter Chalcraft in Hamlin on June 14, 1953. About a year later the couple moved to Abilene, where she was employed by the Lone Star Gas Company. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a position with the Abilene Independent School District as a Teacher's Aide at Abilene High School, where she remained for 34 years. She was coordinator of the copy room. Susanne had a beautiful singing voice and was soprano soloist and choir member in Abilene's First UMC, Fairmont UMC and St. Paul UMC, as long as her health permitted. She was also an avid fan of Abilene High football team and of the Dallas Cowboys. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Annie Belle Hudson, and one sister, Joyce Misener. Susanne is survived by Walter Chalcraft, her husband of 55 years; two daughters, Susan Allred and her husband Raymond, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Karen Mitchell and her husband Jeff, of Weatherford, Texas; five grandchildren, Ashley, Aaron, Garrett, McKinleah and Wyatt; a sister-in-law, Alice Martin of East Wenatchee, Washington; several nieces and nephews, and special friends, Ronnie and Phyllis Kendrick. Memorials may be made in honor of Susanne Chalcraft to the choir fund at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.