Travis Edwin Bruton

Travis Edwin Bruton, 80, passed away Friday, April 19, 2013 at an Abilene medical center. Travis Edwin was born to Nettie Hopkins and Emmett Hiram Bruton on March 27, 1933 in Hodges, Texas. He lived in Abilene most of his life and graduated from Wylie High School in 1951. He served in the United States Army for two years from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War conflict and was stationed in Germany for one year. He married Arritta Clemmer on November 29, 1957 at First Christian Church. Travis Edwin served in many capacities as a member of First Christian Church – deacon, elder, chairman of the church board, Elder Emeritus, and he served as a volunteer at ‘BOBS’ Breakfast on Beech Street until his health slowed him down. Travis Edwin worked for Abilene Air Conditioning for 20 years and then for Batjer & Associates until his retirement in 2000. Travis Edwin was an avid golfer and developed his life-long love of golf while caddying at the Abilene Country Club as a teen. He played countless rounds at Maxwell Municipal Golf Course and courses in the area, winning the Abilene city championship once and had 5 hole-in-ones. Growing up, Travis and his family lived next to the land that is now the Diamondback Golf Course, and as a member, he proudly showed family and friends where he had camped and fished as a child. He shot his age several times, including his best ever score at Diamondback. For many years, Travis traveled with his wife all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Travis was preceded in death by his parents, brother Billy, and second mother Mary Knox Bruton. Travis is survived by his wife of 55 years, Arritta Clemmer Bruton, daughter Elaine Chapman Reyes and Max Reyes, daughter Alise Bruton, like-a-third-daughter Leann Land, grandchildren Trey Dillon Chapman, Sydne Renae Chapman, Dakota Reyes, Andrea Mendez and husband Camilo, and Sara Reyes, great grandchildren Makayla and Heliana Mendez, brothers Wade Bruton, Jim Bruton and wife Gina, Marvin Bruton and wife Mary, Tom Bruton and wife Carole, Knox Bruton and wife Carolyn, Royce Bruton, Keith Bruton, sister Mary Bruton, many loved cousins, nieces, and nephews, numerous golfing buddies, Wylie H.S. friends, and First Christian Church friends. The family would like to thank the staff of the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic for the attentive care they provided. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to First Christian Church, 1420 N. 3rd St., Abilene, TX 79601; Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory, Abilene, TX 79601; and Breakfast on Beech Street P.O. Box 5911, Abilene, TX 79608. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at First Christian Church in Abilene with Dr. Don C. Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in Midway Cemetery at Hodges in Jones County, Texas.