Vera Frances Pillans

Vera Pillans, 91, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed from this world, surrounded by her loving family, and into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 30, 2010 in the chapel at First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Atwell Cemetery in Callahan County. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Born on January 23, 1919 in Atwell, Texas to Steve and Ada Foster, Vera was a sixth generation Texan. Her great-great-great grandfather, John Foster, came to Texas as a member of the "Old 300" that traveled to Texas with Steven F. Austin in 1821. Her great-grandfather, Wiley Wood Foster, was the oldest living Confederate Soldier in Texas at the time of his death in 1946 at the age of 101. Vera was preceded in death by her husband Howard Pillans in 1979, grandson, Mark Pillans, in 2008, her parents, four brothers and one sister. Vera grew up in the Atwell Community, graduated from Atwell High School in 1937 and married her high school sweetheart, Howard Pillans, on August 7, 1937. Vera and Howard farmed in Callahan County on land that has been in her family for more than five generations until 1956 when they moved to Abilene. Vera was a full time homemaker and loved to sew, quilt, prepare meals for her large family, grow vegetables in her garden, tend to the flowers in her yard, and play dominos and card games with her grandchildren. Devoted to her family, she was always there with loving arms to greet you, a good ear for listening, a story or memory to share, and a warm, comfortable lap for grandchildren to sit on. An avid sports fan, she was a loyal follower of the Abilene High Eagles, the Dallas Mavericks, the Texas Rangers, but especially the UT Lady Longhorn's basketball team. A devout Christian who knew and loved the Lord, she was a long time member of Calvary Baptist Church in Abilene. Known as "Mom" to her children, "Mammaw" to her grandchildren, and "G-G Maw" to her great-grandchildren, she was the matriarch and of a large and loving family. She is survived by two sons, Neal Pillans and wife Joice of Rotan, Texas, and Bill Pillans of Abilene, Texas. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Gayden, and husband Jerry, and Joyce Wommack and husband Robert, both of Abilene. She was the proud grandmother of ten grandchildren, Nita Pillans of Ponder, Texas, John Pillans and his wife Dottie, and Karla Paski and her husband Tommy of Rotan, Texas, Matthew Pillans and his wife Lynne of Lampasas, Texas, James Pillans of Bedford, Texas, Shana Floyd and her husband Jeff of Corinth, Texas, Chris Gayden and his wife Cindy of Irving, Texas, Pam Gayden of Dallas, Texas, Amy Lovell and her husband Tyler of Abilene, Texas, and Adam Wommack and his wife Beth of Cross Roads, Texas. She is survived by fifteen great-grandchildren, Ellie and Maddie Gayden, Rylee and Truett Lovell, Madison and Alexa Wommack, Nolan Pillans, Taylor Floyd, Cassidy Chancellor, Trace Paske, D'Lina Bilano, Alicia Pillans, Lavon Coop, Laura Pillans, and Rylie Pillans. She is survived also by five great-great grandchildren and many loving nephews and nieces. We will miss you Mom, but all rejoice that you are Home now, and resting in the arms of our Lord and in the loving embrace of your loved ones.