W.G. "Butch" Brannon

W. G. "Butch" Brannon, 61, received his wings on Thursday, December 1, 2016, in Abilene, Texas. The son of Imogene (Strange) and Fred Brannon, he was born on October 30, 1955 in Tulia, Texas. Butch was a Registered Nurse, having received his diploma from Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing (1978), certification from the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas (1979), and his Bachelor of Science and Nursing degree from Hardin-Simmons University (1986). Butch was a nurse for 35 years at Hendrick Health System and worked in the Palliative Care Unit of Hendrick Hospice. He was loved and cherished by the employees and staff. Butch was a great cook and loved canning as a hobby. He loved to go to the garden in Merkel where he picked peas and other vegetables. If you had ever been privileged to be at one of Butch and Gary's Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter dinners, you never went home hungry. Butch and Gary loved going to estate sales where he found a lot of items to add to his collections of antique bowl sets, vintage table cloths, feed sacks, quilts, and his cherished collection of turkey platters. Butch will be truly missed by his many friends and loved ones. His parents, Jean and Fred; stepfather, Farris Martin; and sisters, Sandra Steele and Sue Breedlove, preceded Butch in death. Butch is survived by his lifelong partner, Gary Norman; Lacy, his beloved dog and companion; sisters, Gwynn Burchett of Lubbock, and Brenda Smith and Ginger Mullin both of Turkey, Texas; Kris and Kristi Norman, Kimberly Norman Murphy, Kaitlyn Murphy, and Ethan Norman, all of Abilene. He is also loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 2, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 3, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 South Pioneer Drive with Brian Bessent and Chaplain Mike Patrick officiating. Burial will be in Flomot Cemetery in Flomot (Motley County), Texas, at 2:00 p,m, on Sunday, December 4. Pallbearers will be Brandon Smith, Derek Mullin, Jason Smith, Kameron Buchanan, Bryan Buchanan, Jayton Smith, Braydon Smith and Mason Bachman. Honorary pallbearers will be Kris Norman, Lonnie Tucek, Dewayne Tucek, Kurt Steele, Hoyt Steele, Bryan Breedlove, Tanner Aragon, Seth Tucek, Brayden Baldwin, Logan Majeune, Talyx Steele and Eli Steele. The family requests that memorials be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1651 Pine Street, Abilene, TX 79601.