Wilda Weedon Young Echols

Wilda Weedon Young Echols, 81, of Abilene and formerly of Canyon, passed away April 19, 2012. She was born to J. A. and Opal Young April 14, 1931, in Foard County, TX. Her young life was spent in the Amarillo/Canyon area, graduating from the West Texas State College Demonstration School in 1949. She attended West Texas State College and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1955. She also obtained a Master's degree from WTSU in 1963. She taught elementary school in Lovington, NM, and Amarillo. In 1969 she began working with Texas A&M University as a County Extension agent serving in Mills, Hood, and Lubbock counties. She was instrumental in forming the Bicentennial Commission in Granbury, the area beautification project that resulted in earning Granbury the Governor's Award, and in the Hood County Water-Sewer Task Force to solve the problem of future water supplies in Hood County. She was awarded the "Top Hand" award by the Granbury Chamber of Commerce in 1979 for her work in the community. She was also awarded the Texas Agricultural Extension Service Award for Superior Service in 1979. In 1980 she became the Area Extension Energy Specialist for the 20-county regional office in Lubbock. She retired from Texas A&M in 1989 and moved to Abilene in 1999. China painting was among her many hobbies, and she was a member of the Big Country China Painters for a number of years. Her parents, a brother, Charles, and a granddaughter, Amber Watson, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Martha (and Mike) Watson of Abilene, a granddaughter, Marly (and Brian) Knapp of Mesquite, two great-granddaughters, Abbey and Sophie Knapp, of Mesquite, a brother James (and Gayle) Young of Springdale AR, a niece, Lynda (& Del) Sloneker, in China, two nephews Jerry (& Marty) Young of Rogers, AK, and Randy (&Kristie) Young of Fort Worth, several great-nieces and nephews. She was a member of the Southern Hills Church of Christ, where she was active in the Prime Timers ministry. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 23, at Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with Phil Ware officiating. Interment will follow in Buffalo Gap Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to The Amber Fund at Disability Resources, Inc., P. O. Box 1880, Abilene, TX 79604.