Obituaries

Jun 24, 2022

Rue Campbell Ford, 88, was called to her heavenly home on June 24, 2022, in Abilene, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at the Paint Rock Methodist Church at 369 S. Hall Avenue in Paint Rock, Texas. Dr. Cliff Stewart of 1st Central Presbyterian Church in Abilene will be officiating. She will be...

Jun 24, 2022

Jun 19, 2022

Jack Ridlehoover was born on a farm near Gunter, Texas on October 2, 1930, to W.J. and Sallie Ridlehoover. He married Betty Jo Knight on January 30, 1948. Betty has been his constant companion and supporter for 74 years. He dedicated his life to pastoring and preaching in May 1948. He began pastoring at age 19 and pastored continuously until...

Jun 13, 2022

Judy Colvin, 44-year resident of Abilene and a well-known and respected realtor, passed away on Monday, June 13. Judy fought lung cancer for the past nine months; she won her battle with breast cancer 12 years ago. A celebration of her hard-fought but well-lived life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21 at Holy Family Catholic Church....

Jun 12, 2022

Fay Owen “Buster” Welch passed away peacefully at home in Abilene, Texas, on Sunday, June 12. He was born 94 years prior in Sterling County, Texas, the last of eight children born to Charles Owen Welch and Fay Lucas Welch.

Within a month of his birth, his mother died. The children were dispersed among relatives and Buster was raised by his...

Jun 11, 2022

Lorraine Marie Burks, 75, passed away peacefully June 11, in the year of our Lord 2022.

Lorraine, known to family and friends simply as Rainie, lived an extraordinary life. She began life with her parents, Etelvina Ochoa and Guadalupe Sanchez in her hometown just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. While still a young girl, they moved to the San Fernando Valley...

Jun 9, 2022

Melbourn “Loyd” Walker was born on October 9, 1926 in Coleman, TX.  He left his home on the ranch in Lawn, TX peacefully to enter his eternal home with Jesus on June 9, 2022 at the age of 95.  Loyd was the son of Hubert and Rosa Walker.  He had three brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00...

Jun 8, 2022

Ronnie Blackmore of Abilene, Tx passed away June 8, 2022 in Abilene, TX.  Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, June 10th at The Hamil Family Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held 10:00am Saturday June 11, 2022 at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating.  Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery.  Services are under...

Jun 7, 2022

Mary Katherine McWilliams LaSalle, 82, of Abilene, passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in Graham, Texas. 

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 9 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home. 

Funeral services will be held 12 noon, Friday, June 10 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home with Pastor Clyde Kieschnick of Zion Lutheran Church officiating.  Burial will follow at Texas State Veterans Cemetery of...

Jun 4, 2022

William Harvey Rogers was born on December 7th, 1935 in Stuttgart, Arkansas to George H. and Zora Isabelle Rogers.  He attended Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia, Arkansas and earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Business Administration and Economics in 1956.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery and attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in September,...

Jun 3, 2022

Nancy Abel joined her Lord and her two daughters in heaven on June 3, 2022, following a brief illness. She was born Nancy Carol West in San Angelo on October 21, 1951, the only child of Oscar and Hazel West. She was a proud fifth generation Texan and didn’t mind telling you about it.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be...

Jun 2, 2022

James Keither Martin, 88, of Abilene, passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Abilene.

A Memorial service will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at New Beginnings Church, 5535 Buffalo Gap Road, with Pastor Jonathan Neely officiating.

Keither Martin was born in Gorman, Texas to Frank and Faye Martin on January 31, 1934. He graduated from Plainview...

Jun 1, 2022

May 30, 2022

Wancele Young Pritchett, age 95, of Abilene, passed away May 30, 2022. A service honoring Wancele’s life will be held at 12:30 pm on Thursday, June 2 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow at 2:00 pm at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.

Wancele was born on April 24, 1927, to William and...

May 30, 2022

Jane (Davis) Foerster, 73 passed away on May 30, 2022, in Abilene, TX.

Jane was born April 8, 1949, in Lubbock, TX to Clarence and Bessie Davis. She went to school in Lubbock and graduated from Monterey High School. On May 11, 1979, she married Eugene Foerster of Vernon TX. She was able to travel the world and experience many cultures....

May 26, 2022

Earnest William (“Bill”) Rhyan, Jr., went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 26, 2022, in Abilene, Texas.

Bill was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Lucille and Earnest Rhyan on November 9, 1931.  He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1954 and began his career as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.  He continued his education by...

May 26, 2022

For more than six decades, Lale Murrey Estes was one of the brightest lights to ever shine in Abilene. That light dimmed on Thursday, May 26, 2022, when she died peacefully at home.  Lale, 89, wife of the late Dr. B.J. Estes, was part of a remarkable couple who enriched our city and its people in every possible way.

Funeral services...

May 25, 2022

After living a life full of joy and love, Fonda Lou Winter passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at the age of 79. Visitation will be Sunday, June 5, from 4-6 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.  A celebration of her life will be in the chapel of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, Monday,...

May 24, 2022

Lona O’Neal, 87, of Tuscola, passed away on May 24, 2022 at her home in Tuscola, Tx.

Visitation will be 6pm-8pm Monday, May 30, 2022 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd.

Funeral service will be held at 10am Tuesday,  May 31, 2022 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene with Paula Gentry of Church of the Nazarene...

May 24, 2022

Karen Denton “Katy” Beard went home to her Savior, Jesus Christ, on the morning of May 24, 2022.

  Karen was born July 27, 1944, and was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating from Nathan Hale High School in 1962. She always knew she wanted to be a nurse. As a child she took all her dolls apart to “see how they...