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Charles Lynn Gayden, 90
Died: Saturday, December 17, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Charles Lynn Gayden, 90, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2011 in Abilene.
Born on December 3, 1921 in Kosse, Texas, Charles graduated from Kosse High School in 1939 and served in the U. S. Army Air Corps with the 95th Bombardment Squadron in Northern France and Central Europe during World War II.
Charles married Elouise Lumpkins in Clyde, Texas on June 2, 1949 and moved to Abilene where Charles was employed by Lone Star Gas Company for thirty-five years. Charles and Elouise were married for 61 years at the time of her death in 2010.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elouise in 2010, parents Jesse and Luella Gayden, and one sister Jo Wilson of Abilene.
Charles is survived by son, Jerry Gayden and his wife Betty of Abilene and daughter, Ginger Brittain and her husband Gary of Double Oak, Texas. He is also survived by grandchildren, Chris Gayden and wife Cindy of Irving, Texas, Pam Gayden of Dallas, Texas, Ben Stanley of Double Oak, Texas, and great-granddaughters, Ellie Gayden and Maddie Lynn Gayden of Irving, Texas.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Chris Gayden, Ben Stanley, Gary Brittain and Robert Wommack.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to honor our U.S. servicemen at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Lou Cox, 58
Died: Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Lou Cox, age 58, died Wednesday, December 14, 2011 in the loving arms of her husband and daughters after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. The family visitation will be Saturday, December 17, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Oldham Lane Church of Christ with interment following at Dudley Cemetery. The funeral will be officiated by Bob Martin.
Lou was born on January 31, 1953 in Brownwood, Texas to John Truman Reagan and Josephine Milner Reagan. She graduated from Blanket High School in Blanket, Texas, where she met the love of her life, Rodney Cox. Lou attended Abilene Christian College and Mary Meeks School of Nursing, attending classes at all three universities. She graduated from McMurry University with top honors.
Lou worked at Abilene Printing and Stationary, at Hendrick Medical center as a nurse and as a Patient Representative, at Hendrick Hospice, and as a school nurse for Abilene Independent School District. She retired from A.I.S.D. in May, 2011 as the school nurse at Johnston Elementary.
Lou Reagan married Rodney Cox on September 1, 1972 in Abilene, Texas. She and Rodney made the Abilene area their home for the next 39 years. Lou and Rodney were members at Highway 36 Church of Christ.
Lou enjoyed dancing with her husband, gardening, baking, reading, and caring for others. She loved spoiling her grandchildren and attending their many activities. She and her husband lived on their ranch and she received great pleasure from taking her grandkids to see the new baby calves. Lou lead a life that honored God and was an inspiration of hope and faith for all those who knew her. She had a smile that would light up a room and warm your heart, and she had a sparkle in her eyes that reflected the love and compassion she shared with everyone she meet.
Lou is survived by her husband, Rodney Cox; her daughters, Kerri Bristow and husband Tony of Hawley, Texas, and Jana Cox of Abilene, Texas; her brother, Joe Reagan and wife Alice of Longview, Texas; her twin sister, Sue Harvey and husband Larry of Granbury, Texas; her grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bristow and Tyler Bristow, both of Hawley, and Colby Flash and Lainey Flash, both of Abilene; brothers-in-law, Marvin Cox of Brownwood, Texas, and Arvil Cox and wife Tonya of Brownwood, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Truman and Josephine Reagan, and numerous other family members.
If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Crowley Cancer Research, C/O Joyce O'Shaughnessy M.D. Research Fund, 1700 Pacific Suite 1100, Dallas, TX 75201 or online at www.marycrowley.org.
Homer Brown "H.B." Terry, 84
Died: Tuesday, December 13, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Homer Brown Terry, Jr., 84, died Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at Hendrick Medical Center.
Born in Trent, Texas on May 24, 1927, he was the son of Jeffie A. (Howell) and Homer Brown Terry, Sr., and in 1929 moved from Trent with his parents to Baird, Texas to a farmhouse only a few miles from Clyde. At seven years of age he began first grade in Baird Public Schools, and in 1939 began the sixth grade in Clyde Public Schools, graduating from Clyde High School in 1945.
As a boy he worked with his Daddy on the farm, and in 1941 began working for Pyeatt's Grocery in Clyde during his high school days, and later for Patterson Funeral Home and BBB Drug Store both in Clyde. In 1943 his family moved from the farm into Clyde where his parents had a laundry and his mother a dress shop, "The Rilla Frances Shop". His father died suddenly in 1945.
In 1945, H.B. joined the U. S. Navy and after training began his service as Seaman First Class in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon aboard a mine sweeper AM164 circling the Pacific from Guam, Okinawa, Hawaii, and other islands.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, H.B. attended The Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science from 1946 to 1947. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Faye Tarrant, on February 8, 1947 in the First United Methodist Church in Clyde, Texas.
He began working at Wylie Funeral Home in Baird in 1947 as a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director from 1947-1953.
On November 8, 1936, he was converted and baptized at nine years of age at First Baptist Church in Clyde. Having felt God calling him to preach at age seventeen, he surrendered his life to the gospel ministry of God on January 15, 1953 at a revival meeting at First Baptist Church in Baird. On August 30, 1953, H. B. was Licensed and Ordained as a Minister of the Gospel at the same church, Rev. Riley Fugitt being the pastor. He immediately enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene as a freshman and graduated with a B.S. Degree in 1958. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth from 1959-1961. During his years in HSU and the seminary, he pastored three Baptist Churches, Johnson's Chapel Baptist Church (Aspermont), Denton Valley (Clyde) and First Baptist Church, Tuscola.
The other two churches H.B. Terry served were Bethel Baptist Church in Eastland, and Temple Baptist Church (now Lytle South Baptist Church) for 17 years. After resigning as pastor there in 1982, he served as a part-time staff member of Visitation at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene (1982-1983). During his ministry he held Gospel revival meetings in many churches over the Big Country area, and in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and California. Since 1982, he had been a member and Deacon at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, where he also served as teacher of the Adult Men's Bible Class (The Master's Class) and usher, as well as on various committees at the church, including the Missions Committee and Finance Committee. He also served on the Pastor's Search Committee at Pioneer Drive when both Dr. George Gaston and Bro. Stan Allcorn were called to be pastor.
Over the years he also served on numerous boards and in other capacities - Board of Trustees at Hendrick Medical Center (20 years); Moderator of both Cisco Baptist Assn. and Abilene Baptist Assn.; Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; and Board of Taylor County American Heart Assn. He also served as a Chaplain at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Since 1969, he had been a member of Abilene Kiwanis Club, serving as chairman for Volunteers in the Annual Pancake Fund Drive and chairman of the Spiritual Aims Committee. H.B. was a Master Mason - member of Abilene Lodge #559, and a 32nd Degree Mason of Scottish Rites in Dallas.
H.B. had re-entered his funeral director career with John and JoAnn Hamil in 1983 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Homes and had worked with Robert and Karla Hamil since they began The Hamil Family Funeral Home in May of 2005.
His parents and two sisters, Jean Higgs and Rilla Frances Mahoney preceded H.B. in death.
H.B. is survived by his wife of 64 years, Faye Tarrant Terry of Abilene; son, Homer Terry III of Lewisville; and grandson and wife, Ben and Annette Terry of Dallas. Survivors also include his brother-in-law, Hugh Tarrant of Amarillo; nieces and nephews, Cathy and Jim Smith, Becky and Duane Fox, David and Cindy Mahoney, Terry and Janice Higgs, Gary and Joyce Ann Higgs, Tommy Alan and Diane Higgs, Judy Tarrant Favor, Linda and Hugh Tarrant Jr., Melvin and Mary Ann Martin and Bobby Martin; cousins, R.W. and Dale Terry, Sue and Ted Getterman and Dene McLeod; and special family, Chuck and Cathy Wolf.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 16, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating, assisted by John Fanning and Gary Higgs. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Missions Department at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605.
Sonoma Kathryn Sibley, 87
Died: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Sonoma K. Rudman Sibley was born March 12, 1924 in Bristow, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Norman William Rudman and Sadie Brown Rudman Truby, deceased. She had one sister, Eunice Bell, deceased. Mrs. Sibley died on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at her home in Abilene, Texas.
Sonoma attended public schools in Breckenridge, Texas where she lived at 1715 West Walker with her family. At four years of age, she won Miss Junior Oklahoma City, June 1929 contest as her beauty and personality were recognized early. She graduated from high school and headed to Austin to the University of Texas in 1943. There, she was a member of the Texas Spirit Organization, was a Top 10 Beauty and Girl of the Month.
Sonoma married Lieutenant William Ruck "Dub" Sibley Jr. of Abilene, Texas in July18, 1943. She had a large formal wedding in the backyard garden of her family home in Breckenridge, Texas. married for 68 years, 4 months and 5 days, her husband, Dr. W. R. "Dub" Sibley, preceded her in death by only 55 days. She is survived by her two daughters and one son. She had three grandsons, two granddaughters, one niece, three nephews and four great grandchildren.
Dr. and Mrs. Sibley moved to Abilene after World War II. Dr. Sibley had graduated with honors in 1943 from Baylor University, College of Medicine. As they created his private practice of medicine together, Sonoma went to work as his first assistant and set up his office with one cigar box of index cards, one for each patient. They worked together with Jimmie Smoot Henderson for almost 30 years to develop a medical practice that lasted 50 years in Abilene. During that time, Sonoma had many volunteer activities in various organizations. One of her first achievements was to help Shelley and Shirley Smith start the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. Sonoma helped to move and transfer from Bonham Elementary School the first polio patients through the windows to waiting trucks to be delivered to the first physical therapy room at WTRC while her husband was a charter member of the WTRC Board of Directors. Her WTRC khaki uniform dress with the starched white collar and cuffs still hangs in her closet.
She was also a member of the Hendrick Medical Center Women's Auxiliary and the Taylor Jones Medical Alliance. She was a member of the Junior League of Abilene, the Fairway Oaks Golf Association and the Episcopal Church of Heavenly Rest. While her husband was the Church's Senior Warden, she served as a member of the Altar Guild, the Flower Guild and volunteered in the Thrift Store.
Sonoma is survived by her three children: Sharron Ann Sibley and husband, Gerald Grant Jr. of Fort Worth, TX, Cindy Lou Sibley of Austin, TX and William Ruck "Trey" Sibley III and wife, Sheila, of Dallas, TX. Survivors also include five grandchildren: William Marion (King) Pugh and wife, Stacy of Midlothian, TX; Charles Kyle Pugh and fiancée, Ms. Deborah Michaels of Dallas, TX; Hayley Sayles Pannone of Austin, TX; Heather Sibley Hayward and husband, Dan Hayward of Frisco, TX and Jordan Matthew Sibley of Dallas, TX; and four great grandchildren: William Ryan Pugh and Katherine Lynne Pugh of Midlothian, TX; Sadie Pearl Pannone of Austin, TX and Mason Scott Hayward of Frisco, TX.
She is also survived by her niece, Brenda Bell, of Dallas, TX, who was her flower girl in her wedding, Norman Bell and his wife, Carol, of Corinth, TX, Dr. Tom Bell of Norwich, CT and Cowden Bell of Weatherford, TX.
Sonoma's grandsons will be pall bearers at the funeral service to be held Monday, November 28 at Church of the Heavenly Rest at 10 A. M. officiated by The Rev. N. Luke Back, Rector. The burial will follow in the family plot in Buffalo Gap Cemetery in Buffalo Gap, TX. Her great grandson, Ryan Pugh, a State champion, will play Amazing Grace on his trumpet as he did for Dr. Sibley's burial. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center or Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605.
E. Estell Holtman, 92
Died: Friday, November 25, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Evelyn Estell Holtman, age 92, passed from this life on November 25, 2011 in Abilene. She was surrounded by her beloved family. Her long life was full of all the best that life offers, including close family and warm friendships. She was the 3rd of seven children born to Robert and Charlotte Owen. Estell was born February 11, 1919 in Cumby, Texas and moved with her family to Cary, Texas in 1929. Estell married the love of her life, Luther Hilliard Holtman in 1938 and moved to Pampa, Texas where she lived for 50 years.
Evelyn founded the Pampa Day Nursery, the first licensed daycare in Pampa, Texas. She dedicated her life to raising her children and was ever present in the lives of her grandchildren. She was formerly a member of the Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ in Pampa, the Comanche Trails Church of Christ in Amarillo, and more recently a member of Westgate Church of Christ in Abilene. She enjoyed collecting antiques, singing songs of praise, playing piano, painting, gardening, and family gatherings. After the death of her husband, Estell moved to Amarillo for a few years then to Ada, OK to be near her ailing son, Weylon. In 2004, Estell moved to Abilene to be near her daughter. Estell was a devoted Christian and we know she is now in the House of the Lord.
Estell was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Luther Hilliard Holtman, her eldest son Weylon H. Holtman, her brothers, Otis Owen and R.C. Owen, and her sisters Odell Conner, Jo Lane and Dolly Montgomery. She has one surviving sister, Alice Patterson of Amarillo, TX. Surviving children; Annette Shortridge and husband Lew of Goodyear, AZ, Joyce Waddell and husband Jim of Abilene, TX, Lynn Holtman and wife Bessie of Tye, TX; Grandchildren; John Gower, Lisa McNutt and husband Eddie, Charlotte Ralston and husband Thad, Pam Holtman, and Weylon Holtman Jr. all of Ada, OK, Mark Sparks and wife Kathy of Phoenix, AZ, Clint Sparks of Kapaa, HI, Tracy Sparks of El Mirage, AZ, James Waddell Jr. and wife Sally of Milliken, CO, Jeannette McQueen and husband David of Abilene, Melanie Holtman of Lubbock, Mindy Holtman of Pampa, Loren Holtman of Pampa, Angela Rawson and husband Ricky of Lawton, OK, Lance and Kelli Holtman of Tye, Joseph McGregory of Clinton, OK, Brandon McGregory of Amarillo. Estell has 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Viewing with the family will be held Monday, November 28th at 5:00 pm through 7:00 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A celebration of her life will be held at Beltway Park Baptist Chapel on Tuesday, November 29th at 1:00 pm. Interment and a graveside service will be held in Pampa at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery on Wednesday, November 30th at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Love and Care Ministries of Abilene in memory of Estell Holtman.
