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Gene Rodgers, 83
Died: Monday, October 31, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Gene Rodgers, 83, of Abilene, died, Monday, October 31, 2011 at a local nursing center.
The son of Sue Ann (Ott) and Harry Harrison Rodgers, Gene was born on April 29, 1928 in Coleman County, Texas.
In 1959, Gene moved from Spur, Texas to Anson, Texas. He was a longtime building contractor in the Big County area. He opened the first automatic laundry and Anson Roller Skating Rink in Anson in 1959. Gene was Mayor of Anson 1986-88, and was honored by the Anson Chamber of Commerce as the Chamber's Man of the Year in 1987. He was active in various other civic groups and was associated with the Opera House Committee, Terry F. Spraberry Justice Center Foundation, and Anson-Jones Museum. He was chairman of the Benevolence Committee of the Anson Church of Christ of which he was an elder.
After the death of his first wife, Maxine Smith Rodgers on April 5, 1992, Gene married Betty Jo Story on February 6, 1993 in Abilene, moving to Abilene in 1993 from Anson. In Abilene Gene and Jo became members of Baker Heights Church of Christ, where he serves as a deacon.
A generous supporter of Hendrick Medical Center, Gene furnished a room in the Hospice Wing in honor of his first wife, and in 1996 served on the Finance Board of the medical center. He served with his wife, Jo, on the Hendrick Hospice board beginning in 1993. They were sponsors of the Diamondback Golf Tournament benefiting Hendrick Hospice and supporters of the Hendrick League House.
Gene was also an avid supporter and volunteer of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center through their fundraising dinners and auctions.
They were involved in various activities including the Wylie Pep Club, Gene having served four years as Chaplain. They were active in the R.S.V.P. at Abilene Senior Citizens, and he was a member of Wylie Lions Club and a 49-year member of Lion's Club. They were also supporters of the ACT Theater and ACU Theater.
Gene loved deer hunting and playing dominoes.
Gene was above all a Christian husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was always supportive of activities of his children and their interests.
Gene was also preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Jean Rodgers Gaines; grandsons, Greg Gaines and Justin Scott; granddaughter, Diedra "Dee Dee" Gaines Parker; sisters, Katherine Jenkins and Audrey Coleman; and brothers, Dalton Rodgers and Troy Rodgers.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Rodgers of Abilene; son-in-law George Gaines and wife Mary Sue; daughters, Pamela Hamil and husband Ed of Austin, and Melinda Scott and husband Randy of Hawley; brother, R. V. Rodgers and wife Maedelle of Gouldbusk, Texas; four grandchildren and spouses, Jenifer Hamil-Luker and Kenneth, Matt Hamil and Emili, Jeremy Scott and Kacey, and Jared Scott; ten great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 4, at Baker Heights Church of Christ, 5382 Texas Avenue in Abilene, with Steve Smith officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Anson directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Mike Story, Jeremy Scott, Jared Scott, Mark Gaines, Chad Parker, Toby Taylor and Danny Jones.
Memorial contributions in Gene's honor may be made to the donor's favorite charity.
Dwayne Marrs, 62
Died: Saturday, November 26, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Dwayne Marrs, 62, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2011. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.
Dwayne was born October 17, 1949 in Hillsboro, Texas, a loving son to Ray and Dorotha Crocker. He graduated from McMurry University. Dwayne married Marsha Belle Fenner on August 21, 1971. She preceded him in death on March 3, 2011. Dwayne and Marsha owned and operated Belle's Chicken Dinner House. The local family restaurant is still owned and operated by the Marrs family.
Dwayne spent almost 40 years successfully opening and running restaurants. He made many lasting friendships and earned the respect of colleagues through his work. Dwayne was a mentor to many of his employees often receiving letters thanking him for the impact he had on their lives.
On top of excelling in his career Dwayne loved to work on the land he and Marsha owned. He taught himself to weld and used that skill to craft a beautiful iron fence and the gates that surrounded their home. He cared for the many animals that lived on the land including cows, chickens, and donkeys. He spread his love of music to his children teaching them his favorite songs and many beloved memories are of family road trips listening and singing to the music we all loved.
Dwayne was preceded in death by his wife, Marsha, earlier this year, his mother, Dorotha Crocker and his brother, Mike Marrs. He is survived by his father, Ray Crocker and wife Martha Arnold; two sons, Ryan Marrs and Cory Marrs and wife Valerie; one daughter, Jennifer Mogonye and husband Gregg; two brothers, Richard Marrs and Terry Crocker and wife Kay; one grandson, Henry Mogonye as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Pat Fenner, Mike Gonzales, Roy Acosta, Joe Vinyard, Dwight Aston, Brad Marrs, Bill Tarter and Marcus Fenner will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Wylie Wise, Paul Vinyard and Richard Pena.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Dwayne to the Sears Methodist Retirement Systems, # 1 Village Drive, Abilene, TX 79606.
Mattie B. Moran, 95
Died: Saturday, December 3, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Mattie B. Moran, 95, died Saturday, December 3, 2011, at her residence in Abilene.
The daughter of Katie Mae (Woodson) and Stephen Frank Sims, Mattie was born on February 28, 1916 in Hardeman County, Texas, and attended school at Hollis Hill in Jones County. At the age of 55, she received her GED which allowed her to receive promotions to become a supervisor at Timex for which she worked 26 years. She also worked at T.S. Lankford's three years and Texas Instruments 2 years, but her real job was in the cotton patch picking bolls. She was one of six children reared by her widowed mother out in the shinnery in Jones County.
She married Frank N. Moran on November 17, 1934 in Abilene. She moved to Abilene from Anson 74 years ago. Mattie was a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene. She was a member of Rose Park Senior Citizens, where she enjoyed square dancing, line dancing and quilting.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 1965; a grandson-in-law, Kelly Ostlien; her parents; three brothers, Tony Sims, Carlos Sims and Otis Sims; and two sisters, Velma Folsom and Fonda Day.
Mattie is survived by two daughters, Hymonda Merkel (Bill), and Fonda Winter (Tom Jordan) all of Abilene; one sister-in-law, Jo Boy Sims; three grandchildren, Trina Ostlien, Traci Yandell (Tim), and Brandi Mixon (Frank); three great-grandchildren, Katie Mixon, Makaley Ostlien and Kauy Ostlien; one 5th generation great-great-granddaughter, Mattie May Bryan; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, at Southern Hills Church of Christ with Bill Merkel and Phil Ware officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers - the ones who made "the list" - Her boys: Jackie Smith and Landon Neece; Sanctuary Class: John Thacker; WATS Day Elder: Mark Hanner; Her Handyman: Tony Yandell; Brandi's Dad: Randon Winter. Honorary pallbearers - Grandson-in-law: Frank Mixon; Great Grandson: Kauy "the boy" Ostlien.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels Plus, P O Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604, or Big Brother and Big Sisters, 720 Pine St., Abilene, TX 79601.
Matthew Charles "Matt" Phillips, 16
Died: Sunday, January 29, 2012, in Abilene, Texas
Matthew Charles Phillips left us Sunday night after celebrating his sixteenth birthday just last week. He spent his life making other people smile, as well as making himself laugh with his own jokes.
Matt was born in Indiana, spent three years in Oklahoma, and moved to Abilene in 2004. He excelled at academics, earning the first letter jacket ever awarded at Abilene's Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science High School, and serving as president of the school's robotics club. In 2007 he competed at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.; his ESPN interview is on Youtube. He played drums in the Wylie Junior High band and loved 80's rock. He planned to study Engineering in college. Matt was a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ.
Despite more than a dozen major surgeries, countless fractures and sprains, and an entire summer in bed with a back infection, Matt refused to let life dictate terms to him. He took each day as a gift and felt his personal mission was to make the day enjoyable for himself and others. He blessed more lives in sixteen years than most people do in 80, and he will be warmly remembered and deeply missed.
Matt is survived by his parents, Mark and Laura (Cleek) Phillips, and sister, Allison Phillips all of Abilene; grandparents, Herman and Carla Phillips of Richardson, and Charles and Joy Cleek of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; great-grandmother, Lee Lee Stovall, formerly of Abilene; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Stephen Corbett, Ed Emerson, and Matt Morgan officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.
His family would appreciate you sharing your "Matt stories" with them by email or Facebook. Memorial gifts may be made to the ATEMS Robotics Booster Club, c/o Ed Emerson, 3766 Woodridge Dr., Abilene, TX, 79605.
Benja P. Pillans, 89
Died: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in Abilene, Texas
Benja P. Pillans, 89, died Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at an Abilene nursing center.
Born at Attwell in Callahan County, Texas on June 18, 1922, Benja was the son of Nona Ann (Foster) and Benjamin P. Pillans, Sr. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served from 1942-44 and 1944-46, and part of "the greatest generation". Benja married Mildred C. Farmer on February 8, 1947 in Baird, Texas.
He worked for the F.A.A. in New Orleans, Amarillo and Abilene, retiring in 1976. He was a member of Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene.
His parents; seven sisters, Valarie Rouse, Opal Porter, Glenna Kirkhum, Pat Morgan, Destene Morgan, Doxie McPhearson and Ruby Moore; and two brothers, Leonard Pillans and John Coleman Pillans, preceded Benja in death.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Pillans of Abilene; son, Reggie Pillans of Cisco; daughter, Denese Thetford of Ropesville, Texas; two sisters, Roxie Fletcher of Cross Plains and Nona Belote of Cross Plains; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 9, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with Rev. David Cason officiating. Burial will follow in Eula Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Joby Pillans, Skyler Thetford, Tanner Rogers, Julian Pillans, Tom Windham, Leon Chittum and Scott Fletcher.
Memorial contributions may be made to Broadview Baptist Church, 2500, South 27th Street, Abilene, TX 79605, or Eula Cemetery Association, 5930 FM 603, Clyde, TX 79510.
