Ray Blackwell passed peacefully from this life at the age of 95 on May 2, 2021 at his home in Abilene, TX. On December 7,1925, Carlton Ray Blackwell was born to Ruby and Elmer E. Blackwell in Cheaney, Texas. He was always grateful to be reared in the country. The lessons he learned of hard work, faithfulness to God, and honoring this country remained with him throughout his life. After attending Alameda schools, he was drafted by the army during World War II. He served in the Philippines with the 41st infantry division and in Japan with the 24th infantry division as an honor guard. When he returned home, the GI bill allowed him to attend Ranger Junior College where he played basketball. ...

Ray Blackwell passed peacefully from this life at the age of 95 on May 2, 2021 at his home in Abilene, TX. On December 7,1925, Carlton Ray Blackwell was born to Ruby and Elmer E. Blackwell in Cheaney, Texas. He was always grateful to be reared in the country. The lessons he learned of hard work, faithfulness to God, and honoring this country remained with him throughout his life. After attending Alameda schools, he was drafted by the army during World War II. He served in the Philippines with the 41st infantry division and in Japan with the 24th infantry division as an honor guard. When he returned home, the GI bill allowed him to attend Ranger Junior College where he played basketball. ...

Malcolm Delvin Brown, 94, of Abilene, passed away on April 19, 2021. He was born on June 29, 1926 in Golden, TX. He was one of six children of Horace Edward and Georgia Elizabeth Massie Brown. He graduated from Golden High School and also attended Draughon's Business College in Dallas, TX. He later served in the United States Navy during WWII. After military duty, Malcolm received a BA degree from East Texas Baptist University. He also graduated form Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, earning a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Religious Education degree. On August 8, 1947, he married JoAnn McKinney in Carthage, TX. In additional to pastoring churches...

Carolyn Lee Hutton January 20, 1936 - April 14, 2021 A private family memorial service will be held at 2:00pm, April 21, 2021 at Hamil Family Funeral Home with Reverend Clyde Kieschnick officiating. Interment will be on a later date at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6649 Buffalo Gap Road Abilene, TX. For more information www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com

Billie Iris Todd age 88, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 4, in Abilene, following a three-month illness. Iris was a walking ray of sunshine and an encourager to everyone she knew. She loved on others in a profound way and she had a deep and abiding love for God, her friends, family, and community. She will be dearly missed and celebrated! Iris was born in Abilene, TX, to Forrest and Thelma Kendall on Sept 29, 1932. She grew up in Abilene, graduated from Abilene High School in 1950, and graduated from McMurry University in 1954 with a degree in Education. She attended the Fontainebleau School of Music and Fine Arts in Fontainebleau, France in 1955. Iris married...

Barbara Sue Keber, loving mother and friend passed away at the age of 72. Barbara was born on December 27, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee to James and Sue Stimpson. She met Ken Keber, who was enlisted in the Navy, in December of 1966 in Memphis and they were married June 8, 1967. Soon after, she gave birth to Allen Keber in 1968 while still living in Memphis. Barbara and Ken were stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego where until 1970 when they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where Adam Keber was born in 1971. While in Alaska, Barbara and Ken were known for hosting college baseball players while they played for the Alaska Gold Panners to which several players went to play in the major...

Jerry "Cullen" Hunt, age 84, of Abilene, passed from this life on February 25, 2021. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, March 1, 2021 at the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene. Interment will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home. He was born on September 19, 1936 in Amarillo, Texas to J.C. and Tessie Hunt. He was raised by his grandparents, E.E. & Julia (Sparkman) Cullen in Abilene. Cullen was a 1955 graduate of Abilene High where he excelled in sports. He played football for Abilene High School on the team which would later be named 'The Texas High School Football Team of the Century' for...

Michael Lee Sieger, 57, of Abilene, was called to his eternal home on Sunday, February 21, 2021. Michael was born on July 4, 1963 in Gainesville, Texas to the late Herbert Lee Sieger and Mary Carlene Sieger. In his early life, Michael made a few mistakes and sowed a few wild oats. One day he decided that this was not working out very well for him. He became a Christian and a man of God. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Odessa where he served on the men's ministry helping the elderly repair and maintain their homes. Michael was a talented cabinet maker as a young man. He worked in that industry several years. At the time of his death, he was a valued employee of Napa Auto...

Jolene (West) Sollivan, age 85, died peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 17, 2021 and stepped into her eternal promise and the Glorious Presence of Jesus. In deference to health risk factors, a memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Jolene was born on March 1, 1935 in Big Spring, Texas to parents Ettie Pearl and Alfred Gordon West. Her childhood and school years were spent with her younger sister and best friend, Shari Lynn, surrounded by many friends and happy adventures. We loved hearing her tell the Tales of the West Sisters. Jolene went on to attend the University...

Montie Dean Neighbors - a life well lived. Montie gained his wings Sunday morning, February 14, 2021. He also gained a deep and full breath of Heaven. Funeral services will be held at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer, on Tuesday, February 23, at 2:00 pm, with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Arrangements and services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Pallbearers will be Big Daddy's grandsons: Zach Slapak, Tristan Morrow, Chaney Tucker, Bo Morrow, and Carson Tucker. Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Reap and Pat Morton. The family requests that masks and social distancing be observed for the...

N.A. (Bill) was born on November 20, 1922 on his parent's farm near Dunn, in Scurry County, Texas. His parents were Nat and Myrtle Billingsley, who died in the late 1970's. Bill had one brother, Max, who died in 1976. A Memorial service was held on February 10, 2021 at First United Methodist Church, Abilene, Texas. A Graveside service will be held at a later date at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX 79606. N.A. enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. This is where he received the nickname, Bill. During WWII, Bill piloted both the Martin Marauder B-26 and the Douglas Invader A-26...

N.A. (Bill) was born on November 20, 1922 on his parent's farm near Dunn, in Scurry County, Texas. His parents were Nat and Myrtle Billingsley, who died in the late 1970's. Bill had one brother, Max, who died in 1976. N.A. graduated in the top ten of his Dunn High School class, which had a total of eleven students in 1940. He was also in the bottom ten of his class. This was at the time that Adolf Hitler (the dictator of Germany) was bragging that Germany was destined to rule the world. World War II started, and of course the U.S. got involved. A Memorial service was held on February 10, 2021 at First United Methodist Church, Abilene, Texas. A Graveside service will be held at a...

Cheryl Dennison Cress, 75 of Abilene, TX passed away February 4, 2021 in Abilene, TX. A private funeral service will be held Saturday February 13th with Rev. Doug Roysden of Wylie Christian Church, officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in Center Point, Iowa. Services under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, Texas. Cheryl was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Vernon Dennison and Evelyn Klima Dennison on February 3, 1946. She graduated from Center Point High School in 1964. She then graduated from Radiology school at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She married her high school sweetheart Jack Cress on May 13, 1967. They had two...

Linda Inman Mitchell, 76, of Abilene, passed from this life on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in Abilene. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Saturday January 30, 2021 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 2021 at the Wylie Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Harkrider, officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Linda was born on September 1, 1944 in Gladewater, Texas to Jo (Hyde) and Thomas Inman. She graduated from Odessa High School. Linda and Dudley E. Mitchell were married on December 12, 1963 in Odessa, Texas. He preceded her in death on October 19, 2018. Linda was a...

Rex Patrick Walker 81 of Abilene TX passed away on Saturday January 21st 2021 in Abilene TX Memorial Services will be held 2:00 pm Wednesday January 27, 2021 at Mosaic Baptist Church Abilene, TX with Dr. J Miller and Keith Clifton officiating. Services will also be live streamed through Mosaic Church of Abilene's Facebook page. The Family will host visitors immediately following the service. Services are under the direction of Hamil Family Funeral Home 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Rex was born in Hartville Mo. to William Walker and Ina Opal Walker on June 12, 1939. He began school in Hartville, MO and graduated from Mountain Grove High School Mountain Grove, MO. He married Patricia Harris on...

Betty Payne Forrest, 82, of Abilene, passed away on December 24, 2020 from ovarian cancer. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 28, at pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX 79606. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Betty was born at home, in Gaines County, on April 19, 1938. Her parents were Lamar Payne and Lou Mattie (Stark) Payne. Betty graduated from Dawson High School in Welch, TX, as valedictorian. She received her Bachelors degree in education from McMurry College. She went on to earn her Masters from Sul Ross. Betty married Carroll Forrest on August 5, 1960, in Seminole, TX. She taught elementary school in Odessa for 27...

Anna Dell Koontz Smith, 96, of Abilene, passed away on November 14, 2020 in a local hospital. Visitation will be held at The Hamil Family Funeral Home on Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas, on Monday, November 23, from 4 until 6 PM. The Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday November 24, from 2 until 3 PM with David Cason, officiating. Burial will follow at Bickham Cemetery, north of Bryan, Texas, on November 25 at 12 PM with Kenny O'Quinn of Cottonwood Baptist Church speaking. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Anna Dell was born October 7, 1924 to Roby Susanne Sample Koontz and Henry Koontz. She graduated from Bryan High School...

Helen Ann Gamblin Whitmire was carried by angels into the glorious presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at 1:45pm on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Visitation will be Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Hamil Family Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A celebration of Helen's life will take place on Friday, November 6, 2020 at 12:00 Noon at Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Helen Ann Gamblin was born to Billy Ray and Thelma Gamblin on January 21, 1942 in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1960 and then from Texas Christian University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1964. She married her soul mate and lifelong companion, David Whitmire on August 17, 1963. Helen...

Terry Gene Anders, 69, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on October 31, 2020 in Abilene, Texas. Celebration of Life will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Saturday November 7, 2020 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Terry Anders was born in LaHarpe, IL to Glen and Jane Anders on April 17, 1951. He went to school and graduated from LaHarpe High School. He married Eva Link on June 20, 1970 in LaHarpe, IL. He worked as a customer service engineer for IBM for 37 years. He was a volunteer fireman and was active in the Lion's Club in LaHarpe, IL. He was also involved with Boy Scouts and First Christian Church of Abilene, TX. Some of his favorite things to do was to spoil his...

Patsy June Hale, 87, formerly of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, passed away on October 22, 2020 at home in Abilene, Texas surrounded by her loving family. Patsy's parents, Logan & Mayme (Burchett) Scott traveled around the country during the depression looking for work. They settled for a time in Utleyville, Colorado where her dad cut broom corn to make a living for their family. Patsy was born in Utleyville on Tuesday, December 27, 1932. They eventually moved back to Oklahoma settling on a hill behind the general store in Gideon, a small community outside of Tahlequah. Her family attended Blue Springs Baptist church, where she came to know Jesus & her father led singing & played guitar....

Charlotte Neece, Age 74, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on October 4, 2020 in Abilene, Texas. A private graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 8th at Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm at Southern Hills Church of Christ with Kenneth McClung, Scott South, Danny Minton and Truett Roberts officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Charlotte was born in New Home, Texas to Leonard and Jo Nettles on August 8, 1946. She attended school in New Home, Texas and Friona, Texas. At Friona she was a member of a state basketball championship team and was named an All State...