STARBUCK FUNERAL HOME

Steve Jenkins, 68, of Nugent, passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at a local hospital. He was born January 3, 1953 in Abilene, Texas to M.C. "Heavy" and Juanita Jenkins. Steve graduated from Abilene High School in 1971 and went on to be an electrician for over 40 years. He retired from Hardin Simmons University in 2018. Steve enjoyed hunting with son in law Matt; golfing with grandson Mason; and spending time with friends. He also enjoyed cooking, grilling, and music. He was a GREAT cook. Survivors include his Wife, Linda Jenkins of Abilene; daughter Jennifer Brawley (her husband Matt) of Abilene; grandson Mason Brawley (his wife Yamilex) of Frisco; stepdaughters Abby Faulkner of...

Troy Roland, 96, of Tye passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at a local nursing home. He was born in Merkel, Texas on January 25, 1925 to Elsie and Marietta (Jones) Roland. Troy is survived by his sons Steven and Ken; daughter in law Carla Roland; grandson Steven Charles, Jr.; granddaughter Jessica Roland; and a granddaughter in law Lindsey. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years Patsy Simpson Roland and his daughter in law Betty Roland. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00PM Friday, November 26, 2021 at Starbuck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 27, 2021 at Starbuck Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. All arrangements...

Philip Lynn Doan, 75, of Merkel passed away on Saturday November 13, 2021 at his home in Merkel, TX. Visitation will be Monday November 15, 2021 at Starbuck Funeral Home in Merkel from 5 pm to 7 pm. Funeral services will be Tuesday November 16, 2021 at The First United Methodist Church in Merkel, TX. with Rev. Rhonda Greenwood, and Philip's son David Doan officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Starbuck Funeral Home. Philip was born on March 18, 1946 in Merkel, TX to Clayton and Melba (Shugart) Doan. Philip was a working machine from a very young age. From standing on milk crates, washing dishes at restaurants in Merkel to farm work for the family or local...

Zed Urban Bright, age 79, passed from this life on November 2, 2021 in Abilene, TX. He was born on June 6, 1942 in Merkel, TX to Zed Henderson Bright and Anna Zell (Seago) Bright. Urban attended Cisco College, as well as, the University of North Texas before being called to serve our country in the United States Army. He lived in San Antonio, El Paso and Austin before moving back to the land he loved in Trent. In Austin, Urban operated Trent Construction and worked in the leasing industry. When he got back to Trent he opened up the Mesquite Bean in Merkel and the Trent Country Club. People will tell you that Urban was an honest, personable, confident, fun loving, and hard-working man....

Troy Ervin Rosson was born in Winters, Texas on July 7, 1929 and left this earthly home Monday, October 11, 2021. He is preceded in death by his lifelong love, Eunice Rosson, his parents, Robert Ellsworth and Cleta Rosson, brothers, Robert Kenneth Rosson and James Milton Rosson. Troy is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Troy married Eunice Sanford on October 23, 1948. They were together for 72 wonderful years. Their love knew no bounds and grew with every passing day. If ever there was an example of forever love, it could be found in this couple. Troy worked for AT&T for 31 years. After retirement from AT&T, he enjoyed farming and tending to his cattle....

J.D. Sellers, 80, of Merkel, passed from this life on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, in Oklahoma City, OK. J.D was born in Merkel, TX on August 1, 1941, to Jimmie Dee and Medie (Huffman) Sellers. He was a truck driver for many years. He married Earline Sue (Johnson) on October 12, 1968 in Still Well, OK. He loved traveling around the United States and enjoyed taking Earline with him as his "travel buddy." He was a loving, hardworking man and will be missed dearly by all who knew him. J.D was preceded in death by his parents: Jimmie Dee and Medie (Huffman) Sellers; son: Steven Allen Sellers; brother: Melvin Sellers, and sister: Katrina Smith. He is survived by his beloved wife: Earline Sue...

Maxie Nell (Wade) Cannon, age 76, passed from this life at Hendrick Hospice in Abilene. She was born on March 10, 1945 in Stamford, TX to Bonnie Wade and Johnnie Ruth Wade. She was a homemaker. Maxie was a loving mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be dearly missed by many. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter: Sharon Pedroncelli and husband (Andrew) of Hearne, TX; sons: Jackie Cannon of Abilene and Shannon Cannon of Abilene; sister-in-law: Dorothy Wade; grandchildren: Shanda DiAntonio and husband Chris, Brittany Flowers and husband Tofer, Lorenzo Pedroncelli, Sophia Pedroncelli, Zack Cannon and Kristen Cannon; great-grandchildren: Bailey Solesbee,...

With profound sadness we announce the tragic passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt Yea-Sook "Joy" Kim RN MSN who went into God's loving arms on September 22, 2021. She was killed by a driver while crossing the intersection on her way home from her favorite park - a walk she took daily. Shortly before the accident occurred, Yea Sook had thrown a "Chuseok" Fall Harvest Festival (Korean Thanksgiving) luncheon which she greatly enjoyed with her many friends in Abilene. She was born in 1946 in Hwanghae Province, Korea and was the eldest of six children. She attended and subsequently became an assistant professor of nursing at the Nursing College of prestigious Yonsei...

Doris W. Wells, age 86, passed from this life on her birthday. She was born September 16, 1935 in Weinert, Texas raised in the community and attended school there. She married Jesse Layne Wells on May 30, 1953. They moved to Trent, TX in 1964. She attended Draughon's Business College in Abilene, and worked for North's Funeral Home and later worked for Texas Rehabilitation Commission. She retired in 1995. Doris loved to bake and decorate cakes for family and friends. She loved to Embroidery, in later years, she enjoyed reading and doing word searches and loved being known as the "sucker lady" at church and enjoyed for many, many years of sending out greeting cards to family and friends. She...

Roger Lee Burfiend, 91, received his angel wings on Sept. 14, 2021 at 11:11a.m. at a local hospital. Known to everyone as simply "Grandpa", he was a man like no other. Grandpa was born on Sept. 21, 1929 in Jones County to Pete & Belle Burfiend. Grandpa grew up in Noodle where he attended school, graduating in 1946. He trained horses in his younger years & spent 10 years working on the ranch. He worked at the warehouse at Dyess Air Force base for 6 years, was a postal service letter carrier for 11 years before spending the remainder of his days as a pumper in the oil field. He was a Sgt. in the United States Air Force, honorably and proudly serving 4 years and one month and fought...

James Earl Cannon, age 71, passed from this life on September 14, 2021 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, TX. He was born on November 4, 1949 in Abilene, TX to Andrew Cannon and Edith (Rister) Cannon. He was a very talented welder. James could fix anything and was a jack-of-all trades. He had a passion for rebuilding cars and one of his pride and joys was his "COE". He was an amazing fabricator and has many metal art pieces to show for it. He was a mentor and father to many, also guiding with love, honesty and great advice. James would give the shirt off his back to help others and was one of a kind. He will be missed dearly by many. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife:...

Ricky Joe Campbell (63) was born on April 14, 1958 to Joe and Margaret "Ringwald" Campbell. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas and then later moved to Abilene, Texas in the mid 70's where he then met his wife Delinda DarLene Watkins and got married in 1977. The couple was happily married for 43 years. In 1990 they moved to Merkel, Texas where he then had many ventures in running business and owning business such as Rick's Auto. He spent many years building cars and working on many projects. He recently received a trophy for his 1929 model A Ford he had purchased and cleaned up for a show car. He was a hard working man and a family man till the day he passed. There wasn't a day go by he didn't...

Barbara Ann Hopkins was born on October 4,1943 at Stamford Sanitarium, Stamford, TX to Mr. and Mrs. Frank David McFarland (Mother - Rachel Annie Fitzgerald). She is preceded in death by her father and mother, her sister Mary Fowler, her husband Pete Hopkins and her ex-husband Bill Mansfield. She is survived by her brothers, Mike and Mark Chambers, her sisters, Marilyn Payne and Mickey Sparks. She has four children; Veino Hopkins, Juno Williamson, Niko Mansfield and Rachel Abbott, whom she loved very much. She has multiple cousins, nieces and nephews consisting of Shannon Cochran and Stacey Payne, along with multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews. She never...

Lila Ruth (Bonner) Cox, age 86, passed from this life, into the arms of her Heavenly Father, on Friday, August 20, 2021 at Hendrick Hospice in Abilene. She was born in Sweetwater, TX on August 4, 1935 to Storey Wright Bonner and Fannie Rogers (Nunn) Bonner. Lila was a devout Christian with a true servant's heart. She had many things she was deeply passionate about, including Merkel Church of Christ, the Fortnightly Study Club, Wreaths Across America, as well as, the Merkel Museum. She graduated from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM with a Bachelor's degree in Education. She taught elementary school in Lamesa, S&S Consolidated and also for Merkel ISD. Lila was an excellent...

William Scott Tarpley, The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Mr. Merkel himself died unexpectedly on August 10, 2021 at Hendrick's Medical Center in Abilene, TX. They say the cause of death was COVID but we really believe he just couldn't take listening to another Biden speech. Scott was born on July 4, 1957 in Merkel, TX and enjoyed telling everyone that people are really celebrating him that day and one day it would be called Scott's Day. Scott graduated from Merkel High School (1975) and from Angelo State University (1979) as an accountant. He lasted approximately one week before going back to the oilfield where he is known as the go-to guy. Scott married Sherlyn Guenther on March 29, 1980. He...

Elizabeth (Betty) Joyce Smith, 89, of Merkel passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of August 10, 2021. She was born August 31, 1931 to Eleanor Page White and Edmund B White in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Betty spent her childhood years in Wollaston, Massachusetts and graduated from North Quincy High School in 1951. Betty is survived by five children; George Smith, Janet Smart, Joyce Duplessie, Carol Milton and Susan Goodwill; numerous grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and one cousin Priscilla Rae. Betty was a Girl Scout Leader in Maine for many years and a lifetime member of the VFW. After the death of her husband Stanley she moved to Texas in 1992 and lived with...

Luis Morin Garza Jr. 72 passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on the morning of July 27, 2021. Luis was born on October 17, 1948 at his family home in Colorado City, Tx to Santana (Morin) and Luis T. Garza Sr. Luis was the youngest of six children and the only son. He and his sisters were all taught the importance of family and the value of hard work. Luis started his ginning career at the early age of 15. When he was 19 he met the love of his life Belen Garza in Loraine, Tx. They married on June 22, 1969 and settled in Colorado City, where they made a home for their two beautiful daughters Angelita and Adelita. They recently celebrated 52 years of marriage this June....

Janet (Thomas) Deen, age 79, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 19, 2021 at her residence in Merkel. She was born on June 24, 1942 in Rotan, TX to A.W. Thomas and Vera Mae (Dawkins) Thomas. Janet was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and grandmother. She was very friendly and never met a stranger. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Merkel and was a devout Christian. Janet was a hairdresser for over 35 years and also worked part-time as a Municipal City Judge for over 14 years. She will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband: Wayne Deen of Merkel; two sons: Kerry Deen and wife Connie of Abilene, and Jason...

Antonio (Tony) Biera of Merkel, passed away on Jul 16, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Merkel, TX on April 20, 1951, to Leonardo and Ester Martinez Biera. Tony attended Merkel Schools and graduated from Merkel High School in 1969. Tony proudly served our country in the US Army. He worked for C.G. Conn, Lockheed Martin (General Dynamics), Packaging of Abilene, as well as other various jobs before going to work for TDCJ. He retired from Middleton Prison as a correctional officer (CO-V) in 2012. Tony married his long-time friend Virginia (Duran) Biera on the 26th of July 1997. He played baseball for the Merkel Tejanitos. He was especially talented at woodworking,...

Vonceil Rust Robertson passed away comfortably and peacefully on July 15, 2021. She was born December 2, 1933 to parents C.B. Rust and Helen Kail Rust of the Hodges Community in Jones County. She was married to William Truett Robertson of Merkel in 1953 and they had two sons. Vonceil was preceded in death by her husband in 1994. She is survived by two sons, Rust Robertson and Jim Robertson and wife Cindy all of Abilene; two brothers Gary Rust of Hodges, and C.B. Rust and wife Lily of Fort Worth; two grandchildren, Caleb and fianc?e Sylvia Horta of Benbrook, Texas and Emily Shetler and husband Levi of Buffalo, New York; and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be held on...

Ruben "Platano" Duran, 74, of Merkel passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 4, 2021 at Hendrick Hospice Care surrounded by his family. He was born November 20, 1947 in Merkel to Joe Duran, Sr. and Encarnacion Calderon Duran. Ruben attended Merkel schools and enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought during the Vietnam War. He was an active member of the VFW. Ruben Loved to dance, listen to music, being outdoors and spending time with his friends and family. He never had an enemy and was always able to make new friends. Ruben is survived by his son Tony Duran and wife Lisa of Abilene; brothers Joe Duran and wife Marie of Dittmer, Missouri and Frank Garcia of Abilene; sisters...