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James Donald "Don" Dennis, 79
Died: Thursday, December 04, 2008, in Abilene, Texas
James Donald "Don" Dennis, 79, passed away Thursday, December 04, 2008 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Rev. Stan Alcorn and Brother H.B. Terry will officiate. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
September 16, 1929, Don was born in Oplin, Texas to Arthur and Opal (Harris) Dennis. He attended school in Oplin, Clyde and Abilene. Don was the Distribution Manager for Mrs. Baird's Bakery for 44 years. He married Tommie Jean Royston in Abilene in 1949. She preceded him in death in 1977. Don married Betty Rogers in Abilene on August 12, 1989. He taught Sunday School at Faith Baptist for many years. Don was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling. He loved dancing and was an excellent dancer and a great "Paw Paw". Don was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Tommie Jean Dennis in 1977, one son, Jerry Dennis in May of 2008; an infant daughter, Donna Jean Dennis; one brother Arthur "Dan" Dennis, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Betty Dennis, of Abilene; one son, James Randall "Randy" Dennis and wife Linda, of Abilene; one brother, Leo Dennis and his wife Sylva, of Abilene; four grandchildren, Antone, Megan, Erin and James Dennis; one step-son, Benny Davis, of Abilene; one step-daughter, Linda Brown and her husband Don, of Phoenix, Arizona; two step-grandchildren, Courtney Chorn and Tanner Davis.
John Ruzinsky, David Carter, Dan Allen, Richard Lucas, Richard Sullivan, Bobby McGary, Norman Ross, Don Olds and Tanner Davis will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made in honor of Don Dennis to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; or to the West Texas Rehab Center, 4601Hartford, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Floyd D. Taylor M.D., 98
Died: Monday, March 26, 2012, in Abilene, Texas
Dr. Floyd D. Taylor, 98. a longtime Abilene surgeon, passed away Monday, March 26, 2012. Born in Haskell, Texas, he was one of eight children of the late Dr. and Mrs. L. F. Taylor.
Following his graduation from Haskell High School, he entered SMU, later attending The University of Texas, and then completing his internship at Baylor School of Medicine in Dallas, Texas
Following graduation, he interned and completed his surgical residency at Lutheran Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1942 he entered the U S Army as a surgeon, being sent to Mayo Clinic for a three month course in surgery. He then joined his surgery group at Lawson General Hospital where they sailed to Casablanca in an 80-ship convoy.
Taylor headed a surgical team consisting of one surgeon, two assistant surgeons, two surgical technicians and one surgical nurse. During this time, he was the first specialist surgeon to do Forward Surgery during World War II, operating in tents near the fiercest of fighting.
When the war ended, Taylor was one of a three-member surgical team sent to Cortina in Northern Italy to supervise treatment and evacuation of wounded German soldiers who had not been moved out because the Allies had destroyed the Brenner Pass.
After three months, the United States Government obviously recognizing the value of Taylor's surgical group's battlefront expertise, sent the unit to Lake Garda in Northern Italy where, at the request of the Surgeon General in Washington, D.C., members of the unit spent five months writing papers on "Forward Surgery of the Severely Wounded". One of Taylor's contributions to the papers published as Surgery in World War II was a chapter called "Wounds of the Abdomen."
Never wounded, Taylor was awarded the Bronze Star for setting up a hospital and taking care of the wounded on Anzio under fire.
He received his discharge from the Army at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, in October of 1945, and returned to Baltimore to review civilian surgery for three months. In May of 1946 in Abilene, Texas, in the newly-completed building constructed for doctors' offices, now the Crescendo Building, he opened the first practice here limited to surgery, and in 1955 he was among a group of doctors who built and officed in Elmwood West Medical Center, adjacent to West Texas Rehabilitation Center.
Taylor was chief of staff and chief of surgery at old St. Ann Hospital, served as president of Taylor-Jones Medical Society for one year, and was twice chief of surgery at Hendrick Medical Center. He was a member of the American, Texas and Taylor-Jones-Haskell medical associations and a fellow in the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Taylor was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Abilene. .
Dr. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, and son, Timothy Dean Taylor.
He is survived by daughters, Judy Andree and Billie Meeks and her husband Jack Meeks; grandchildren Paige Parker, Robin Meeks, Mark Meeks, twin granddaughters Misty Searsy and Mandy Lummus, Heath Taylor and Timothy Dean Taylor; and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 29, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., with Brother Jack Ridlehoover officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Larry Swonger, Jordan Corney, Joshua Corney, Jake Corney, Claude Giles and Dan Ivey.
Memorials may be made to IntegraCare Hospice, 1665 Antilley Road, Suite 100, Abilene, TX 79606.
Harlan D. Turner, 82
Died: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, in Abilene, Texas
Harlan D. Turner, 82, died March 14, 2012 at his residence in Abilene, Texas.
Born in Oplin, Texas on January 29, 1930, Harlan was the son of Jewell (Favors) and Earl Turner. He grew up in Oplin, Texas, where he graduated from Oplin High School in 1948 before attending Texas A & I in Kingsville, Texas for two years. Harlan served in the U S Army from November, 1951 to February, 1953 in Korea in the 307 Company C Military Police Unit of which he was Battalion Clerk.
For 20 years he lived in El Paso, where he was the owner and operator of Turners Pest Control. In 1980 Harlan returned from El Paso to the Abilene area where he worked for the Texas Highway Department in Abilene for 12 years.
Harlan married LeNell Nichols on November 28, 1980 in Abilene. He was an active member of Elmwood West United Methodist Church and a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class.
He was past president of the El Paso Pest Control Association and a very active member of the Lions Club while living in El Paso. Harlan also had been a Little League Baseball coach.
Harlan was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Earl Turner and Russell McDonald; two brothers, Hicks Turner and J. D. Turner; two sisters, Helen Turner and Aleta Turner and one grandson, Virgil Turner.
Survivors include his wife, LeNell Turner of Abilene; son, David Turner of Santa Teresa, New Mexico; daughter, Lisa Hazle of Cleburne; two sisters-in-law, Jamie Turner of Dudley and Faye Turner of Tyler; seven grandchildren, Michelle Vascil, Matthew Turner, Angela Turner, Taylor Turner, Rob Hazle, Drew Hazle and Dane Hazle; three great-grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at Elmwood West United Methodist Church with Rev. Ryan Strebeck officiating. Interment will follow in Oplin Cemetery in Oplin, Texas, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Elmwood West United Methodist Church, 1302 S. Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605.
Hester Lee Sutton Smith Watts, 96
Died: Tuesday, December 27, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
Hester Lee Sutton Smith Watts, 96, went to be with her Lord on December 27, 2011 at her home in Abilene, Texas.
Born in Rochelle, Texas to George Washington "Bud" Sutton, Jr. and Ludie Katherine (Morris) Sutton, she lived almost all of her life in Abilene. On June 14, 1930, she married Martin Bernard "Smitty" Smith in Abilene. They owned and operated several motels including Abilene Courts and Sunset Lodge for 40 years. He passed away July 4, 1970. On September 1, 1973, she married William Paschal "Pete" Watts. Hester and Pete owned and operated Country Club Mobile Home Park. Pete preceded her in death in March of 2001.
Hester was a member of Wylie Baptist Church and Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class at the church. She taught exercise classes at Rose Park Senior Citizens for over 20 years and was involved in the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the center. Hester enjoyed fishing.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Willie Mae "Billie" Canter; three brothers, George Washington Sutton, III, Leslie A. Sutton, and Sealy Jew Sutton; and grandson, Steve Lofton, Jr.
Hester is survived by a daughter, Billie Ann (Smith) Lofton and husband Steve of Abilene; two grandsons, William "L.M." Lofton and wife Amy, and Scott Paul Lofton and wife Kim; seven great-grandchildren, Debra Lofton, Lane Lofton, Luke Lofton, Michael Skarren, Christy Lofton, Aaron Lofton and Lily Lofton; and several nieces and nephews.
The family expresses special thanks and appreciation to Hospice of the Big Country. "You made it so much easier with all you did. God bless you."
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 30, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with Rev. Donny Harbers officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Seth Sutton, Gabe Sutton Ron Sutton, Will Lofton, and Rodney Owens. Members of Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class at Wylie Baptist Church will be honorary pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605, or Meals on Wheels, Plus, PO Box 903, Abilene, TX 79604.
James Melvin Means, 61
Died: Friday, December 16, 2011, in Abilene, Texas
James Melvin Means, of Abilene, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 16, 2011.
A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange Street with Reverends Cliff Stewart and Janice Six officiating. Arrangements are by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene.
James was born in Olney, Texas, to Cecil Melvin Means and Elsie Marie Means on December 27, 1949. He went to school at Cooper High School, graduating in 1968, and attended both Cisco Junior College and University of Texas at Arlington. He married Nancy Lewis-Means on September 26, 1998, in Abilene. He worked over the years with Chevron Oil and other areas of oil production, Dry Manufacturing (with his father), and as an over-the-road company driver and owner/operator until 2010. He traveled the entire USA from coast-to-coast and all points in between and could give you directions wherever you were regardless of where he was.
James was a kind, loving and generous man whose heart knew no malice. He was the kind of man who would give you his last cent if he thought it would help. He always had a story or joke to tell for any occasion. His wealth of knowledge and know-how were incredible. James' lifelong love of music began in high school where he played tenor saxophone for the Cougar Brass; he often reflected on those years playing at Old Abilene Town in the 60's. He was never on time but his overwhelming charm made it easily forgivable. He had two sons, Tanner and Ty, who he loved dearly and were his pride and joy. Some of his happiest memories were from living in and visiting Ruidoso, New Mexico. James loved to travel and experience life to the fullest. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan through good seasons and bad. He was a gun enthusiast and taught his sons gun safety and how to shoot. He was a good cook and loved to grill. The past year he was extremely supportive and helpful of his wife, taking care of day-to-day tasks while she worked various jobs transitioning into retirement.
He will be remembered for his nurturing love of family, his belief in God, his out-going nature and his love of others. He was a kind and generous man.
James was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Melvin Means and his mother, Marie Means.
James is survived by his wife, Nancy Lewis-Means; his son, Tanner and his wife, Amanda Means of White Deer, TX, and son, Ty Means of Lubbock, TX. He had four beautiful granddaughters, Grace, Ally, Claire and Madilyn. Survivors also include his sister, Lynda Nelson; two nieces, Tommye Lynn Marshall and Tammy Nelson; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces.
Memorials may be given to The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association, The Presbyterian Medical Mission or a charity of your choice.
