Obituaries
Sandra Lu Haynes
May 20, 2026
Sandra Lu Haynes (née Sadler), 93, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2026 peacefully in her home. Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 29 at Piersall Funeral Directors. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30th at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel with C.V. Blake officiating, directed by Piersall Funeral Directors.
Sandra was born January 1, 1933 to...
Ardis Elaine Gillette
May 17, 2026
Ardis Elaine (Harshbarger) Gillette, was born in Watseka, Illinois on October 8, 1939, and passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026, in Abilene, Texas. She lived a life marked by extraordinary loving kindness
Ardis grew up in Onarga, Illinois, where she began her first job as a teenager. She graduated from Onarga High School and eventually found her way to Abilene...
Melissa Mechea Boyd Daniels
May 4, 2026
Melissa Mechea Boyd Daniels, known and loved as “Missy” passed away at the age of 58. She was born on February 15, 1968, and raised in Abilene, Texas.
Missy was the daughter of Katherine Shannon, a loving sister to Debra Rudder and Delena McLemore, and a devoted wife to Charlie Daniels, with whom she shared 24 years of marriage.
She was a...
Nancy Ann Young
May 3, 2026
Nancy Ann Young, born on June 6, 1947 in Lubbock, Texas, passed away May 3, 2026 in Abilene, Texas, after a battle with pneumonia. She was the cornerstone of her family whose life was defined by love, generosity, and deep faith in her Lord and Savior. A graveside service will be on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at...
Carlene H. Spicer
Apr 29, 2026
Carlene H. Spicer, longtime Abilenian, died Wednesday, April 29, after a brief illness. A private family Graveside service will be held Thursday, May 14th at Elmwood Memorial Park with a memorial service in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Participating in the service will be Senior Pastor, Dr. Ray Miller, former pastors Dr. Bill Bruster and Dr....
Lavonne Harrelson Jaramillo
Apr 25, 2026
Lavonne Harrelson Jaramillo passed away April 25th, 2026 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas. Lavonne was born April 30, 1940 in Gorman, TX. to H. H. Harrelson and Lucille B. Stanaford Harrelson. Lavonne lived her early years in the Cisco area, graduating from Cisco High School with the class of 1959. She remained close to her classmates all throughout...
Betty Jo Sherrell
Apr 21, 2026
Betty Jo Sherrell, our beloved mother passed away peacefully in her home on April 21, 2026 at the age of 90. A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Potosi Cemetery, where family and friends will come together to honor Betty's life and legacy. Prior to the service, a public visitation will...
Mary Elizabeth McCurdy
Apr 18, 2026
Mary Elizabeth McCurdy, 58, passed away surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on August 9, 1967, in Jeannette, PA to Lucretia Ann and Floyd Alexander McCurdy Sr. In 1982, Mary’s family relocated to Abilene, Texas, where she would go on to build a life centered around family.
She met Randy with whom she shared many years and...
Charlene (Howell) Lewis
Apr 17, 2026
Charlene (Howell) Lewis, age 90, passed away April 17, 2026, in Clyde, Texas.
She was born June 22, 1935, in Electra, Tx to Charlie and Dollie Howell. Charlene grew up in Andector, Tx where her Dad retired from Texaco. She maintained relationships with many of her childhood friends, including Peggy Hemphill, who is unable to attend today.
Charlene was widowed at a...
Linda Harshberger
Apr 17, 2026
Linda Harshberger was born on November 16, 1946, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Henry and Jerry Hart; and she passed from this life on April 17, 2026. Linda graduated from Abilene High School in 1965. She was a secretary in the Scarborough, Tarpley and Foust law firm. Linda was married to Clint Bowlby who passed away in 1996. Linda had...
Bette Ellen Mitchell
Apr 16, 2026
Bette Ellen Mitchell, 89, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2026, in Abilene, Texas, surrounded by her family.
Born October 23, 1936, in Vaughn, New Mexico, to Ellison Carroll and Mary Francis Mathis, Bette was raised in Vaughn alongside her younger sister, Audrey. In 1953, Bette married Jerry Wendell Mitchell, with whom she built a life ranching and raising horses throughout...
Frank Britton Smith Jr.
Apr 15, 2026
Frank Britton Smith Jr, 75, took his first breath in heaven on April 15, 2026. He was born in Santa Fe, N.M. on Oct. 24, 1950 to Frank and Miquella Smith. He grew up in Santa Fe, N.M, Frank was a proud American and served in the Army Signal Corps as a motion picture photographer. He also attended New Mexico...
Edna Paz
Apr 15, 2026
Eduarda "Edna" Rios Paz, 79, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully in her home on April 15, 2026. A visitation and rosary service will be on Monday, April 20, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street. Service will be on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent Catholic...
Jarrell Lynne Edwards
Apr 12, 2026
Jarrell Lynne Edwards, 87, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026, surrounded by family and love.
Born in Big Spring, Texas, on April 26, 1938, to Jack and Elfreda Edwards. His family moved to Olton in 1944, where his lifelong love of learning and adventure began to take shape. He attended Abilene Christian University, where he ran track...
Leslie Scott Rich
Apr 1, 2026
On April 1, 2026, heaven welcomed Leslie Scott Rich, 66, as he walked through the pearly gates. No longer shackled by the chains of disease, Leslie is finally free of his physical limitations. Funeral services celebrating his life will be on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Oldham Lane Church of Christ, 5049 Oldham Lane. Burial will...
Doris Loraine (Herrmann) Oltmann
Mar 28, 2026
Doris Loraine Oltmann, 80, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on March 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 24, 1946, in Litchfield, Illinois, and grew up on her family farm near Raymond, Illinois.
She graduated from Lincolnwood High School in Raymond and attended Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University. She met her future husband, Philip...
Bill Hilliard
Mar 28, 2026
William Hilliard, 90, of Abilene, passed peacefully on Saturday, March 28, 2026. A visitation with the family will be on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street. A family graveside service will be on Friday, April 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pendergress Cemetery near Sidney, Texas.
Bill was born July...
Dr. Silas Edwin "Ed" George
Mar 25, 2026
Dr. Silas Edwin George died March 25, 2026, in Schertz, Texas, at age 89.
He was born Sept. 22, 1936, in Fort Stockton, TX. He attended Cisco Junior College before earning a B.S.Ed. degree in music (1961) and an M.Ed in school administration (1963) from Abilene Christian University and a doctorate in music education (1983) from the University of North Texas....
Dale McFadden
Mar 23, 2026
Alton "Dale" McFadden, 73, of Abilene, was called to his eternal home on Monday, March 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, resilience, and deep connection to his family, friends, and community. A memorial service will be on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.
Dale was born on...
Bessie Jo Peden
Mar 6, 2026
Bessie “Jo” Cherry was born on July 29, 1923 in Granada, Colorado to Richard and Elizabeth Cain Cherry. She was the youngest of six children. She died on March 6, 2026 at the age of 102.
Jo was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings: Virgie Kerns, Olivia Crowder, Frank Cherry, Delma Cherry, Thelma Bennett and several nieces and...
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