Meredith attended Jim Ned from Kindergarten to 8th grade.

Meredith Danielle Paul

Octobery 22, 1989 - January 18, 2020

Obituary

ABILENE: Meredith Danielle Paul, 30, unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at her home in Abilene. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 2:00pm in the Sanctuary of Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ, close family friend, Marcy Grun is officiating, funeral services are entrusted to the care of Fry-Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 22, from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home in Tuscola.

Meredith was born on October 22, 1989 to Shirley Paul in Abilene.  She attended school at Jim Ned through junior high, she then transferred to Dorothy Perkins Christian Academy in Tye. Meredith graduated from high school with honors in 2004. She moved to Arkansas and attended school for her CNA degree. Meredith’s caring heart and her CNA degree allowed her to fulfill a dream of caring for the elders in retirement centers throughout Arkansas and later in Abilene. It was the birth of her son, Jessie, that taught her agape love and brought her back to Tuscola.  

Meredith’s caring heart was also the source for the love of animals, any animal.  It was not uncommon for her to come home with a stray she had found. She loved to laugh and always had a smile in every photograph.  She had a passion for reading anything she could find. Meredith was a devout Elvis fan, even winning a guitar from the same store that sold Elvis his first guitar. She enjoyed the open road on a motorcycle and was her happiest when that motorcycle was a Harley Davidson.

She married Jim Cook, and they traveled the open roads of Arkansas on a Harley, stopping to camp and enjoy the beauty Arkansas had to offer. Though their marriage was short, their deep friendship lasted till her passing.

She is survived by her son, Jessie; mother, Shirley Mabes and her husband Clyde; brother, Wesley Paul and wife Autumn; maternal grandparents, Kathy and David Swaim; aunt, Betty Brown and husband Simon; great aunt and uncle, Tommy Ann and Gerald Waggoner; great aunt, Nancy Storie; cousin, Jakobi Brown. She is also survived by her nephew and niece Phoenix and Emma; and longtime friend and companion Duane Lanier.

She was preceded in death by her uncle Adam Swaim; grandfather, Wesley Odell Paul; great grandparents, Richard and Maxine Pierson, A.L. Meredith, and Marie Fuller.

Condolences may be left at www.fry-smith.com.

Joseph Lyn 'Jody' Kelley

December 4, 1962 - January 17, 2020

Joseph "Jody" Kelley

Tuscola - Joseph "Jody" Kelley, 57, of Tuscola, Texas, passed away on January 17, 2020 at home surrounding by family in Dudley, Texas. He has now been reunited with his beloved black mare, Babe, riding those green pastures in Heaven.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday January 23, 2020 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 24, 2020 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home. There will be a private cremation later.

Jody was born at HMC to James and Mary Ann (Dooley) Kelley on December 4, 1962. He attended and graduated from Jim Ned ISD. He went to work for R.B. Choate Plumbing not long after high school. From there he went on to establish his own plumbing company, simply Jody Kelley Plumbing. He served the smaller and outlying communities and towns that didn't have access to Abilene. He had a knack for remembering every house he worked on and those he served.

He has been involved with the RHAA and Western Heritage Classic since 1996. He has served as a member of the PRCA Rodeo Committee for the West Texas Fair and Rodeo since 1998. The committee was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2009; an award he was so proud of. He was first affiliated with the West Texas Rehabilitation Center through their spring and fall trail rides.

Jody met his love, partner and best friend, Ms. Pete, at the Pitchfork/6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas on one of those Rehab trail rides in 1995. They were truly a team for the next 24 1/2 years.

Jody is survived by Ms Pete (Putman) Giles, both parents, sister April (Wes) Brooks, brother Jeff (Deadra) Kelley, son Kolby (Shawna) Kelley, and daughter Ashley (Dusty) Rhea. Grandsons Cannon and Coleman Rhea. Nieces Jaycee Brooks, Juliann Kelley, Chelsey (Densman) Heller and Brittany (Densman) Roes. And a bonus nephew in Vinnie Heller. He was "Bubba" to Avery and Cooper Roes and Hesston and Haze Heller. He is also survived by numerous Aunts, Uncles and cousins who he will be so missed by..

Honorary Pallbearers will be, Kelly Gill, Eric Pechacek, Calvin Cox, Jim Craft, Glen Pointer and John Barbee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Taylor County Expo Center, West Texas Rehab Center and Hospice of the Big Country. I want to thank Dr. Ezeoke and Christine, Diana, Deborah, Kristy, Tammie and Pamela of Hospice of the Big Country for the gentle, loving care they gave my Jody.

And there are no words that convey the love, prayers and strength we all received from all our friends.

"You must judge a man's greatness by how much he will be missed."

Will Rogers

Memories may be shared and condolences submitted online at:

www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com

Published in Abilene Reporter-News from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21, 2020

Bobby D. Williams

February 20, 1927 - Janary 12, 2020

Bobby D. Williams

Cedar Park - Bobby D.WilliamsCedar ParkTXOn Sunday, January 12th, 2020, Mr. Bobby D. Williams passed away at age 92. Bobby was born February 20th, 1927 in Tuscola, TX. He was the son of Dewey Williams and Alma Lee (Burleson) Williams. He graduated from Tuscola High School and enjoyed a career of 40 years with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He served in The US Navy aboard the USS Pennsylvania during World War II, and again in the Korean War.

On September 14th, 1957, he married Patsy Ann Melton. They raised two children, Mark and Deanne. Bob had a passion for traveling, fishing, and spending time with his family. He was known for his sharp mind and telling stories from his childhood. He had a great sense of humor and could brighten up a room with his smile. Most importantly though, he had a heart made of gold and genuinely cared about everyone. He spent his weekends cheering on his favorite sports teams and attending church. He touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patsy Melton Williams; son, Mark Williams and wife Traci; daughter, Deanne Kramr and husband John; 7 grandchildren, Jessica, Jed, Austin, Julie, Madison, Cameron, and Colin; and 4 great-grandchildren, Mason, Morgan, Elliot, and Ollie.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation at Starbuck Funeral Home, 1022 N 2nd St, Merkel, TX 79536, on Saturday, January 18th from 12:00-1:00 PM. A memorial service will follow, beginning at 1:00 PM. Bob will be buried at Rose Hill Cemetery after the memorial service with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Merkel Cemetery Association, 201 Edwards, Merkel, TX 79536.

Published in Abilene Reporter-News from Jan. 14 to Jan. 16, 2020

Ricky Dale Belcher

July 3, 1964 - January 6, 2020

Obituary

Ricky Dale Belcher

7/3/1964 – 1/6/2020

What’s most important we remember about Ricky is that he left this world faithful to God and his Christian beliefs. Among other things, he was an intelligent, fun, loving, creative, determined, tech-savvy, goofy father, brother, son, and friend with a keen sense of humor and a laugh that could bring a smile to anyone’s face. There was a special place in his heart for helping children and those less fortunate. Above all, he loved his family, his church family and his children immensely. He will be sorely missed, but will remain in our hearts indefinitely…

Say hello to grandma, grandpa, grandmommie, aunt brenda, and uncle dewayne for us. We know you’ll only ever be 200 miles away…

Survived by:

Children – amanda finn, codi belcher, casey belcher, courtney belcher, and missKati

Brother - bobby belcher

Niece and Nephews – callie norrell, jacob belcher, and hagen belcher

Aunt and Uncle – martha ferguson and donald poindexter

A Loving Church Family – thank you lawn baptist church

Too Many Friends to List Them All – you know who you are. he was grateful to have you.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research or On the Way Home Ministries.

To send flowers to Ricky's family, please visit our floral section.

Ina L. Hickman Gilbreth

November 4, 1923 - January 4, 2020

Ina L. Hickman Gilbreth

Clyde - Ina L. Hickman Gilbreth passed from her Earthly Life to her Heavenly Home on January 4, 2020. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2020, at First Baptist Church I n Clyde with Dr. Toby Henson officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m., Friday at Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Bailey-Howard Funeral Home in Clyde.

Ina was born on November 4, 1923, to Eva Pruitt Hickman and Emmitt W. Hickman near Tuscola, Texas. Attending Grass Burr Knob School, then Cedar Gap School and graduating from Wylie High School, she became employed in the grocery industry in Abilene where she met and married widower Lucian B. Gilbreth in 1944, taking on the mothering of his four young children -- Billie Jean, Jo Ann, Linda Kay and James David. They welcomed new arrival Terry in 1946, followed twelve years later by Pamela.

The Gilbreths continued to work in the grocery business and opened their own multi-faceted enterprise, the "Dash Inn" café and grocery, in Tye, Texas, in 1954. They remained there, serving the growing community throughout the building of Dyess Air Force Base, until 1965.

The family later moved to the farm in Clyde, Texas, and Ina chose further employment at Furr's Supermarket in Abilene where she worked until her retirement. A widow since 1991, she lived independently and became intensely involved in the Clyde community and churches.

She has resided in the Holiday Hills Nursing and Memory Care Center in Coleman, Texas, since 2012.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lucian B. Gilbreth and a daughter, Billie Jean Gilbreth Luther. She is also pre-deceased by her parents, one sister Eula Hickman Morse, her brothers L.D. Hickman and Wallace Hickman and numerous other extended family members.

Ina's immediate survivors include her five living children- Jo Ann Yancy, Linda McIlhaney (Bill), James David Gilbreth (Bonnilee), Terry S. Gilbreth and Pamela Gilbreth Watkins. Also surviving her are twelve grandchildren and a growing host of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. These are joined by extended family and friendships cultivated over the course of the last 96 years.

Online condolences may be made at www.baileyhowardfuneralhome.com

Ina attended Grass Burr and Cedar Gap before fourth grade - attended school at Wylie from fourth grade to graduation in 1941.

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