John William Bethel

(November 4, 1943 ~ September 25, 2025)

John, son of  Loney Borden Bethel and Myrtie Lee Howard, married 1st to Beverly Neil Atwood, married 2nd to Nona Lee Edwards, married 3rd to Shirley Elizabeth Norris and burial will be at Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, USA

Abilene, Texas- John William Bethel, 81, passed away September 25, 2025.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, October 2, 2025, 1 PM at Fountaingate Fellowship in Abilene, Texas.

A service at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery with United States Army Honors being rendered will be held at a later date.

John William Bethel, 81, of Abilene, TX, woke up in the arms of Jesus on September 25th, 2025, surrounded by his family.

John was born on November 4, 1943, to Loney and Myrtie (Howard) Bethel in Winters, TX. He graduated from Jim Ned High School in 1963. After graduation, he served two years in the U.S Army. He later worked for Treanor Equipment for many years. On January 1, 1985, his dream of being a business owner became a reality with the creation of J&N Body Shop, and it continues to serve the Big Country area today.

John loved restoring 1956 Ford pickups and showing them at car shows around the country. He won several awards from the F-150 Car Shows throughout the years. John was very talented and could make his visions come to life. He also served as the Hamby Volunteer Fire Chief for several years. John was a member of the Cross Country Emmaus Community.

John met the love of his life, Shirley Elizabeth (Norris) Bethel, and they wed on November 25th, 1994, in Abilene, Tx. They shared 31 years. They enjoyed traveling and spending time at the lake fishing. John is preceded in death by his father, Loney Borden Bethel, his mother, Myrtie (Howard) Bethel, two brothers, Raymond Lee Bethel and Ronnie Bethel, and his mother-in-law, Dorothy (King) Staley.

John is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Elizabeth (Norris) Bethel, three daughters, Angie Abbott of Abilene, TX, Darla (Ronald) Quinney of Lawn, TX, Jodi (Rusty) Fry of Abilene, TX, three sons, Shawn Bethel of Abilene, TX, Mickey (Maria) Green of Abilene, TX, and Brett Woodall of Roseville, California. He had 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. John (Papa) was loved and will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at FountainGate Fellowship, 909 N. Willis Street, Abilene, TX, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Texas State Vererans Cemetery at Abilene at a later date with US Army honors.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hendrick Hospice Care inpatient unit for their compassionate care.

Arrangements with Girdner Funeral Home, Abilene, Texas.

Jerry Paul Yost

(March 22, 1947 ~ August 24, 2025)

Jerry, son of George Yost, Jr. and Roselle Leona Kemper, married 1st to Sharon Marrette Atwood, married 2nd to Debra 'Debby' Packwood and buried in Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas.

Jerry Paul Yost, 78, of Abilene, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in Abilene.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m., with Bro. David Cason officiating. Inturment with Military Honors will immediately follow at The Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 W. Lake Rd., Abilene.

Jerry Paul Yost was born March 22, 1947, to George and Roselle Kemper Yost, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Abilene, Texas.

Growing up on a farm outside of Lawn, Texas, Jerry attended Jim Ned High School where he was a standout athlete. As Captain of the football team, he played fullback and linebacker.

While attending his first year at McMurray University, Jerry was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. After his military service, Jerry joined the Abilene Police Dept. for a time before going into the car business as a salesman, eventually working for Arrow Ford of Abilene where he was the finance manager for many years. Later in life, he spent 10 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, retiring in March of 2012.

As an avid outdoorsman, many days were spent hunting and fishing. Jerry enjoyed watching the quail dogs work, sitting in a deer stand, scouting for turkey, cooking over a campfire, and spending time with fellow hunters. Jerry enjoyed lake life and all that came with it; fishing, boats, teaching kids to ski and dragging them around the lake on tubes, and a good fish fry. Jerry was a good teacher for others about hunting, fishing and many other talents.

When the grandchildren came along, Grandpa loved playing board games with them, often cheating so they would point that out. As they grew, he attended every sport they played that he could.

Some of the other interests included Texas Ranger baseball games, and watching old westerns. He was a jack of all trades, loved tools, working with his hands, and could seemingly build or repair anything. Jerry was a very kind, caring man with a wonderful sense of humor. A gifted story teller, he was a true people person and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family, friends, or getting to know complete strangers. Jerry’s big ole’ grin, outgoing personality, and so many other admirable qualities will forever be a cherished memory.

Most of all, Jerry loved his family; his beloved wife and best friend of 33 years, Debby, and his four children; Allison Yost Frailing and husband Mike, Martha Yost McCullough and husband Tex, Zachary Atkinson and wife Chandra, Nick Atkinson and wife Shawna, and two grandchildren, Blake Frailing and Isabella Moreno. Jerry is also survived by sister Pat and husband Jackie Cumby, brother Gene and Karen Yost; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Donna and Randy Reese and Mickey and Carolyn Packwood, and many nieces, nephews and extended family, whom he loved so much. Jerry also leaves behind his faithful dog, Lexi.

Also special in Jerry’s life, Lori Carnahan, his caregiver for 3 ½ years, whom he loved like a daughter.

A special thanks to the staff of Wisteria Memory Care and Kinder Hearts Hospice. Their kindness and love shown to Jerry during his Alzheimer’s journey will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to All Kind Animal Initiative of Abilene, 610 E South 11th St, Abilene, TX 79602, Taylor-Jones Humane Society, 2301 N 3rd, Abilene, Tx 79603, or Rescue the Animals, 4620 N 1st St, Abilene, TX 79603.

Memorials and condolences may be shared at: www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com

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