James Jeffrey Kelley

January 9, 1961 - January 29, 2023

OPLIN: James Jeffery Kelley, 62, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at his house in Oplin. A visitation will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 5 to 7pm at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola.

Jeff was born on January 9, 1961, in Abilene to James and Mary Ann (Dooley) Kelley. Jeff attended Jim Ned schools and graduated in 1979. While in school Jeff became a sports fan that started with little league and ended with basketball. He was a member of FFA showing pigs. His friends in school nicknamed him "Fire" or "Red" because of the Kelley family's red hair.
He married Deadra Whitford on January 11, 1992, in Tuscola at the Westside Church of Christ.

Jeff worked several jobs from West Texas Iron Works, construction, welding, counter sales and Morrison Supply, then to the job he loved the most, rural mail carrier. He knew each and every one of his postal customers well. When his health forced him into retirement it was then he found out how much he missed them.
When the Jim Ned Lady Indians basketball team had a game he was always there. He was one of their biggest supporters. When the basketball season ended, he could be found at the Jim Ned Baseball field. Jeff enjoyed water skiing, classic rock, the Astros, showing his love for his family by pestering them. He was crazy about his grandsons he called "The Boys" which everyone one else called the Sarten Twins.

He is survived by his wife Deadra Kelley of Oplin: daughter, Jenny Sarten and husband Rusty Miller of Tuscola; daughter, Juliann Kelley of Oplin; parents, James and Mary Ann Kelley of Tuscola, sister April Brooks and husband Wes of Tuscola; grandsons, "The Boys" Brayden and Cayden, nieces and nephews, Ashley Rhea and husband Dusty; Kolby Kelley and wife Shawna; Bretni Cope and husband Chisum; Weston Brooks and wife Megan; and Jaycee Brooks. As well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded by his grandparents, and his brother, Jody Kelley.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Jim Ned athletics, 441 Graham, Tuscola, Tx 79562.
Condolences can be left at www.fry-smith.com.

Services

FAMILY VISITATION

Friday
February 3, 2023
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Fry~Smith Funeral Home
502 KENT AVE
Tuscola, TX 79562

From his daugher, Juliann Kelley:

I know many of you knew and loved my dad, Jeff Kelley. We will be celebrating his life on Friday 2/3 from 5-7 PM at Fry-Smith Funeral Home with a Memorial to follow from 7-7:30.

We would love if you came and shared stories and memories you have of our Husband, Daddy, Poppy, Son, Brother, and Friend.

Joe W. 'J.W.' Dub Vinson

November 1, 1933 - January 20, 2023

J.W. “Dub” Vinson, 89, of Ovalo TX, went home to be with the Lord on Friday January 20, 2023 at home with his family by his side. Funeral Services will be held at 2pm on Friday January 27, 2023 at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, John Whitten of Pioneer Drive Baptist and Gerald Hobson a close friend will officiate. Burial will follow at the Vinson Family Cemetery near his home. Services are under the direction of Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Dub was born in Runnels County to Herman and Katy Vinson on November 1, 1933. He went to school in South Taylor County and graduated from what is now known as Jim Ned High School. He married Monty James and this past June 21st they celebrated 69 years of marriage. They were married in the yard of Pastor Wilson Estes at 1642 Ross Street Abilene, TX. After high school Dub left the farm and went to the oil field for work. From there he was drafted into the Army and deployed to Korea for 2 years. Upon being discharged from the Army he went back to the oil field only for a short stay before applying to be a fire fighter for the City of Abilene, where he remained for 9 years. While being a fire fighter, to better himself and family, Dub and Monty soon got into the laundromat and car wash business, which lead to several locations around Abilene. Always looking for new projects, Dub found the need to purchase land and go back to the farm in South Taylor County. The land ownership leads him to purchase of The Farm and Ranch Feed store and the Abilene Downtown Grain Elevator. This last move provided Dub and Monty a long and successful career helping farmers and ranchers with fertilizer, feed and seed in the Big Country. Having changed the name to Abilene Ag Service & Supply it today remains one of the few remaining independent agricultural retailers in the state of Texas. Dub served on several Boards and committees, including the Taylor County Ag Committee, and the Tuscola and Security State Bank Boards. He was also on the Board and Chairman of the Taylor County Expo where he was involved in the West Texas Fair and Rodeo. It was while serving the Fair and Rodeo that he, with help from others, started the Calf Scramble for the kids of the Big County. His awards include being named the 2011 Outstanding Conservation Farmer by the Middle Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District and named “Man of the Year” by Texas County Ag Agents Association in 2003. However, his accomplishments could not have been achieved without the love and support of his lifelong mate Monty. They certainly worked side by side for all these years. Dub was an avid fisherman, loved raising great crops and cattle and always was the farmers and ranchers biggest advocate. One of his friends and business associate recently wrote “Dub was one of the smartest and honest men I have ever known, he will never be forgotten”. He was proceeded in death by his parents, brother Don Vinson and daughter in law Elaine Vinson. He is survived by his wife Monty Vinson, two sons Lanny and Randy and one sister Kathy Smith of Austin. Dub was also very proud of his grandchildren, Jessica Garcia and her husband Ricky of Houston, TX., Ross Vinson, Michael Vinson both of Abilene, TX. Also included are Mary Katherine Flanagan and her husband Garrett as well as Zane Vinson and wife Heather both of Abilene, TX. Dub and Monty were recently blessed with a great grandson Grant who is the son of Jessica and Ricky. Pallbearers will be Ross Vinson, Michael Vinson, Ricky Garcia, Garrett Flanagan, Sid Saverance, and David Wallace. Honorary Pallbearers are Leland Robinson, Zane Vinson, Gary Range, Buddy Garrett, Danny Lewis, Jerry Van Cleave, Jackie May. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Hendrick Hospice 1651 Pine St Abilene, Tx 79601 Memories may be shared, and condolences submitted at: www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com

Posted online on January 25, 2023

Published in Abilene Reporter News

Funeral Service

Friday, January 27, 2023

2:00 - 3:00pm (Central time)

Pioneer Drive Baptist Church

701 S Pioneer Dr, Abilene, TX 79605

Margaret Joyce 'Peggy' Newman Butchee

August 4, 1931 - August 13, 2022

Margaret J. Butchee 91 of Rotan, TX. passed away on August 13, 2022 in Hamlin, TX.

Graveside service with Jewish Rites will be held Tuesday August 16, 2022 at 11am at the Texas State Veteran Cemetery in Abilene. Services entrusted to North's Funeral Home 242 Orange Street in Abilene,TX 79601.

Margaret J. Butchee was born in San Angelo, TX to parents Luther M. Newman "Ned", and Margueritte Fowler-Newman on August 4, 1931.

She graduated from South Taylor Highschool in 1950 which later became Jim Ned High School. After high school she attended McMurry University.

She married her late husband Retired Msgt. Bennie Butchee on May 26, 1951 in Wylie and the two spend 34 loving years together.

She was involved in the Jewish faith and spent a lot of her time Learning Jewish Hebrew.
Margaret was preceded in death her husband of 34 years Bennie Butchee, brother Bob Newman, and sister Mary Holloway.

Left to cherish her memories are two sons; Bobby Butchee of Fort Worth, TX, Bennie Butchee Jr. and wife Joanna of Kyle, TX. One daughter, Cathy Smith and husband Stephen Smith of Hamlin, TX. Six grandchildren; Jennie Butchee, Holly Rouse, Shawna Gallegos, Morgan Butchee, Jerrell Smith, and Tamara Littlefield, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Heart Fund, and Alpha Omega Hospice.

Published by North's Funeral Home - Abilene on Aug. 14, 2022.

Sandra Jeanne Barbee Hilliard

October 20, 1942 - April 10, 2022

Sandra Jeanne Hilliard, 79, of Winters passed away Sunday, April 10, 2022.

She was born October 20, 1942 in Caldwell to Harvey and Elva Mae Barbee.

She grew up in Lawn, and graduated from Jim Ned High School.

She married Roy Leon Hilliard on April 25, 1959 in Winters.

She worked and was well known at Compass Bank in Winters for 30 years before her retirement. She had a passion for cooking and taught her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to cook. She always had something sweet to eat. She also enjoyed yard work and was often outdoors.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Leon Hilliard, daughter Judy Ann Crouch, grandson Cody Edward Crouch, and great-grandson Timothy Leon Hilliard.

She is survived by two daughters: Denise Fields and husband Keith of Stigler, OK, and Christi Hilliard of Amarillo; brother Jerry Barbee of Lawn; as well as five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at Winters Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2022 at North Main Church of Christ with burial following at Lakeview Cemetery.

Bonnie Ruth Wills Freeman

December 22, 1931 - May 8, 2021

Bonnie R. Freeman, Abilene.

Dorothy Fay Keese Hamil

February 5, 1921 - December 13, 2021

Dorothy Fay Keese Hamil, 100, of Manchester, passed away Monday, December 13, 2021, at which time Bright-Holland Funeral Home received her into their care. Cemetery services are scheduled for 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 18, 2021 in the Evergreen Chapel of Evergreen Cemetery, with Dr. John Cannon officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery, one hour prior to service time. Dorothy was born February 5, 1921 in Taylor County, Texas to Henry Clay Keese and Minnie Bell Cannon Keese. She graduated from Lawn High School in Taylor County and eventually married Leelon Hamil, December 21, 1941. He preceded her in death, April 14, 1991, building nearly 50 years of family and memories. She was an Army wife and she and Leelon traveled a lot. Most of her life, Dorothy was a beautician. At one time in her life, she was privileged to win a hairdressing competition, which pleased her immensely. She owned The Main Beauty Shop off the square in Paris for several years and later owned and operated the Beauty Shop on Lamar, until she retired, well into her 80’s. Dorothy loved canning vegetables from her garden in Manchester. However, her biggest love was her family. Thanksgiving and family reunions were her most favorite events. The more family and friends she had around her, the happier she was. Dorothy was a long time member of Lamar Avenue Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leelon; one brother, Elton Keese and one grandson, Patrick Smithson. Survivors include her children, Annetta Cooke, Wanda Smithson, Duane Hamil & wife Jan, Linda Strickland, Judy Jamar and Durrell Hamil; grandchildren, Travis Cooke, Adrienne Adkins, Anthony Cooke, Mica Swanson, Joyce Basinger, Arron Smithson, Christopher Smithson, Jennifer Moore and Jeremy Hamil; 19 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren; along with a host of friends. Casket bearers will be Durrell Hamil, Travis Cooke, Anthony Cooke, Arron Smithson, Christopher Smithson and Jeremy Hamil.

Thomas Paul Maley

February 2, 1970 - December 16, 2022

Thomas Paul Maley passed away 16 Dec 2022 of heart issues due to long Covid and other health complications.  Tom was a 1988 graduate of Jim Ned.  Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.  There will be a celebration of life held February 11, 2023 at the Kidd Springs Recreation Center in Dallas beginning at 3:00.  The address is 711 W. Canty St.

Thomas Maley Celebration of Life | Facebook

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