Merriel Howard Abbott

(December 27, 1927 ~ September 7, 2017)

Merriel, son of Horace Oscar 'H.O.' Abbott and Pearlie May Moody, married to Darene Nell Mayhew and buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Winters, Runnels Co., Texas.

Lubbock- Rev. Merriel H. Abbott, 89, of Lubbock, Texas passed into his new life on September 7, 2017. Born to H.O. and Pearlie Abbott on December 27, 1927, in Bradshaw, TX; he later married Darene Mayhew on September 5, 1951, in Drasco, TX.

He is survived by his wife, Darene; four children, Kenneth Abbott and wife, Barbara (Crane, TX), Mark Abbott and wife, Diane (Deltona, FL), Paula Hawkins and husband, Johnny (Lubbock, TX), and Melinda Reed and Bobby Davis (Lubbock, TX); eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Everett Abbott (Katy, TX), James Abbott (Temple, TX) and H.O. Abbott, Jr. and wife, Sue (Tyler, TX); three sisters: Evelyn Rolfe (Bryan, TX), Mary Beth Drake (Abilene, TX) and Ilene Weaver and husband, Hubie (Lubbock, TX).

Rev. Abbott was a United Methodist pastor who served 39 years in pastoral ministry, 32 years in the Northwest Texas Conference and 7 years in the New Mexico Conference, from which he retired. Rev. Abbott's faithful and loving service will long be remembered by his parishioners and fellow pastors.

Merriel was a loving and devoted husband and father. He enjoyed playing bridge and dominos with his friends and playing pool at the Senior Center. He enjoyed reading westerns and watching John Wayne movies.

Visitation and viewing will be September 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.at Lake Ridge Chapel. Services will be held at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Lubbock on September 11, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Winters, Texas. A tribute of Merriel's life may be found at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.

The family suggests donations to St. Luke's United Methodist Church or a favorite charity.

Published by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal from Sep. 9 to Sep. 11, 2017.