Dennis Ray Laster

Dennis Ray Laster, 72, of Abilene, passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021, in Abilene.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 9, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church fellowship hall, 701 S. Pioneer Dr., Abilene.

Memorial services will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Dr. John Whitten officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd.

Dennis was born in Snyder, Texas to C.E. “Bus” Laster and Edna (Motley) Laster on August 3, 1949. He went to school in Snyder, graduating from Snyder High School. He also graduated from McMurry University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He worked for West Texas Utilities (which later became American Electric Power) for 35 years. He married Cynthia Manning on May 12, 1979, in Clarendon. Dennis was an active member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, serving as an active deacon and as a valuable member of the Gathering Worship Committee and the Church Planning Committee. Through the church, he was also actively involved in Church Builders of Texas and the Nehemiah Ministry. He was very active in several clubs and held leadership positions in many of those over the years, including the Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill, Hendrick Hospital Board, Expo Center Board and Kiwanis International, where he served as President twice and as chairman of many committees (scholarship committee, ag committee, and Ramp committee).

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Jim Laster.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Cynthia Laster; three daughters, Sara Marshall and husband Andy of Perth, Australia, Megan Laster of Abilene, and Erin Pechal and husband Brian of Magnolia; two brothers, Bill and wife Donna Laster of Seguin, and Ron and wife Cindy Laster of North Richland Hills; four grandchildren, Samuel and Isla Marshall of Perth, Australia, Abigail and Wyatt Pechal of Magnolia; several nephews and one niece, Brant Laster of San Antonio, Jason Laster of Seguin, Tracy Kennedy of Keller, Stephen Laster of Ridgeway, CO, Chad Laster, Mark Laster, T.C. Laster, all of Hobbs, New Mexico, Damon Manning and Jason Manning, Katina Walker, and Rex Clark, all of Amarillo.

Memorials in Dennis’s honor may be made to Pioneer Drive Baptist Church Building Fund or Kiwanis Club of Abilene.