Evelyn Berneice Menefee

Today Evelyn Berneice Menefee is walking the streets of gold passing from this earth to be with her heavenly father, her husband, and a host of friends on Friday, July 18, 2008. Funeral services, with Rev. David Cason officiating, will be at 2:00 pm Sunday, July 20 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow in the Potosi Cemetery. Berneice was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Nettie Rogers and her husband, Jack Menefee. She is survived by her daughter, Kay Billings and her husband Randy of Abilene; her son, Mark Menefee and his wife, Kelley of Cedar Park, Texas; four grandchildren, Matt Menefee of Houston, Tiffany Jacobs and her husband, Jonathan Jacobs, of Florence, Texas, Dean Leisman, and Christine Meservy and her husband, James Meservy; and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Gage Meservy, all of Cedar Park, Texas. She is also survived by a very dear sister and faithful, loving caregiver, Dorothy Mitchell, of Abilene, and several nieces and nephews. Berneice Rogers Menefee passionately and faithfully loved her Lord, her family, and her many friends. She was born January 23, 1919, in Comanche, Texas. One of her most vivid memories as a child was of she and her mother driving from Comanche to Abilene to visit relatives. As they were returning home they got stuck in the mud because there were no paved roads between Abilene and Comanche at that time. Berneice and her younger sister, Dorothy, moved frequently in their early years. She graduated from Friona High School and attended business school. Her business career was cut short when she met a handsome young man, Jack Menefee, an employee of Southwestern Bell. Within a week they fell in love and married; a marriage which was to last 66 years, until Jack's passing July 6, 2007. In 1948 Southwestern Bell sent Jack and Berneice to Abilene where they remained the balance of their lives. Berneice, dedicated wife, reveled in the joys of being a homemaker, a mother, and grandmother. A gifted listener, Berneice, was a quiet person; known to have a generous heart and willing hands, always eager to help both her family and others in the community. She was president of the Travis Elementary PTA and secretary of the City Wide PTA association. Berneice lived her life in such a manner that inspired her children and grandchildren to be individuals of character-honest, trustworthy, and dependable to always do their best. Berneice valued education and there was no doubt in her children's minds but that they were expected to graduate from college and they did. Berneice accepted the Lord as her personal savior on March 22, 1959, at the age of 40, and she was never the same again. She had a thirst for God's word and a desire for knowledge, in general, which could never fully be quenched. Berneice quickly became an active member of Elmdale Baptist Church working tirelessly as a behind the scenes organizer and servant. Berneice suffered poor health the last few years of her life, if not for her obvious physical disabilities, you would have never known she was incapacitated and suffering. She consistently kept a positive attitude with a twinkle in her eye, a mischievous smile, a sense of humor, and a genuine interest in the lives of others. Her Christian legacy will live on in the lives of her family and friends. Above all, she will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew and loved her. Special thanks and blessing to the wonderful caring, loving staff of Hospice of the Big Country and the compassionate staff of Elmcreek Alternative Care. The family requests, that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in Berneice's honor to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford Street, Abilene, Texas; or to Elmdale Baptist Church, Route 2, Abilene, Texas 79602.