Evelyn Monroe

Evelyn Monroe, 85, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2014 in Abilene. The family will receive friends at a visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, November 3, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 4, at Wylie Baptist Church with Rev. Donny Harbers and Rev. John Fanning officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home. The daughter of Roy and Thelma Ray, Evelyn was born on October 21, 1929. She graduated from Norton High School in 1947. Evelyn married Jack Monroe on May 16, 1953 in Ballinger, Texas, and moved to Abilene in 1959. Evelyn served as director of Wylie Baptist Daycare for five years and owned Tender Loving Childcare with her daughter, Debbie Lemons, until retiring in 1991. She was an active member of Wylie Baptist Church for 50 years. She was active in her Sunday School class and PEP Club, having enjoyed countless hours of cards, dominoes, and fellowship around a table with her close friends. For many years her Monday mornings were spent counting offering money at the church. She was always very supportive of her children and grandchildren, rarely missing any of their sporting events. Evelyn’s grandkids have many fond memories of time spent with Grandma playing cards and games. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Monroe in 1998; her father and mother; two sisters and one brother. Survivors include her brother, Wayne Ray of Abilene; sister, Wanda Ray of Ballinger; daughters, Debbie Lemons and husband Sammy of San Antonio, Becky Weatherby of San Antonio, Pattie Wolfe and husband Lance of Potosi; son, Terry Monroe and wife Veda of Potosi. Evelyn is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Nathan and Cory Day, Heath and Travis Lemons, Heather Bryant, Jeremy, Landon, Levi and Sarah Wolfe, Seba Beeson, and Juliet Snowden, and eight great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorial contributions may be given to Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, TX 79606; Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, TX 79601; or the donor’s favorite charity.