Frances Helena Brazell

Frances Helena "Ma" Brazell, 81, passed away on Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 in a local nursing center. Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Elliott-Hamil Chapel of Faith, 5701 Hwy 277 South, with burial to follow in Tye Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Brazell was born August 23, 1929 in Success, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Frank and Fern (Choate) Parks. She had been in Abilene since 1947and received her GED from Abilene High School in 1974. Her career spanned 23 years with the Abilene State School and she served with the Tye Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years. She also served on the Tye City Council and was an active member of Tye Community Center. Helena was a charter member of Tye Church of Christ.

Mrs. Brazell was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Otto Brazell in 1992; three brothers and one sister; daughter, Janice; and a great-grandson, Austin.

Survivors include three sons and their wives, Tommy Hatchett and Linda of Henderson, NV, Doug Hatchett of Tye, and Johnny Brazell and Sharon of Abilene; four daughters and their husbands, Nancy Winter and Phil of Emory, TX, Terry Massey and Jimmy of Tye, Penny Hill and Bob of New Braunfels, TX, and Julia Rundel and Jay of Potter, NE. Also two sisters, Irene Horn of Filmore, CA and Violet "Red" Shepherd and Bernard of Kalamazoo, MI; and a sister-in-law, Karen Parks of Corning, AR. Also surviving are 30 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tye Church of Christ or Tye Cemetery.