Laura Pearl Kirkland

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 Highway 277 South, Abilene, with Scott Kirkland and Roy Meksch officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home before the service.

Laura was born February 20, 1937 to Homer Anderson Smith and Mary Alice (Atchley) Smith in McLean, Texas. She married John Kirkland. Laura was a homemaker. She received the Lord as her Savior and was baptized at Trinity Baptist Church in Abilene. Laura was a faithful member of Harvest Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Alice Smith; a daughter, Judy Kirkland; siblings, Earl, Walter, Luther, Billy Joe, Lily Mae, Reba Phillips, Juanita Boxford, Darlene Chandler, Alice Faye Kittrell, Vester Lee, Judd, and Willard.

Survivors include her husband, John Kirkland of Abilene; children, David Kirkland and wife Robin of Wichita Falls, Texas, Teresa Kelderhouse and husband Don of Missouri, John Kirkland and wife Julie of Ethiopia, and Scott Kirkland and wife Shelly of Los Angeles, California; brother, J.G. Smith and wife Ella Mae of Alice, Texas; sister-in-law, Georgia Smith of Waukomis, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.