Evelyn Tacker

Abilene - Evelyn Tacker passed away January 5, 2012 in Abilene at the age of 87. The family will receive friends at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy 277 South, from 2pm to 4pm Sunday, January 8, 2012. Funeral services are scheduled for 2pm Monday, January 9, 2012 at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Rev. Jeff Reid will officiate. Pallbearers are David Ashbrook, Corey Tacker, Wesley Tacker, Amos Lewallen, Bill Hilliard, Larry Olney, Dave Randall and Bob Morris.

The daughter of the late Walter and Mary Schmitz, Evelyn was born July 16, 1924 in Oxford, Nebraska. After graduating from high school she moved to Long Beach, California. After a few years in California she moved to Abilene to attend beauty college. It is here that she met the love of her life, Finis Tacker, at a local diner. They were married December 18, 1948 in Big Spring, Texas.

Evelyn worked many years as a hair dresser and also worked at M System Food Stores, Aileen’s Manufacturing, a local square dance shop, and as bookkeeper for her husband at Tacker Waterwell Drilling Company.

She and her husband loved square dancing and country dancing. She was the receptionist at the Grand Old Oplin Dance Hall every Friday night for many years. She enjoyed reading romance novels, having read hundreds over the years. She also enjoyed crocheting, doing all kinds of puzzles and she was a wonderful cook (a talent which she got from her mother). She was also an avid gardener. In addition, she loved being with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lavinia Schmitz and Fern Arnold. Her survivors include her husband, Finis Tacker; two children, Terry Tacker, and wife Margie of Abilene; and Shirley Ashbrook of Round Rock, Texas; three grandchildren, Corey Tacker, and wife Tiffany of Abilene; Wesley Tacker of The Colony, Texas and David Ashbrook and wife Courtney of Baldwinsville, New York; sister, Betty Hoback, and husband Wally; three nephews, John and Donald Hoback and Larry Arnold and one niece, Carla Arnold.

The family would like to thank all her wonderful friends, Solaris Home Health Care and Coronado Nursing Home. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to Rescue the Animals, 5933 S. 1st Street, Abilene, Texas 79605 or the the charity of your choice.