John O. Cummins, III

Services honoring his life will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home 5701 US Highway 277 S. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories. Visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6-7:00 PM also at the funeral home.

Although he would be the last to bring up his achievements, John had a long and well-respected law enforcement career - indicative of his consistent and reliable nature. After graduating from Abilene Christian High School in 1977 and then Hardin Simmons in 1981, John started as a Hendrick Medical Center Security Officer in 1982. By 1985, he was an officer with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. In November 2019, he retired as a Deputy Sheriff/Lieutenant. He also played a major role in the creation of the historical marker honoring the sheriff’s deputy lost in the 1884 Pine Street Shootout.

John married Joyce on September 24, 1993, in San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by her as well as children Bud Ohliger Jr. of Abilene (spouse Kristal), Randy Ohliger of Fort Worth (spouse Kimber Favor), and Emma Cummins of Dallas (spouse Brett King); and granddaughters Lilee and Preslee Ohliger of Abilene. Also special to John were his Watson family cousins, as well as cousin Carol Fuson of Dickson, Tennessee.

John was baptized in his youth at First Christian Church, in Abilene. In his adult life, he was again baptized on his father’s birthday at Faith Baptist Church. He remained an Independent Baptist throughout the rest of his time. John and his loved ones are grateful to the Lord for the extra years he was given here with his family on Earth, through the help of Texas Oncology’s Dr. Hari Kalla in Abilene, and Dr. Christine Parseghian, Oncologist of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

John was a kind man, a reliable man, a calm man, and a great man. One who made you feel safe. Who made you want to be a better person and treat others with respect, just as he always did. If there was ever someone to make you feel welcome, he was it. Family and God were of the highest importance to him. He was a man of good humor, often with impeccable timing and a quick-witted zinger. He would always listen to whatever you had to say, and attentively at that. John was not always a man of many words; and when he wasn’t, he led by example with his actions. He is embodied by the words of John F. Kennedy, for whom John had an interest and extensive knowledge: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." The Earth was made a better place by his presence and anyone who had the chance to know him could tell you such. The imprint that he leaves on our souls will remain with us forever.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elliott-hamil.com for the Cummins family.