Maudene Gilbreath

There will be a Visitation for family and friends on Thursday, January 18 from 6 to 8 pm at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy 277 South in Abilene. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, January 19, at Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church on Sayles Blvd with Dustin Wilhite and Don Longoria officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery.

Maudene was born March 8, 1935 in Nugent, Texas to George Washington and Dolly Oriole Keesee, the second of eight children. George was a farmer in Jones County and Dolly was a homemaker. She graduated from Lueders High School in 1952 and received her BA in Elementary Education from McMurry University in 1956. At McMurry, she was VP of Kappa Phi and a candidate for Miss Future Teachers of America.

While attending McMurry, Maudene met the love of her life, Daniel Ray Gilbreath. They were married on November 22, 1955 in Nugent.

She began teaching at Winters ISD in 1956 and Abilene ISD from 1956 to 1958. Dan and Maudene moved to San Antonio in 1958 where she taught in San Antonio ISD from 1956 to 1961, and then North East ISD from 1961 to 1991. In 1979, she was awarded Teacher of the Year as well as receiving her Masters degree in Education from UTSA. During her 35-year teaching career, she received numerous recognition awards. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa and served as President in 1980.

Upon her retirement from teaching, she returned to Abilene with Dan and attended Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church. At Aldersgate, she spent many hours volunteering and serving God. She was active for many years in the United Methodist Women, serving as President in 2002 and 2003 as well as Treasurer. She was also involved in Vacation Bible School, Community Garden, Annual Rummage Sale, local missions, Hendrick’s Home, as well as her Growth Group.

Maudene’s family appreciated and would like to thank the staff of Hospice for the wonderful care she received from them.

Maudene was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Dan; her sisters Ann, Dolly Joyce, and Patsy June; her brothers George Wayne and Mack. Also awaiting her in Heaven are her loving granddaughters, Amanda Rae Gilbreath, Kaytlyn Suzanne Gilbreath, and Megan Dianna Gilbreath.

Maudene is survived by her sons David Gilbreath and wife Judy of Abilene, John Gilbreath and wife Christy of Montgomery, Texas, and daughter Deborah Sprick and husband David of Frederick, Maryland; grandchildren Andrew and Aaron Gilbreath, Melissa and Matthew Sprick, Brandon Valdez, Justin Gilbreath and wife Angela, and Patrick Gilbreath; sister Emma Lee Middleton of Hawley and brother Bob Keesee of Abilene, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorials may be made either to First Financial Clyde for the “Megan Gilbreath Memorial Scholarship” awarded to a graduate of Clyde High School who is pursuing a career in Nursing or to Hendrick Hospice Care.