Obituary

Glenabel Eugene Hays, of Waco, found victory in Jesus on January 7, 2019, at the age of 81. By her side, at the time of her passing, was her husband of 58 years, Bob Hays and her daughter, Denitia Blount.

Glenabel was born to Alvin and Ocie Lea Ferguson in Odessa on September 14, 1937.

After graduating high school, Glenabel went to Hardin-Simmons University, where she would meet her future husband Bob who she married on April 15, 1960. After graduation she moved to Gunnison, Colorado, where she completed her Masters at Western State Colorado University and taught first grade for 21 years. After retiring from teaching, Glenabel moved back to Abilene where she was the cofounder of Rhodes Child Development Center. She later became the house mother to high school seniors at the Hendrick Home for Children. In 1996, she started the Family Care Unit which was started to give single mothers an opportunity to get back on their feet. She served as the director until her retirement in 2002.

Glenabel has been preceded in death by her mother and father Alvin and Ocie Lea Ferguson; sister, Barbara; and son, Richard.

In her final weeks of life Glenabel was surrounded by her family and friends.

Glenabel is survived by her husband Bob; her daughter, Denitia Blount; and son in law, Norris Blount of Waco; son, Charles Peterson; daughter in law, Amber Peterson of Iwakuni, Japan; and her grandchildren, Natasha, Tyler, Hannah, and Levi Blount, and Joshua, Nevaeh, and Asher Peterson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church in Abilene.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Hendrick Home for Children or one’s favorite charity.