Ed Elmore, 82, died Thursday, December 15, 2016 at his home. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 19th at Merkel First Baptist Church with Pastors Coleman Philley and Jimmy Griffith officiating. Burial will be 3:00 p.m. that day in the Breckenridge Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home. Visitation will be 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Edwin Earl Elmore was born February 14, 1934 in Hamilton, TX to Olan Edwin and Islah Mae (Reamy) Elmore. He started school in Hamilton then the family moved to Tyler where he attended school. He worked for his Dad learning to drive trucks, change tires, service the trucks and then worked on a bread truck delivering fresh breads to the surrounding towns. One of his most treasured memories of living in Tyler was going to the wagon yards where he got to be around horses, cows, and listen to the tales of years gone by from the cowboys. He raised rabbits and pigeons and sold them to local stores.
In 1945 the family moved to Big Spring and Ed graduated from Big Spring High School in 1951 where he played football, basketball and was in shop class. He built his first horse trailer and bought his first horse after graduation. He graduated from Howard College with an associate’s degree in business. He worked as a roughneck and for Tommy Welch House Moving, Casey Meat Packing, and Howard County Feed Lot. He was in the Texas National Guard for eight years. He married Betty Cain in Big Spring and they had two sons. He moved to Midland to work for the Midland Fire Department. He met Janell Kite there where they worked and February 7, 1961 they married in Carlsbad, NM. They have one son. Ed and Janell moved back close to Garden City and both worked at the Big Spring State Hospital. Then they moved to Lingleville and he worked for Southern Air Ways in Mineral Wells. Then it was a move to Clyde where he worked for Abilene State School then on to Merkel. Ed continued to work at the Abilene State School for thirty years.
He was a member of the Merkel First Baptist Church and active in Adult Three Sunday School Class. Ed enjoyed retirement, loved his family (especially the grandkids and great grandkids), his church and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Janell Elmore of Merkel; sons, Eddye Elmore and wife Johanna of Kingsland, Everette Elmore and wife Sofi of Odessa, Walter Elmore and wife Isa of Singapore; grandchildren, Chism, Clint, Samuel and Stephanie Elmore; great-grandchildren, Braedyn, Kenzie, Kandell, Gus and Alviah Elmore and Ryan Herriage; sisters, Bobbie Allen of Tyler and Barbara Lary of Medford, OR; and special family Betty Lively and Jackie Herriage both of Odessa.
Memorials may be made to Merkel First Baptist Church, Adult Three Sunday School Class P.O. Box 399 Merkel or to the Merkel Area Museum 1501 N. 7th Merkel, TX 79536.
You may and view the online guestbook at www.starbuckfuneralhome.com

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