Obituary of J. C. Abney

J. C. Abney, age 89, passed peacefully from this life to life eternal at his home on May 12, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in The Chapel at Griffin~Hillcrest, with Pastor Jim Yeager officiating. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. J. C. was born on February 7, 1934, to Dewitt Abney and Lela Mae (Barnes) Abney, in Gay, Okla., located on the outskirts of Hugo, Okla. J C spent his childhood along with 12 siblings in Hugo. Okla. before moving to Salinas, CA to work at the age of 17. J.C. met and married Indianola shortly after moving to Salinas. At the age of 18, J.C. was drafted into the Army and served until he was honorably discharged to care for his oldest daughter Shirl who had health complications as a child. J.C. and Indianola had two more daughters while residing in California, Deana and Carolyn. J.C. moved his family back to Hugo, Okla., in the early 1960’s and had their fourth daughter, Penny. In 1966, J.C. moved the family to Ardmore, Okla. where he started his truck driving career at Colverts Dairy and welcomed their fifth daughter Sherry several years later. J.C. moved to Noble, Okla. in 1988, to be closer to his job and divorced Indianola in 1989. J.C. spent 34 years driving truck before retiring. J.C eventually remarried in the early 1990's to Pat Kitchens. They resided in Ardmore, Okla. until she passed away in 2009. J.C. continued his life journey in Ardmore, Okla. He definitely had a green thumb. He loved to garden, plant flowers and spread his love for moonflowers to anyone who wanted them and even those who didn’t. He loved family get togethers and just spending time with family in general. He also loved to cook and was always coming up with something new and different. He called himself an “experimental cook”. He was always ready to go and never turned down an invite. He would always say “I am with you.” He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Shirl (Abney) Justice, wife, Pat Abney, siblings, Leroy, Velma Lou, Evalena and Jean. J. C. is survived by four daughters, Deanna Benn, and husband, Terry, Carolyn Davis, Penny Frazier, and husband Damon, Sherry Baumgartle and husband, Bruce. Eight grandchildren, Heather Justice, Chrissy Justice, Brian Duncan, Jamie Duncan, Jessie Duncan, Mandy Glenn, Jason Taylor and Jerrica Taylor, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Those serving as pallbearers will be Damon Frazier, Bruce Baumgartle, Jessie Duncan, Jason Taylor, Joe Glenn and Blair Odom. A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Griffin~Hillcrest Funeral Home, Ardmore, Okla.