Nolan Wayne Abshier

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the sweetest dad, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband left this world to meet his Savior who he loved and served faithfully till his death.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 25, 2025, at the First Baptist Church with Roger Deerinwater officiating.  Interment will follow in the Archer City Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

To family, he was Dad or Papa. To all the many doctors and caregivers who served him well until his death, he was Nolan. But to those who knew him well, he was Wayne or Donna and Wayne as you rarely saw one without the other always walking hand in hand. They married in Archer City, Texas on April 8, 1955, and just recently celebrated his 90th birthday and their 70th wedding anniversary.

Nolan “Wayne” Abshier, was born March 10, 1935 in Ryan, Oklahoma to Henry Overton “Jack” Abshier and Mary Helen Ewing Abshier.  His dad was a preacher and a carpenter, and although Wayne never found his way to the pulpit (although some might disagree), he was an avid student of the Bible and spent most of his adult life as a member of First Baptist Church, Archer City, where he faithfully served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Wayne had many passions, and like his father, he loved woodworking, as his missing pinkie finger could attest to. He built cabinets and furniture, an outhouse for his ranch, and later a barndominium which we all appreciated since we didn’t share his Sears and Roebuck sentiments. His ranch was his happy place, and he spent much of his retirement years grubbing cactus, mowing, and watching the sunrise on his front porch drinking a good ole cup of Folgers coffee. He loved to smoke ribs, cook the country breakfast, build a campfire and tell stories of his childhood, while reliving the memories of family and friends - when he wasn’t giving us the history of the oil field in Texas.

He spent almost his entire career working for Burns Operating, starting in the field and later becoming the Drilling and Production Superintendent. Not having a formal education in this field, he had a passion for geology, studying on his own, going to conferences and learning from the men he worked with who remained his good friends, even after retirement.

Wayne will be remembered most for his faith in God and living it out as an example to his family and to all who knew him. Even as his health began to deteriorate, he still found the strength to love on others and share his faith.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Wayland Abshier, and a grandson, Brad Kliever. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna, his children, Diane and Gene McNeely, Debbie Kliever, and Darla Abshier and Ashley Cole, grandchildren, Shannon and Brett Brier, Laurie and Brian Parker, Bethany and Andrew Weldon, Doug and Lauren Kliever, Matt Kliever, and great grandchildren, Ben and Scarlett Brier, Pierce, Max and Ryan Parker, Jake and Maggie Weldon, and Chase, Everett, and Hudson Kliever.