Dan Scarborough Abbott

Dan Scarborough
Abbott
Abilene

Dan Scarborough Abbott passed away in his home quietly and unexpectedly on Saturday, May 19, 2012. He was 79 years old. Dan was born November 2, 1932 in Odessa, Texas (Ector County). His parents were Sarita Chapman Abbott and Daniel George Abbott. Dan is survived by his wife, Karen Vinson Abbott, daughter (Amy) Janay B. Sander and husband Chris Sander, two grandchildren, Joshua Charles Sander (age 9) and Elaina Vianne Sander (age 5), his sister, Sara Abbott Atkins and Bruno Yelencovich, nephew Eric Atkins, nephew Rick Atkins and wife Elaine Atkins, and brother-in-law Jesse Vinson. His family will miss him very much.
Dan was proud of his family's history. His great-grandfather George Scarborough was a Texas sheriff and gunfighter in the 1800s. Dan came from a long and distinguished line of Texas lawyers that included his mother and father, his uncle William Abbott, his grandmother Ethel Scarborough Abbott, and his grandfather William George Abbott.
Dan spent his youth in Odessa and Harlingen, Texas, but spent his teenage years in Abilene, where he finished high school. He went to college on a track and field scholarship, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated with his bachelors from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Due to a change in regulations while he was a law student, Dan sat for and passed the bar exam even before graduating from law school at The University of Texas at Austin. At times he enjoyed retelling a story about a joke he played on one of his law professors about the fact that he had his license before graduation, which always brought a smile to his face. He started his law career working for the District Attorney's office in Abilene for a few years before entering private practice with his father at the Abbott & Abbott law firm. Dan continued the practice independently when his father passed away in 1972, and was still working on cases until his own death.
Dan was a faithful Christian throughout his life. He was generous in spirit, and quick to help others. He was very close in his walk with Christ. He had a key role in founding Serenity House, a place of recovery for many people who have suffered from drug and alcohol addiction, and was still on the board of directors.
Dan was a very intelligent man with many interests. He was an avid bird hunter and outdoorsman. He was an excellent marksman, ballistics enthusiast, and could make his own shotgun shells. In his younger years he raced stock cars, and fondly remembered the joy and trophies he collected racing a little Triumph TR6. He was interested in mineralogy, coins, history, woodworking, and playing musical instruments (guitar and harmonica). He loved to read western novels, and was a true, skilled story teller.
There will be a visitation at Girdner Funeral Home (141 Elm Street) on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, from 5:00-8:00pm. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church (202 Butternut) at 1:00pm on Thursday, May 24. A graveside ceremony at Ft. Phantom Cemetery will follow the memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be sent to: Serenity Foundation of Texas, 150 Orange Street, Abilene, TX 79601. Please write "in memory of Dan Abbott" in the memo line. A gift to Serenity House will honor his commitment to helping others.
Honorary pallbearers include all members of the Abilene Bar Association, Dan's son-in-law, Chris Sander, and his nephews, Eric Atkins and Rick Atkins.