James Edward Abell

Pharmacist James Edward Abell went to be with his God on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. He was surrounded by his wife and children after his battle with cancer came to an end.

Services will be under the direction of Autry Funeral Home at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Jacksonville at 10 a.m. Friday, July 23, 2010. A rosary service will be held with visitation afterward at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2010. The Rev. Mark Kusmirek will be officiating both. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler, next to his infant sons, immediately following the burial Mass.

He was born Dec. 21, 1931, in Vernon to the late William and Helen Abell. He graduated from Vernon High School. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1953 as a pharmacist. He then proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War as a medic.

He was a member of the Lions Club from 1957 until the late 1970s. He was the first president of the Night Lions Club started in Jacksonville. Jim helped to begin getting the rodeo established in Jacksonville and served many years as a volunteer. Jim belonged to the Knights of Columbus of Our Lady of Sorrows. He first joined in 1957 in the Palestine District of Knights along with other men of the church. He was heavily involved in building the second church, rectory and parish hall. He would have loved to have been more involved in helping with the latest church but was too ill at the time.

He also taught different classes to children in the Catholic Church through the years. He faithfully served as a member of the Men's Club of the church. He was honored to serve as an usher in the church from 1957 until his most recent illness prevented him from continuing.

He met the love of his life, Ann in Itasca, when he went there to work in a small pharmacy. After dating, then marriage, they moved to Fort Worth where Jim worked before relocating to Jacksonville to work for Wood Drug Store. James and his wife bought Seay's Pharmacy in the spring of 1968 and changed the name to Abell Pharmacy. After years of doing renovations in the evenings and on weekends, the pharmacy burned in January 1980. Mr. Abell chose not to rebuild at the time and then began working with his close friend, Darrell Porter at Porter Pharmacy. He also worked at Carpenter-Francis Pharmacy in Tyler. In his later years he worked with friends, Monty Ellington at Chapman's Pharmacy in Rusk, and Chuck Hopson at May Drug in Jacksonville. Mr. Abell had been a pharmacist for 57 years and had enjoyed each day. He continued to work until most recently. Mr. Abell had a love for helping people and developed many friendships during his life. He had a special love of babies and children and delighted when he got to hold and talk with them.

He also had a love of golf and played as much as possible. Let's just say we had to buy a lot of golf balls but it was a pastime he so enjoyed. His last wish besides his family's happiness was to play one more round of golf.

Jim and Dr. Willms not only worked professionally together but also with the Boy Scouts for many years. One of their favorite memories was the surprise 14-mile hike with the boys one year in the lovely heat of the summer through the hills of East Texas. Jim was an avid UT fan and would always have a joke to tell to his friends graduating from rival schools.

Preceding him in death are parents, William Raymond and Helen Abell; sons: twins James Edwin and John Edward Abell, and Mark Allen Abell, who died as infants.

Survivors include his wife and the love of his life, Ann Abell. They were married 54 years and had been "dating," as they lovingly referred to themselves, for 58 years; daughter and son-in-law, Deborah Ann and Pat Mahler of Hainesville; son, David Wayne Abell of Jacksonville; and daughter, Mary Helen Walters of Fort Worth; brothers, John Paul Abell of Gigi Harbor, Wash., Bill Abell and sister-in-law Willila of Amarillo; and sister, Beatrice Kline and brother-in-law Sid of San Diego, Calif. His greatest loves and joy were four grandchildren, Christopher Mahler and wife Debra of Lindale, Brittany Mahler of Bryan, Madeline and Katherine Walters, both of Fort Worth; three great-grandchildren of Lindale; and special friend and golf partner, Glenn Miller.

Altar servers will be Bud Breen and Bill Colvin, scripture readings will be by Walter Volz. Music will be provided by Sherri Chancey, with Sarah Traylor as vocalist.

Serving as pallbearers are Gordon Benge, Tony Bozewicz, Larry Cigainero, Roy Hester, Joe Peacock, Blake Porter, Harold Porter and Walter Volz.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Brashear, Wilbur Chancey, Dr. Charles Derrick, Monty Ellington, Eric Evans, Chuck Hopson, Kenneth Koo, Dr. William Milawski, Buddy Ridgley and Dr. Richard Willms.

Special thanks to Drs. Robert Droder, Wayne Propst, David Johnson, Neelan Doolabh, James Caccitolo, Ariel Lee, Jonathan Markowitz, Myrtha Basile, Christopher Lowe, Toby Redmon NP, Mother Frances Hospital and the wonderful staff of the emergency room, 3 Dawson, pre- and post-op surgery, pastoral care and ancillary services involved in his care, the Hospice of East Texas caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's name to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Jacksonville or Hospice of East Texas.

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller