Ed Brady

Ed Brady, 81, of Hamby passed away peacefully at his home December 17, 2025. His beloved wife of 55 years, Mary Ann Brady, was at his side.

The family will host a visitation at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd, Abilene, Tx on Friday December 19, 2025, from 5 pm - 7 pm.

 Ed's funeral service will be held at Aldersgate Abilene Methodist Church, 1741 Sayles Blvd, Abilene, Tx on Saturday December 20, 2025, at 4 pm. Services are at the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home. 

 Ed was born in Merkel, Texas February 26, 1944 to Ernest S. and Thelma Marie (Clemmer) Brady. Soon after his birth, the young family moved to the Hamby community. Ed lived his entire life in Hamby save for time away at college or graduate school. 

 He graduated from Abilene High School in 1962 and Texas Tech University in 1966. He was a proud Texas Tech Red Raider for the rest of his days. His first job in Texas public education followed soon after his time at Texas Tech, at Mann Jr High in 1967. In 1968, at Mann, he met a first year teacher from Post: Mary Ann Stone. 

 On June 26, 1970, Ed and Mary Ann were married in Abilene. They lived their entire married lives in the Hamby community, and raised their own family on the farm there. 

 Ed was a teacher and a farmer. 

 He taught math, science, was an elementary principal and a curriculum director, and served a variety of roles at the Region XIV Education Service Center. He was so good at retirement he did it three times, taking several classroom teaching jobs after he retired. Over the years, Ed worked in Abilene ISD, Clyde ISD, Region XIV, Cross Plains ISD, and Eula ISD. In all, he logged more than 45 years in Texas public eduction. 

 On the farm, Ed grew cotton, wheat, and coastal hay, but his true calling was raising livestock. He raised a variety of livestock over the years, much of it with Zach and Amber for their FFA and 4-H projects, and later raised quality Southdown lambs for others to raise and show. He was almost as bad at retiring from raising sheep as he was from teaching; we think we can recall at least 3 "dispersal" sales over the years. Later in life, he loved watching his Dorper sheep flock, and never failed to be amazed at the thriftiness of a Dorper ewe. 

 Ed loved life. He loved a cold beer and a laugh with friends. He loved good music, especially classic Western swing, and a spin around the dance floor with Mary Ann. He had book sense and common sense. He could fix absolutely anything with baling wire. He drove many miles over the years supporting kids, grandkids, and those who just needed it. He was genuinely interested in the lives of those around him, and he took time to help them. He served many roles in the Hamby community, Clyde, Abilene, and surrounding area over the years, and always with a smile and a story about someone he knew. Ed's presence will be genuinely missed by all those who knew him.

 Ed is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ann Brady; his children: Zach Brady and wife Dani of Lubbock, Amber Miller and husband Jarrod of Lubbock; grandchildren James Brady of Austin, Emma Brady of Lubbock, and Madeleine Miller and Harrison Miller of Lubbock. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Sutton of Granbury and her husband Ronnie. Eddie is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, countless cousins, friends he considered family, students whose endeavors he followed long after they left his classroom, and a few donkeys he was especially fond of. 

 Pallbearers are David Chapman, Button West, Mac Gist, Jimmy Parker, Marshall Eaton, Ralph Porter, Mike Bright, Tim Reeves, and Carye Adkins. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Texas Tech University Foundation - Agricultural Sciences Building Fund; an Alzheimer's or dementia research fund of your choosing; or Ed's beloved West Texas Rehabilitation Center. 

 The family would like to thank the caregivers who were so helpful in helping Ed find his way home over the last few months from Touching Hearts at Home and Kinder Hearts Hospice. We are grateful for the love and respect each of you have shown Ed and our entire family.