In Memory

Nancy West (Abel)

Obituary of Nancy Carol Abel

Nancy Abel joined her Lord and her two daughters in heaven on June 3, 2022, following a brief illness. She was born Nancy Carol West in San Angelo on October 21, 1951, the only child of Oscar and Hazel West. She was a proud fifth generation Texan and didn’t mind telling you about it.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap Rd on Friday, June 10th at 11:00 AM. The celebration Mass will be concelebrated by the Very Reverend Santiago Udayar and the Reverend Msgr. Frederick Narwarskas. Services are being held under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Nancy began her professional career at KRBC TV, but no matter where she was employed, her attitude, work ethic and dedication to the job and to the people she worked with made her not only an asset to her employers, but instrumental in creating lifelong friendships.  Because of her ability to balance multiple priorities, focusing on the big picture while still managing the details, she functioned as the heart and soul of the team. Nancy was truly the oil that kept the machine running smoothly.

Leaving KRBC in 1981, she joined the Corporate Communications and Advertising Department at West Texas Utilities and was later promoted to their Economic Development team, responsible for attracting new and growing existing businesses in the company’s service area.  In 1997, Nancy began a thirteen-year stint with Lauren Engineers and Constructors as their Marketing Director.  After Lauren, she was the Market Segment Manager for Suddenlink Communications and then the Project Manager for the United Way of Abilene’s Greater West Region before retiring in 2017.

Throughout her career, Nancy operated with integrity, empathy, and kindness, resulting in an ever-increasing circle of professional acquaintances and close friends.

While at KRBC she met Steve Abel and they were married on February 11, 1978. They had two children, Ashley Espree and Sara Elizabeth. The attributes and skills of her professional life where magnified ten-fold in her personal life and her family was always at the forefront of all she did. She expertly balanced home and work no matter what making it look effortless. Nancy even earned the title super woman when she worked an 8-hour shift, came home, then went to the hospital to give birth to Sara all in the same day.

She took her daughters to and from school, day care, church, any time, any place or anywhere they needed to be, usually with someone else’s child in tow. She attended every PTA meeting, event, and chaperoned every middle school dance. And at the end of every hectic day was a home cooked meal served at a table filled with unconditional love.

Nancy worked full time her entire life and raised her family with the same unconditional love she freely gave to all who knew her.

Nancy is survived by her husband Steve Abel; cousins Ray Prichard Jr. of Coleman Tx, Erma Ray Hicks and Barbara Marrs of Lubbock Tx, Jo Anne Horn of Lake Brownwood Tx, Vonda Jackson of Abilene and Thomas Hallum of Canadian Tx; brother-in-law Kevin Abel; niece Brittany Yarbrough; nephew Aaron Abel, as well as the parish of Holy Family Church and many friends.

Memorials may be given to the donor’s favorite charity or the Ashley and Sara Memorial Scholarship fund at Abilene Community Foundation.

Our family thanks you for all your prayers, tears, and so many acts of kindness. Know that we feel the healing power of your prayers and they have given us comfort.

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