Marguerite Abel

Marguerite Abel passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior on July 5, 2022, after a courageous battle with metastatic cancer, which she was diagnosed with in January 2022.  She passed peacefully, at her home in Elgin, Texas, surrounded by loved ones and holding hands with her devoted husband, Jerry Abel. She was born the only child to Guy and Maurine Smith, in New Orleans on May 3, 1943.   She spent most of her early childhood in El Paso, in a house she loved dearly. In her early years, she developed her life-long love for horses and had fond memories barrel racing in her free time.

Marguerite was married to her best friend and beloved husband, Jerry Abel, in Elgin on November 16, 1971. Marguerite’s marriage to Jerry was one of her life’s biggest joys.  It was always her wish to be buried in the suit she was married in.  Jerry and Marguerite celebrated 50, wonderful years of marriage this past November, at a party thrown by family and friends. After marrying Jerry, they moved back to Jerry’s childhood home of Elgin with Marguerite’s daughters, Shirley and Charlotte, who both loved having their new stepfather in the picture. Shortly after, Marguerite and Jerry made their family complete by welcoming their son, Russell. In Elgin, they bought property and built a beautiful ranch where they raised and showed cutting horses, which was one of Marguerite’s biggest pleasures. Marguerite was a tough and determined woman, who taught her granddaughters to always “get back on the horse” when they fell off and face life’s obstacles with courage. In her later years, when she experienced pain or fatigue, she would often lighten the mood with a comical cowboy aphorism, “I feel like I’ve been rode hard and put up wet.”

Marguerite worked as a system analyst and manager for many years with the Texas Department of Human Resources and happily retired in 1997. After retirement, she was able to ride often and work with dear friends Becci and Larry Gonzales, who operated the Abel’s ranch for many years. In addition to her love for horses, Marguerite was also an active community member at First United Methodist Church of Elgin; singing for numerous years with the praise team and choir. To her family’s great fortune, Marguerite was an excellent chef, who could often be found in the kitchen making her famous recipes. Kids and grandkids adored and often craved her chocolate chip cookies or delicious spaghetti. She was known for baking beautiful cakes and pies; which were always top sellers at church benefits and bazaars. In addition to her other skills and talents, she was an incredible seamstress, and spent countless hours creating things like intricate embroidered Christmas stockings for each grandchild.

Marguerite is survived by husband, Jerry Abel; her two daughters, Shirley Parmelee and husband Mark Sheffield and Charlotte Glenn; her son, Russell Abel and wife Lisa; her by nine grandchildren, Johanna Sheffield Kim and husband John, Mark Wade Sheffield and wife Gabriela, Hannah Glenn Sacia and husband Chris, Alex Glenn, Caroline Glenn, Allison Abel, Ashley Abel, Cris Ortiz, and Andy Ortiz; her two great-grandchildren, Coleman and Amelia Kim; her brother-in-law, Bobby Abel and wife Peggy, and their children, Janis Hyde and James Abel; and numerous extended family and dear friends. Marguerite will remain in the hearts of her loved ones, and forever be remembered as a Christian lady, wife, mother, Mimi, and friend.

Honoring with Grace as Pall Bearers are: Gerald Kurio, Larry Gonzalez, Cody Douglas, Linn Bledsoe, Ray Worsham, Chuck Wilkinson, Rex Sandifer, and John Brockman.

Family and Friends will gather for Visitation at Elgin Funeral Home, Friday, July 8th from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  A Celebration of Marguerite’s Life will be conducted at the First United Methodist Church of Elgin, Saturday, July 9th at 10:00 AM.  Interment will follow at Elgin Cemetery.   All are invited back to the Church Fellowship Hall for a reception and fellowship.  Memorial contributions may be made in Marguerite’s Memory to the First United Methodist Church of Elgin, American Cancer Research, or Alzheimer’s Association.