Reba Crain Abbott, 77, of Dallas, Texas and former McCurtain County resident died Nov. 12, 2009, in Dallas, Texas.
Reba Abbott was born March 17, 1932, in DeQueen, Ark., to Coy and Maudie Crain. She was the second in a family of four girls. Her family moved to McCurtain County when Reba was young and Reba attended school in Redland before graduating from Gray High School in Idabel in 1950. Her interests in high school included journalism, poetry and music.
Reba left Idabel began her nursing education at Parkland Nursing School of Dallas after high school and obtained her nursing license on Sept. 14, 1953. She had a long and successful career in nursing and was promoted numerous times. She held both teaching and administrative positions at hospitals in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. She also worked for Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast Texas and was a member of the speakers' bureau of the Womens' Center of Dallas.
In late 1953, she married Jack Donald Abbott of Dallas, Texas. They had four children, (Jana Abbott Morris, Jack Donald Abbott II, Melissa Abbott Amick and Christi Abbott Tracy). They settled in Dallas in 1962 and her children attended school there. In 1966, Reba resumed her nursing career at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and was instrumental in helping establish the newborn nursery. Balancing a career with being a mom, Reba was compassionate, caring and had an unwavering ability to lead by both instinct and example. Her leadership came to the fore again in 1985 as she helped Baylor Hospital establish their 5 Collins Unit for psychiatric care.
In 1997, Reba retired from nursing in Dallas and the next year returned to live in Idabel. She took great pride in tending her tomato plants in the backyard of 1401 Madison Street. Her rose bushes in the front were often full of blooms and Reba would return to her kitchen ready to put them in the window sill.
During her later years in Idabel, she took great interest in her family's genealogy and visiting her sisters, DeWanda Crain Capps, Carol Crain Lightener and Jane Crain Sain.
In 2003, Reba returned to Dallas to be close to her children and grandchildren and was a beloved resident of Stonebridge Care Center and Pearl Nordan Center of Juliette Fowler Homes. She remained active even during her final years and always enjoyed family and friends and being outdoors. Her love and enjoyment of music was a delight to those around her. She loved writing poetry, gardening, fishing and music and reading. Her loving wisdom is passed forward to the ages with her survivors and all who loved her.
Reba is survived by daughters, Jana Abbott Morris of Ojo Sarco, N.M., Melissa Abbott Amick of Dallas, and Christi Abbott Tracy of McKinney, Texas; son, Jack Donald (Don) Abbott of Dallas, Texas; sons-in-law, Jason Amick and Kent Tracy; sisters, Jane Sain of Idabel and Carol Lightener of Oklahoma City. She had four grandchildren, Jessica Morris of Nashville, Tenn., Savannah and Cooper Tracy and Jackson Amick. Reba is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Maudie Crain of Idabel and her sister, DeWanda Capps of Idabel.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Redland Church of Christ in Redland. Honorary pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Walter Sain of Idabel and her sons-in law, Jason Amick of Dallas and Kent Tracy of McKinney. A luncheon invitation will be extended to those attending the memorial service. Graveside services will be private. Interment will be at the Redland Cemetery. Memorial service arrangements are through Conley-White Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale, Ste. 312, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136. The family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Michael's Hospice of Dallas with special recognition to Donna Nickerson of St. Michael's. The family is eternally grateful to all those who helped Reba return home to McCurtain County. In her love of poetry, Reba's words carry forward the spirit of hope and renewal that are uniquely hers.
From Reba's own poem entitled "Parkland" comes the following verses:
My eyes still touch
My feet still feel
And all the while
I breathe the essence
Of that promise in the air
Those days ago
When I was young and wandered there.
Online condolences can be sent at www.conley-whitefuneralhome.com.
Reba Abbott was born March 17, 1932, in DeQueen, Ark., to Coy and Maudie Crain. She was the second in a family of four girls. Her family moved to McCurtain County when Reba was young and Reba attended school in Redland before graduating from Gray High School in Idabel in 1950. Her interests in high school included journalism, poetry and music.
Reba left Idabel began her nursing education at Parkland Nursing School of Dallas after high school and obtained her nursing license on Sept. 14, 1953. She had a long and successful career in nursing and was promoted numerous times. She held both teaching and administrative positions at hospitals in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. She also worked for Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast Texas and was a member of the speakers' bureau of the Womens' Center of Dallas.
In late 1953, she married Jack Donald Abbott of Dallas, Texas. They had four children, (Jana Abbott Morris, Jack Donald Abbott II, Melissa Abbott Amick and Christi Abbott Tracy). They settled in Dallas in 1962 and her children attended school there. In 1966, Reba resumed her nursing career at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and was instrumental in helping establish the newborn nursery. Balancing a career with being a mom, Reba was compassionate, caring and had an unwavering ability to lead by both instinct and example. Her leadership came to the fore again in 1985 as she helped Baylor Hospital establish their 5 Collins Unit for psychiatric care.
In 1997, Reba retired from nursing in Dallas and the next year returned to live in Idabel. She took great pride in tending her tomato plants in the backyard of 1401 Madison Street. Her rose bushes in the front were often full of blooms and Reba would return to her kitchen ready to put them in the window sill.
During her later years in Idabel, she took great interest in her family's genealogy and visiting her sisters, DeWanda Crain Capps, Carol Crain Lightener and Jane Crain Sain.
In 2003, Reba returned to Dallas to be close to her children and grandchildren and was a beloved resident of Stonebridge Care Center and Pearl Nordan Center of Juliette Fowler Homes. She remained active even during her final years and always enjoyed family and friends and being outdoors. Her love and enjoyment of music was a delight to those around her. She loved writing poetry, gardening, fishing and music and reading. Her loving wisdom is passed forward to the ages with her survivors and all who loved her.
Reba is survived by daughters, Jana Abbott Morris of Ojo Sarco, N.M., Melissa Abbott Amick of Dallas, and Christi Abbott Tracy of McKinney, Texas; son, Jack Donald (Don) Abbott of Dallas, Texas; sons-in-law, Jason Amick and Kent Tracy; sisters, Jane Sain of Idabel and Carol Lightener of Oklahoma City. She had four grandchildren, Jessica Morris of Nashville, Tenn., Savannah and Cooper Tracy and Jackson Amick. Reba is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Maudie Crain of Idabel and her sister, DeWanda Capps of Idabel.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Redland Church of Christ in Redland. Honorary pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Walter Sain of Idabel and her sons-in law, Jason Amick of Dallas and Kent Tracy of McKinney. A luncheon invitation will be extended to those attending the memorial service. Graveside services will be private. Interment will be at the Redland Cemetery. Memorial service arrangements are through Conley-White Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale, Ste. 312, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136. The family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Michael's Hospice of Dallas with special recognition to Donna Nickerson of St. Michael's. The family is eternally grateful to all those who helped Reba return home to McCurtain County. In her love of poetry, Reba's words carry forward the spirit of hope and renewal that are uniquely hers.
From Reba's own poem entitled "Parkland" comes the following verses:
My eyes still touch
My feet still feel
And all the while
I breathe the essence
Of that promise in the air
Those days ago
When I was young and wandered there.
Online condolences can be sent at www.conley-whitefuneralhome.com.
Reba Crain Abbott, 77, of Dallas, Texas and former McCurtain County resident died Nov. 12, 2009, in Dallas, Texas.
Reba Abbott was born March 17, 1932, in DeQueen, Ark., to Coy and Maudie Crain. She was the second in a family of four girls. Her family moved to McCurtain County when Reba was young and Reba attended school in Redland before graduating from Gray High School in Idabel in 1950. Her interests in high school included journalism, poetry and music.
Reba left Idabel began her nursing education at Parkland Nursing School of Dallas after high school and obtained her nursing license on Sept. 14, 1953. She had a long and successful career in nursing and was promoted numerous times. She held both teaching and administrative positions at hospitals in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. She also worked for Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast Texas and was a member of the speakers' bureau of the Womens' Center of Dallas.
In late 1953, she married Jack Donald Abbott of Dallas, Texas. They had four children, (Jana Abbott Morris, Jack Donald Abbott II, Melissa Abbott Amick and Christi Abbott Tracy). They settled in Dallas in 1962 and her children attended school there. In 1966, Reba resumed her nursing career at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and was instrumental in helping establish the newborn nursery. Balancing a career with being a mom, Reba was compassionate, caring and had an unwavering ability to lead by both instinct and example. Her leadership came to the fore again in 1985 as she helped Baylor Hospital establish their 5 Collins Unit for psychiatric care.
In 1997, Reba retired from nursing in Dallas and the next year returned to live in Idabel. She took great pride in tending her tomato plants in the backyard of 1401 Madison Street. Her rose bushes in the front were often full of blooms and Reba would return to her kitchen ready to put them in the window sill.
During her later years in Idabel, she took great interest in her family's genealogy and visiting her sisters, DeWanda Crain Capps, Carol Crain Lightener and Jane Crain Sain.
In 2003, Reba returned to Dallas to be close to her children and grandchildren and was a beloved resident of Stonebridge Care Center and Pearl Nordan Center of Juliette Fowler Homes. She remained active even during her final years and always enjoyed family and friends and being outdoors. Her love and enjoyment of music was a delight to those around her. She loved writing poetry, gardening, fishing and music and reading. Her loving wisdom is passed forward to the ages with her survivors and all who loved her.
Reba is survived by daughters, Jana Abbott Morris of Ojo Sarco, N.M., Melissa Abbott Amick of Dallas, and Christi Abbott Tracy of McKinney, Texas; son, Jack Donald (Don) Abbott of Dallas, Texas; sons-in-law, Jason Amick and Kent Tracy; sisters, Jane Sain of Idabel and Carol Lightener of Oklahoma City. She had four grandchildren, Jessica Morris of Nashville, Tenn., Savannah and Cooper Tracy and Jackson Amick. Reba is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Maudie Crain of Idabel and her sister, DeWanda Capps of Idabel.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Redland Church of Christ in Redland. Honorary pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Walter Sain of Idabel and her sons-in law, Jason Amick of Dallas and Kent Tracy of McKinney. A luncheon invitation will be extended to those attending the memorial service. Graveside services will be private. Interment will be at the Redland Cemetery. Memorial service arrangements are through Conley-White Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale, Ste. 312, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136. The family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Michael's Hospice of Dallas with special recognition to Donna Nickerson of St. Michael's. The family is eternally grateful to all those who helped Reba return home to McCurtain County. In her love of poetry, Reba's words carry forward the spirit of hope and renewal that are uniquely hers.
From Reba's own poem entitled "Parkland" comes the following verses:
My eyes still touch
My feet still feel
And all the while
I breathe the essence
Of that promise in the air
Those days ago
When I was young and wandered there.
Online condolences can be sent at www.conley-whitefuneralhome.com.
Reba Abbott was born March 17, 1932, in DeQueen, Ark., to Coy and Maudie Crain. She was the second in a family of four girls. Her family moved to McCurtain County when Reba was young and Reba attended school in Redland before graduating from Gray High School in Idabel in 1950. Her interests in high school included journalism, poetry and music.
Reba left Idabel began her nursing education at Parkland Nursing School of Dallas after high school and obtained her nursing license on Sept. 14, 1953. She had a long and successful career in nursing and was promoted numerous times. She held both teaching and administrative positions at hospitals in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. She also worked for Planned Parenthood Association of Northeast Texas and was a member of the speakers' bureau of the Womens' Center of Dallas.
In late 1953, she married Jack Donald Abbott of Dallas, Texas. They had four children, (Jana Abbott Morris, Jack Donald Abbott II, Melissa Abbott Amick and Christi Abbott Tracy). They settled in Dallas in 1962 and her children attended school there. In 1966, Reba resumed her nursing career at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and was instrumental in helping establish the newborn nursery. Balancing a career with being a mom, Reba was compassionate, caring and had an unwavering ability to lead by both instinct and example. Her leadership came to the fore again in 1985 as she helped Baylor Hospital establish their 5 Collins Unit for psychiatric care.
In 1997, Reba retired from nursing in Dallas and the next year returned to live in Idabel. She took great pride in tending her tomato plants in the backyard of 1401 Madison Street. Her rose bushes in the front were often full of blooms and Reba would return to her kitchen ready to put them in the window sill.
During her later years in Idabel, she took great interest in her family's genealogy and visiting her sisters, DeWanda Crain Capps, Carol Crain Lightener and Jane Crain Sain.
In 2003, Reba returned to Dallas to be close to her children and grandchildren and was a beloved resident of Stonebridge Care Center and Pearl Nordan Center of Juliette Fowler Homes. She remained active even during her final years and always enjoyed family and friends and being outdoors. Her love and enjoyment of music was a delight to those around her. She loved writing poetry, gardening, fishing and music and reading. Her loving wisdom is passed forward to the ages with her survivors and all who loved her.
Reba is survived by daughters, Jana Abbott Morris of Ojo Sarco, N.M., Melissa Abbott Amick of Dallas, and Christi Abbott Tracy of McKinney, Texas; son, Jack Donald (Don) Abbott of Dallas, Texas; sons-in-law, Jason Amick and Kent Tracy; sisters, Jane Sain of Idabel and Carol Lightener of Oklahoma City. She had four grandchildren, Jessica Morris of Nashville, Tenn., Savannah and Cooper Tracy and Jackson Amick. Reba is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Maudie Crain of Idabel and her sister, DeWanda Capps of Idabel.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Redland Church of Christ in Redland. Honorary pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Walter Sain of Idabel and her sons-in law, Jason Amick of Dallas and Kent Tracy of McKinney. A luncheon invitation will be extended to those attending the memorial service. Graveside services will be private. Interment will be at the Redland Cemetery. Memorial service arrangements are through Conley-White Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale, Ste. 312, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136. The family would like to extend a special thank you to St. Michael's Hospice of Dallas with special recognition to Donna Nickerson of St. Michael's. The family is eternally grateful to all those who helped Reba return home to McCurtain County. In her love of poetry, Reba's words carry forward the spirit of hope and renewal that are uniquely hers.
From Reba's own poem entitled "Parkland" comes the following verses:
My eyes still touch
My feet still feel
And all the while
I breathe the essence
Of that promise in the air
Those days ago
When I was young and wandered there.
Online condolences can be sent at www.conley-whitefuneralhome.com.
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