Barbara Whisenhunt

Barbara Whisenhunt, 80, died Sunday, September 8, 2013 in a local nursing center. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 11th at Merkel First United Methodist Church with Pastor Rhonda Greenwood and Mac Sipe officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Barbara was born December 14, 1932 in Jones County, Texas to Fineless Thomas "Cracker" and Martha Lorene (Young) Bartlett. She married Walter Earl Whisenhunt December 31, 1955 in Merkel. Barbara was a member of Merkel First United Methodist Church and had been a youth director. She was a beauty operator in Merkel for forty plus years. She was a life time member of WTBRA and AQHA and also a member of the Merkel Riding Club. She loved animals, her family and being with friends.

Survivors include her husband, Walter Whisenhunt of Merkel; daughter, Cindy Sipe and husband Mac of Merkel; two sons, Jeff Whisenhunt of Merkel and Bart Whisenhunt and wife Jody of Post; seven grandchildren, Britt Sipe and wife Buffy of Rotan, Chad Sipe and wife Shay of Abilene, Ashlei Adams and husband Sloan of Merkel, Brina Seaton and husband Michael of Merkel; Brant Whisenhunt and wife Shawna of Trent, Bradley Whisenhunt of Post and Josie Whisenhunt of Lubbock; fourteen great grandchildren, Hunter, Daylee and Londyn Seaton, Blandyn and Brayson Whisenhunt, Kallin and Madi Sipe, Kade and Kloe Corn, Hays and Swade Sipe, Aspen Adams, Bryson Elliott and Caden Whisenhunt; and two nephews Dane and Tommy Dunagin and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Freda Jo Dunagin.

A special thanks to Hospice of the Big Country and Windcrest (Magnolia Unit) for the love and care shown to Barbara and her family.

Memorials may be made to Rescue the Animals SPCA, 4620 N. 1st Abilene, TX 79603 or First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 426, Merkel, TX 79536.

Published in Abilene Reporter-News on September 10, 2013