Edward Abernethy

The memorial service celebrating and honoring the life of Edward "Abo" Abernethy, 97, of Enid will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday September 9, 2018 in the Emmanuel Enid church with Pastor Wade Burleson officiating. The family will receive guests after the service in the church. Private graveside services will proceed the memorial service. Military honors will be presented by the United States Navy. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.

Edward Arthur (Abo) Abernethy Jr. was born October 5, 1920 in Altus Oklahoma to Emma and E.A. Sr., who delivered him. He passed into heaven on Saturday morning, August 25, in Enid at the age of 97 surrounded with love.

Abo grew up in Altus and graduated in the class of 1938 from Altus High School. He played trombone in the band and often came to Enid in the 1930's for Tri-State. After graduation, he said he had no other choice but to go to Oklahoma Baptist University since his dad was on the board for many years.

At OBU he met Mary Ruth Hill from Elk City and proposed to her before he went to the University of Kansas City to attend dental school They were married in Elk City in August of 1942. Upon graduation in the spring of 1945 Abo, who had joined the Navy while in dental school, was assigned to San Diego in the Naval Training Base as a Dentist. After being honorably discharged in 1947, he opened a dental practice in Altus. But less than a year later his wife and son moved with him to Dallas, Texas, so he could attend Baylor Dental School where he earned his degree in Oral Surgery. In 1950 with his oral surgery degree and also anesthesiology degree, he decided Enid would be a good place as any to set up a practice. He was the first oral surgeon in this part of the state. He took a job in the afternoons at St. Mary's Hospital as an anesthesiologist to pay the bills while he was building his practice. He enjoyed a successful practice of oral surgery for many years until he retired in 1986. He was a kind and compassionate surgeon who is remembered for his gentleness, and a loving father to his sons.

He thoroughly enjoyed a long retirement with Mary Ruth. He played golf regularly with friends, Bob Shuttee, Bob Frantz, Jim Montgomery and Jim Tagge. He had fun with his ham radios and working in his vegetable garden which produced huge crops of tomatoes. His children and grandchildren loved going to granddaddy's and eating his delicious grilled burgers and steaks overlooking the beautiful yard. His labrador retrievers were a delightful part of his days. He loved big band music and could be seen walking around the neighborhood daily with headphones on listening to tunes. He enjoyed being the secretary of the Enid Rotary Club for many years. He was also active in numerous professional organizations. During Mary Ruth's long illness, he was lovingly and tenderly attentive to her until she passed away in 2006. He was a member of Emmanuel Enid and attended regularly until his health made it impossible. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus, and blessed many through his beautiful, heartfelt prayers. His was a life well lived.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters, Edris and Mavah, and his wife, Mary Ruth, and two sons, Sandy and James.

He is survived by a son John, and a son, Richard whose daughters are Jacquelyn Abernethy and Jamie Sunderland and her husband Erik of Enid; Sandy's wife, Anne Abernethy, and children: Amy Petersen and husband, Brandon, of Edmond, Ok., Sarah Mitzel and husband Jason, of Stafford, Virginia, and David Abernethy of OKC. His 11 great grandchildren are, Eli, Madison, and Chloe, Paityn and Paxton, Max, Jake and Reed, and Anna Grace, Abigail and Audrey.

The family wants to gratefully thank the staff at Trinity at the Commons for their loving and compassionate care for him in his final years. He really enjoyed the people he met there.

Memorial donations may be made to the Commons Chapel at the Heart Campaign and Forgotten Ministries Refuge at the Well Women’s Center with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.