Maude Alice Rhodes

Funeral services for Maude Alice Rhodes, 92, of Abilene will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 26, 2012, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory. Burial will follow in Central Cemetery (NE of Hawley), directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Rhodes passed away Thursday, March 22, 2012 in Abilene. She was born December 29, 1919 in Hawley, Texas. Maude was one of nine children of William Daniel Cupps and Julia May (Pruitt) Cupps. The family survived largely by following the crop harvests and working the fields. Maude’s three brothers and five sisters have preceded her in death.

Maude met Edd Rhodes in church at a young age. They went together three years, then married in Abilene in 1940. Maude and Edd did ranch work at the Davis Ranch near Hamby until they moved to Abilene in 1948. Edd had gone to work for Lone Star Gas. They had six children named Larry of Nolanville, Randolph of Corpus Christi, Kenneth of Abilene, Dale of Abilene, Adora of Santa Anna, and Connie of San Antonio.

Edd preceded her in death in 1988. Maude said they had 48 precious years together.

Maude went to Scoggins Beauty School while Edd worked at the gas company. Maude had jobs at the peanut factory, worked as a beauty operator, worked at McEplens Restaurant, and did sewing and ironing while trying to provide for her family. Maude loved to crochet, and did a lot of it in her latter years. She was known for home remedies and practical medical advice. Though formal schooling was very limited, she was self-taught, and a wise caring wife and mother. She was a long time member of North Park Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School classes.

Maude will be missed by all who knew her.