Georgia G Dacus

Georgia Grace Osborne Dacus, 86, of Rogers Community, Ovalo, TX, passed away comfortably, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Hendrick Hospice Care, Abilene.

Visitation 4-6 p.m., Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Fry-Smith Funeral Home, 502 Kent Avenue, Tuscola. Services are 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 22, 2023, at Lawn Baptist Church, 518 Avenue D, Lawn with Bro. Mark Moore, and Bro. DeWayne Bush presiding. Burial will follow service in Rogers Cemetery.

Georgia was born at Hotel Dieu (Place of God, in French) Hospital, in El Paso on April 4, 1937, to Joseph Dolphus 'J.D.' Osborne and Mildred Lee Denny Osborne, the oldest daughter of six children.

She lived in El Paso through the third grade and briefly lived in Detroit, MI. Her family then moved to Abilene in 1946 when her father received a professorship in sociology at Hardin-Simmons University. Georgia played softball in elementary and junior high school, then once in high school she played volleyball. She also sang in the choir and played the piano some. She was extremely accomplished in sewing at an early age.

On August 27, 1955, Georgia married Weldon Doyle Dacus, a 1951 graduate of Brady High School, at Calvary Baptist Church, Abilene.

She met Weldon in the summer of 1954 at a community swimming pool where he was a lifeguard. He wanted to give her an engagement ring before he went into the service, but she made him wait until she graduated from high school. Beginning in 1955, Weldon served in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, as Air Policeman. Georgia graduated from Abilene High School, May 1955.

They lived in Alaska for a few years before moving to Dean Dale Community east of Wichita Falls in 1959 and then to Caps Community south of Abilene in 1972. She kept the books for the Dacus Car Wash on South 14th and Woodard St. in Abilene and ran the Fina Filling Station in front of the car wash. Later, with Weldon, owning and operating the family business, Dacus Truck and Car Wash and Portable Washing Company, Abilene. In 1976, they moved their family to a 132-acre farm in Rogers Community east of Ovalo along the old Abilene to Coleman Road, raising bottle fed calves, hay crops, 4-H and FFA projects.

Georgia was a true helpmeet for her husband and more precious than rubies. She spent much of her time making their houses home, raising their six children through all their adventures, and helping run their businesses and farm. She was lovingly known as

Mema to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Georgia was involved in the Jim Ned Valley community, volunteering where needed. Sponsoring field trips, booster club activities, brownies and scout leader, coach, assist coach, and team mom in sporting events. As a member of the First Baptist Church in Lawn, she was involved with the RA's and GA's programs, bible verse reading, WMU meetings, Ladies Bible Classes, Honey-Bees education extension club, and so much more. When she had some time, she liked to quilt, sew, crochet and cross-stitch. She made many beautifully crocheted blankets using her own created patterns.

Georgia said in 2011 that she felt so small compared to the love the Lord had shown her. She felt she had no great accomplishments, but to see Christ living in her children, and the way they show love to their families. She hoped that she had left her family with a sense of belonging, and love for the Lord.

Survivors include her five sons and one daughter, Doyle Eugene (Bonnie) of Ovalo, Danyl Edglen (Patty) of Corpus Christi, Donald Norman (Jeanine) of Amarillo, Debra Grace (Devin) Stewart of Georgetown, Dennis Neal (Dede) of Ovalo, and Dwayne Carlton (Callie) of Buffalo Gap; 20 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Nancy (Tony) Brischler of Marietta, GA, Patti (Tom) Kuykendall of Oneida, TN, one brother, Leonard (Leesa) Osborne of Shreveport, LA, sister in-law, Joyce Martin Osborne of Abilene, brother in-law, Bobby Mangum of San Antonio, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Georgia was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Weldon of 56 years before his passing (2011), one brother, Robert Carlton Osborne, Sr. (2019) of Abilene, and one sister, Clarice Mildred Osborne Mangum (2020) of San Antonio; brother-in-law and sister in-law, Wilfred Pence and Janis Lavon Arrington Dacus, Sr., both passing away in Feb 2019, of Houston.

Memorials may be made to Lawn Baptist Church Youth Program, P.O. Box 268, Lawn, TX 79530; Rogers Cemetery Fund, 326 FM 614, Ovalo, TX 79541, TX; Dacus Foundation or Dacus Foundation-Preservation Archives Fund. PO Box 421 Tuscola, TX 79562.