Michael Autry Abel, 55, of China Spring, died tragically Friday, October 5, 2018.
Visitation: 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 12, at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 13, at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Pastor Bobby Wheat officiating
Burial: China Spring Cemetery
Michael was killed in a motorcycle wreck involving a drunk driver. Michael was born January 10, 1963 in Dallas to Franklin (Bud) Abel and Cora Bush Abel. Michael’s family lived in Garland where he started the 1st grade. He went to 2nd through 6th grade in Blue Ridge, Texas. In 1975, Michael’s family moved to Crawford where he went to school from 7th grade and he graduated in 1981. Michael played football for the Pirates and was involved in FFA. After high school Michael went to TSTI and studied Diesel Mechanics. He then took a job in Alice, Texas for a period of time followed by working for Ryder Rental in Temple. He then moved back to the Waco area and went to work for Waco Systems. In 1988, Michael went to work for Huck Manufacturing and worked there until 1998. He left Huck to go work for Abel Service Co. until 2007. He started working for Aramark at Baylor in 2007. He started there working in the HVAC Department until he became the foreman for the BRIC and Baylor Science Building.
Michael was a member of China Spring Volunteer Fire Department beginning in 1990. He served as Chief for the department from 1995-1996 and was still an active member. He had many passions and one was for guns, gun safety, and the Central Texas Rifle and Pistol Club. He was serving as treasurer for the gun club. Another passion he had was for motorcycles. He owned and rode them long before he met and married Schelly. Michael was an active member and Deacon at Lake Shore Drive Church of Christ. He loved God and it showed through his love, care, concern and desire to help others.
In the fall of 1986, he met Schelly Jumper through mutual friends. Michael and Schelly were married on April 4, 1987 at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Waco. Michael and Schelly moved to China Spring in the summer of 1988. Trent Autry Abel was born October of 1988. William Dalton Abel was born and died on February 7, 1991. Chesney Nicole Abel was born in April of 1993.
He was preceded in death by a son.
Michael is survived by his wife, Schelly; son and daughter-in-law, Trent and Whitney Abel of Whitsett, NC.; a daughter and son-in-law, Chesney and Caleb McNamara and grandson, Hudson McNamara; his dad, Franklin Abel and wife, DeeAnn of Crawford; his mother, Cora Abel of Waco; sisters, Kim Williams and Amy Abel; his brother, Alan Abel all of Crawford; and multiple nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. We love you and will greatly miss you Michael Abel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Michael’s memory may be directed to the China Spring Volunteer Fire Department or to the Central Texas Rifle and Pistol Club.
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Shelly, it’s been awhile since I last saw you and Mike. My heart is so heavy for you and the kids during this awful time. I can only ask God to keep His loving arms around you during the days, weeks and months ahead. You have my prayers and love always.
I love you Schelly! Mike was an incredible man to you and your family. So funny and fun to be around.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I knew Mike from working at Baylor. He had a great personality. He will be missed.
I am so sorry for your family in the tragic loss of this good man.
Shelly….. I can’t tell you how much I thought about you and Mike…. I wish life had not separated us like it did. Mike was a great man. I thought a lot of him . There are not that many men that I held in as a high as reguard as I did him. I love you both.
Dearest Shelly. My heart hurts for you as you go through this time of loss and grief. Know that you and your family are in my prayers for God’s loving presence to surround you with His peace. I think you know how much Mike meant to me. He was always there when I needed help. He was an awesome man and loved you and the kids so much. I met the two of you when you were first married. Loved having y’all stop in while walking in the evenings. You will always be in my heart. If I can do anything for you just let me know. Love and prayers.
To the Abel family.
There are no words that I can say to comfort you, this is a very hard thing to go through and i am very sorry you guys are having to go through this. Ya’ll have always been like family to me, but I know not even from a family member or a friend, words can’t make this better. I love you guys so much and I’m very sorry your having to go through this. Your all in my prayers ❤
I am extremely saddened by this news.I met Mike back in the early 90’s while working at a firearms retail store.We hit it off the first time we met.
I ended up getting hired on where he worked at Huck.Mike was always positive and never had a negative word about anyone.We were both into shooting and he made CenTex rifle range a better place when he was there.He will be truly missed.
He is an amazing man ! Well loved !! Taught us all a few things about how a man should act or how we should all act. Kind and loving to others !!! I hope to raise my son just like this !!!! I’m so sorry to the family. My love and prayers are with you at this time. Praying every day ~ Lots of love ~ Julie and Jacob Moore ( proudly -part of the big Abel family )
Shelly Mike was always fun too be around at Baylor he always made my day with a smile and he was such a great guy
Our prayers and thoughts are with you all. Mike was a wonderful person inside and out. He will be greatly missed.
Schelly, Trent and Chesney — We are so very sorry about Mike. He was such a dear man. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Dear Abel family,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I didn’t know him but I was there on Friday night. I stayed with him until help arrived. There’s nothing I can say to comfort you or take away the pain. Your family will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you during this dark time.
May you find comfort in your memories- and God’s peace in the days to come.
No words can ease your pain, but know that we are thinking of you and we are so deeply sorry for your loss. Mike will be missed by so many of us out at the range.
To the Able Family
Our hearts are saddened by this tragedy,
Sending prayers for strength and love .
Patti and Bruce Bubel
Cora, Bud, and family, there are no words except…I know and I understand. We buried Jordan 10 years ago this month. My heart breaks for you all. God bless and give you strength as you go forward. Good memories of this sweet family❤
My heart breaks for you and all the family.
My prayers are with all of you now and during the healing process though our almighty servant.
Did not know this man but as a fellow biker
i would like for the family to know that i am sending my prayers your way . MICHAEL R.I.P. MY BROTHER !!!!
Our sincerest wishes for the entire Abel family. We were shocked and saddened with Mike’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Schelly,the children and the entire Abel family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Mike was a sweet thoughtful hardworking gentleman. I will truly miss working with him. May strength come to you knowing he is in God’s presence.
To Bud and family,
I am so sorry for your loss.
Billye Carol Owens and Stacy Owens
Schelly,
So sorry to hear about this tragic loss of your husband & Soulmate. Just know you & your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Praying for comfort and peace as you go through this terrible time. Love you,
Shirley Hill
To the family I was very sorry to hear of your loss. I’ve known Mike for 30 + years, we worked together at HUCK. He was a very talented individual and could repair just about anything he wanted to. He always had a smile on his face. I know he will be sorely missed.
Schelly, we are sorry for your family’s loss. The prayers for strength and love are being offered. We are Leah’s parents and Johnnie got to meet you two at Steve And Kristi’s anniversary party. Johnnie commented to me what a sweet guy Mike was. Again we pray for an outpouring of love and strength!
We are completely stunned and heartbroken over Mike’s tragic passing. He was a wonderful man and so good to our family, especially my mom. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Schelly and family,
So very sorry about the loss of Mike. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Peter and Sheila Torres
Schelly,
You and your family are in our hearts and prayers. We are praying that God’s love and peace surround you in the days and weeks ahead.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike’s family at this most difficult time. Mike is was an awesome guy at I always looked up too. I know for sure that his is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and heaven is a little brighter today.
Dear Schelly, Trent and Whitney, Chesney and Caleb and Hudson, our hearts are broken for all of you. We do not have the words that can make this hurt go away. Only God can help with your broken hearts. There are so many prayers being said for you from North Carolina. We wish we could be there with you. Mike was a wonderful man and we are thankful we got to meet him and his family and become a part of it.
Dear Schelly! I heard about Mikes wreck and I want you to know my heart hurts so much for you. Your children, and grandchild. I’m just so sorry that this awful accident happened. I will be praying for God to give you the strength you need to get through this terrible time in your life. Schelly, .Please know I am here for you if ever you feel the need to vent or if you need anything at all.. Love, Lucy
“My sincere thoughts and prayers are with your family as you mourn Mr. Abel’s passing, may our Father in Heave who gives comfort to those who mourn sustain you. Meditating on the promises found in His Word offers hope when it seems we have none, better days just are ahead.” Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 21:4, John 5:28,29,
I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to all of Mike’s family. For right now, there’s no detour around grief, no shortcut through mourning. However, 2 Cor.4:7 says that God can give us, “… power beyond what is normal…”, to go from one day to the next. This does not mean that we no longer cry or that we forget. It means we recover. We recover because of our hope. Jesus Christ talked about our hope in John 5:28 which says, “… all those in the memorial tomb will hear his voice and come out…”. Jesus was referring to the resurrection. That is our amazing hope! The Bible likens our hope to an anchor. Just like an anchor stabilizes a ship, our hope stabilizes us and keeps us from drowning in overwhelming sadness. One way that God comforts us today is by moving people who care about us to give us words of encouragement that we need to hear. May the God of comfort be your comfort now, during this time of sorrow. For the Bible’s answers to life’s big questions please visit JW.org.
You all have been in our hearts & prayers for a week & will continue to be for months to come. May God grant you comfort & ease of pain & grief. This is such a tragedy & so hard to understand. Love to all.
Franklin and your family. I am so sorry for your loss. I know your son greatly will be greatly missed by your entire family. Thinking of you all during this difficult time.
God has received a very good man that I cared for greatly. When he entered a room I always notice the crowd that would gather around him. He was gentle and loving but always looking for someone that he could aid.
Schelly, I love you like a daughter. Trent and Chesney are two that Mike was proud of and I know that you are too.
May God bless you and may God enjoy the man you loved so much.
Rest in Peace Mike Prayers for Family
I just received this news, and it makes me sad. I was involved with Michael on two projects at Baylor in the last year, and he was so very kind, competent and accommodating. We became fast friends. I am personally heart broken and can only imagine this sudden loss bestowed on his family and closer friends. Although I only knew him a short time, I know that he was admired and loved, he was admirable and lovable!