Larry "John" Shankle

Larry John Shankle, 60 of Abilene, passed away at a local medical center on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Thursday, March 4th, at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Terry Brown officiating. The burial will be Friday at 2:00 pm in Mt. Pleasant, Texas at the Coopers Chapel Cemetery. A visitation was held from 5-7 pm Wednesday at Piersall Benton Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

John was born to Larry and Winona Shankle on August the 29th, 1949 in Coleman, Texas. Growing up in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, John graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School. John married Nancy Wilhite on December 22, 1973, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Together they lived and worked in Mt. Pleasant, Commerce, and College Station before moving to Abilene nearly 20 years ago. John was an outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting and camping but he also enjoyed gardening and especially taking care of his roses. Playing games such as 42 and barbequing for his friends and family were also an important part of John’s life.

Surviving John is his wife of 36 years Nancy, his children Joey and Carrie Shankle, a granddaughter Natalie Navejas, his mother Winona Shankle of Tyler, two sisters; Carol Fox and husband Roy of Marshall, TX and Christie Knox and husband Dwayne of New Iberia, LA, father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe and Beth Wilhite of Mt. Pleasant, brother-in-law Dale Wilhite and wife Nancy of Apex, NC, sister-in-law Joanie Cameron of Mt. Pleasant as well as numerous nieces and nephews, extended family members and close friends. Preceding John in death was his father Larry Shankle.

Donations may be made in honor of John Shankle to The English Department fund at Abilene Christian University or Hillcrest Church of Christ. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.