Wanda Janet Denio

Wanda Janet Denio, 81, of Abilene, passed away at her home on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.  Funeral service will be on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Southern Hills Church of Christ.  Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.  A visitation with the family will be Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Wanda was born in Bell County on September 8, 1940 to J.H. and Opel Doshier.  She was raised around Meridian but graduated high school in Stephenville.  She was married to Kenneth Gaines and they had two sons, Ronnie and Gary.  As it sometimes happens, that marriage ended and it led Wanda to Jimmy Denio.  Jimmy and Wanda were married on May 8, 1981 in Hillsboro and they moved around the state until settling in Abilene and opened a series of antique stores called “Lookin’ Back.”  They were long time members of the Southern Hills Church of Christ and attended together until Jimmy’s death in 2016.  Wanda remained active with small groups and Bible studies and demonstrated her servant’s heart every chance she could by helping at the church whenever and wherever she was needed.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jimmy Denio and her first husband, Kenneth Gaines.  She is survived by her two sons, Ronnie Gaines and wife Terri of Lockhart, Texas and Gary Gaines and wife Wanda of Stephenville; step-sons Mike Denio and wife Liz of Gatesville and Tommy Denio and wife Kim of Temple; step-daughter Tammy Hill of Brownwood; brothers Jimmy Doshier and Larry Doshier and wife Laura, both of McGregor, Texas; sisters Betty Brien and husband Peter of Hearne, Texas and Connee Holcomb and husband Danny of Dallas; grandson David Gaines and wife Skyler of Stephenville; and 3 great-grandchildren, Emily, Brynnleigh and Jaxon Gaines; and Emily’s mother Amber Gaines.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.