Obituary of Sammie Dee Runnels, SR.

Graveside services for Sammie Dee Runnels, SR., 91, of Abernathy, TX, will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, August 27, 2022, in the Strip Pearce Chapel Cemetery, Abernathy, TX, with Rev. Joel Perez officiating. Services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. The family will gather to receive friends at Abell Funeral Home from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm Friday, August 26th, 2022. Sammie was born September 11, 1930 in Blufton, TX to William Alton and Christine Mazie (Pyburn) Runnels. He grew up in Mullin, TX and attended school in Priddy, TX, where he excelled in high school basketball. He played against the Harlem Globe Trotters during an expo game. Sammie enlisted in the US Army Signal Corps in 1951 and served in Korea, being honorably discharged in 1953 when he moved to Abernathy in 1953. He married Patsy Ruth Utzman in 1955 and together they had 5 children. In September of 1978 he married Mary Frances Lee in Abernathy. Sammie farmed for the Givens family for 49 years. He was a horse trainer and breeder. Sammie won multiple championship cutting horse competitions. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Runnels, daughter, Marie Runnels, step-son, Gary Henley and 2 brothers, Glendon Runnels and Howard Runnels. He is survived by a daughter, Patricia Ann Rodriguez of Amarillo, TX, 3 sons, Sammie Runnels, Jr., of Amarillo, Jimmy Runnels and wife Cindy of Abernathy, TX and Billy Runnels of Brownfield, TX, 3 step-daughters, Peggy Allen, Chris Blair and Judy Palmer all of Lubbock, TX and 2 step-sons, Dan Henley and Cal Wayne Henley of Lubbock, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and a sister, Alta Dean Bufe of Bedford, TX.