Delma Christine Hamilton

Delma Christine Hamilton, of Groesbeck, passed away Friday, October 28, 2011, at her residence, following an illness, at age 76. Visitation will be Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 30, 2011, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Tracy Sims and Rev. J. R. Tapley officiating. Burial will follow at the Cobb Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, John Devine, Jon-Davis Hamilton, Jeremy Hamilton, Jarred Hamilton, Jordan Hamilton, Jantzen Hamilton, Jason Hamilton, James W. Hamilton, and Jackson Hamilton. Delma was born December 24, 1934, to Garland Wayne Coker and Myrtle Irene (Jacobs) Coker at Liberty. She grew up in Livingston, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown,and then attended Lee College. Delma was united in marriage with Gerald Glenn (Jerry) Hamilton on July 20, 1956 at Baytown, and they lived in Baytown and Houston for some years. Delma worked in many endeavors in her lifetime. In Baytown, she worked for Baroid Oil and Gas and Buck Turner Chevrolet. Later they moved to Dallas, where she worked for Arco Electronics. In 1969, the family decided to move back to Jerry’s hometown of Groesbeck, with their last child, James, born in the Groesbeck Hospital. Delma and Jerry had been buying and accumulating land in Limestone County since 1967. They ran cattle and later entered a tree farm enterprise on their land. and Delma raised her “workforce” (her 5 children) to take care of these businesses while Jerry worked away from home in Houston and later Alaska. Delma worked as a Special-Ed Teacher for Groesbeck I.S.D, and then entered the restaurant business, where she fed many people over the following years. She owned and operated the Rancher’s Steakhouse (at the Auction Barn), then Hamilton’s Fried Chicken in Groesbeck and also in McGregor and Brownwood. In later years, she again helped her daughter operate another Fried Chicken business. She was a member of Groesbeck Eastern Star and a member of the First Baptist Church of Thornton and later in Groesbeck. She was definitely a “people person” who enjoyed being around people and loved to take care of people; she was an unselfish and complete giver. Delma was a lady of high energy, who never quit working, whether in business or busily moving around at home. The family knows that she is now raking leaves and sweeping the floors in heaven. Delma was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Wayne Coker; and her husband, Jerry. She is survived by five children: son, Jerry Paul Hamilton of College Station, daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Mark Fagan of Groesbeck, daughter, Connie Devine of Houston, son and daughter-in-law, John and Gaye Hamilton of Groesbeck, and son and daughter-in-law, James and Theresa Hamilton of Groesbeck. There are twelve grandchildren: Misty Watson and husband Kevin of Groesbeck, Jeremy Hamilton of Groesbeck, John Devine and Caroline Devine of Houston, Jon-Davis Hamilton, Keirsten Hamilton, and Jordan Hamilton of College Station, Jarred Hamilton, Jantzen Hamilton, Jason Hamilton, James Hamilton, and Jackson Hamilton of Groesbeck; and two great grandchildren, James Watson and Jacob Watson of Groesbeck. She is also survived by three sisters and brothers-in-law, Lou Ellen and Rodney Jackson of Baytown, Faye and Bob Barnum of Baytown, and Jean and Don Ancelet of Crosby, and numerous nieces and nephews. Judy Telford was like a sister to Delma, and the family also acknowledges the special friendship through the years from the Bill Sadler family and Bobby Reed.