Billy Wayne Abernathy

Billy Wayne Abernathy, age 74, a retired diesel mechanic for Glacier County Road Department, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 4th, 2011. He went peacefully surrounded by his children after a hard fought battle with leukemia. A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 7, from 1-7 p.m. at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Cut Bank Community Bible Church on Friday April 8. Burial with military honors will follow in the Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include his children, David Abernathy and his boys Dillon, and James (Baesam) Abernathy and their daughter Sandra, all of Eugene, Ore.; Cheri (Kevin) Bundy and their children, Cassie (Jeff) Billman and their son, River, Devin and Morgan Bundy all of Cut Bank, and Shelly Bundy of Clarkston, Wash.; Dale (Kari) Abernathy and their children Korey, Kourtney, Kody, and Karlee of Orting, Wash.; six sisters and two brothers: sisters, Martha Burgess of Plymouth, Ind., Betty Roberts of Vidalia, Ark., Evelyn Wright of Pine Bluff, Ark., Edna (Clarence) Nelms of Stuttgart, Ark., Doris (Travis) Bonds of Morrilton, Ark. and Nina (Floyd) McDermott of Coolville, Ohio; brothers, Jack (Beverly) Abernathy of Bauxite, Ark. and Larry Abernathy of Arkadelphia, Ark. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Dianne, his parents, a sister, and a brother. Bill was born September 11, 1936 to Boyd and Bessie (Adams) Abernathy in Harrell, AR. He was raised in Ashley County and graduated from High school in Portland, Ark. He joined the United States Air Force December 28, 1956 and was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash. until December 15, 1960. He made his career as a diesel and heavy equipment mechanic and retired from Glacier County Road Department in January 2001. Bill was a great man, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He loved fishing, camping, traveling with his family...... and Elvis Presley. His hobbies in retirement included restoring vintage tractors and quilting. He loved to smile and tell stories to anyone who would listen, and would burst out into song about anything. His family was the light of his life and all his grandchildren loved spending time with him. He touched the lives of all he came in contact with, even strangers. He will be greatly missed. The family suggests memorials to the Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank or the Sletten Cancer Research Center in Great Falls.