Sterling Abbott
1977-2019
Sterling Eilene Cave Abbott died Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, days after the start of second grade for her son, Rhodes. She was 41. She ended life much as she lived it, driven, goal-focused, Heaven bound and devoted to her family and friends. She approached life with vigor and sought excellence and beauty in all things she did, whether it was designing her home, creating a Halloween costume or playing a game with her family.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. The service will be under the direction of Restland Funeral Home. A reception will follow the service.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday in the Providence Christian School Great Hall in Dallas.
Born in Big Spring on Halloween in 1977, her family later moved to Snyder for her to start sixth grade. Sterling was the third of four children. She was an outgoing member of her family, who considered her the family greeter. Sterling played the piano and sang in the high school choir. She excelled in athletics, earning all-district honors in volleyball. Sterling was an outstanding student. She was the valedictorian of her Snyder High School class, earned a presidential scholarship and ultimately won her college’s most prestigious academic and service awards.
Sterling attended Abilene Christian University, graduating summa cum laude in 2000 with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting. She soon moved to Dallas and worked first for PricewaterhouseCoopers and later with an investment firm called HBK. Forever the humble high achiever, her career climbed swiftly.
Through mutual friends, Sterling met Chris Abbott and the two married in August 2005. Intellectual equals, travel companions, deeply connected, devoted to Christ and an exceptional balance of each other, Sterling and Chris were a beautiful team. During a three-year adventure, living in Laguna Beach, Calif., they welcomed Rhodes Keller Abbott to the world in January 2012. He completed the Abbott trio perfectly.
Sterling had a strong Christian faith and was devoted to the Lord, reading the Bible daily. Her service involved evangelism and helping others walk more deeply with God. She discipled children and adults, leading Bible studies, mentoring a youth group for more than 10 years and guiding several young married groups at church.
Sterling was also a devoted friend. She kept up with people from all stages of her life. An excellent gift-giver and note writer, she never came to visit a friend empty handed. She was a warm host and found great joy in bringing together the people she loved. Throughout her illness, one of the blessings that came was the friendships her friends gained in each other.
Sterling was a lifelong student, evidenced by the ever-changing stack of books by her bed. She loved to learn about new things, whether it was history, new cultures, cooking or sports. She also loved beautiful things, including artwork, rugs, paper, antiques and unique finds from the fields of the Round Top Antique Festival. Vintage store owners in Dallas knew her by name, as did many of the Round Top vendors. She curated a beautiful home through these adventures, but never at the expense of what was important to her, people.
When cancer made its ugly appearance nearly seven years ago, Sterling started a blog. In her first entry, she wrote, “We love Jesus, we desire to live our life to glorify Him, and we love you and want you to do the same. Being reminded that you are not promised tomorrow brings instant clarity regarding what is important. So often, I fail to speak to the important stuff because I am more afraid of offending or being judged than I am concerned for others. This trial gives us countless opportunities to live differently.” And she did.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, James and Eilene Cave, and her maternal grandparents, Foster S. and Flo Price.
Survivors include by her husband, Christopher Abbott of Dallas; her seven-year-old son, Rhodes of Dallas; her parents, James R. and Lois Cave; her siblings, Robin Dulaney and her husband, John, and their son, Duke, Matthew Cave and his wife, Becky, and their children, Emmerson, Miller and Brooks, and Mark Cave and his children, Foster and Reese; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ronny Beaver
1943-2019
Ronny Beaver, 76, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Miller Family Funeral Home.