Nancy Fern Winter

Nancy Winter, 77, of Abilene, Texas passed away on April 17, 2026 at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Nancy was born in Abilene to Francis Helena Parks and Ralph Hatchett on September 21, 1948. She attended school in Abilene, and later when her family moved to Merkel she attended Merkel High School. There, she met the love of her life Philip “Butch” Winter and they married on November 25, 1964. Later, while raising four children she earned her G.E.D. at TCU.

Nancy was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest child started school. She was always involved in her children’s activities from PTA, homeroom mother, cub scout den mother, football, band and so much more. Nancy worked as a teacher for 16 years at Northland Christian School in Houston, Texas. After becoming disabled, she volunteered at Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) where she helped battered women. She also substituted at her son’s and daughter in law’s day care center in Tomball, Tx. After moving back to Abilene, she helped take care of her sister-in-law, Janice Jackson, and mother-in-law, Mickey Winter.

Nancy was preceded in death by her mother Helena Brazell, her father Ralph Hatchett, her stepfather Otto Brazell, her brothers Tommy Hatchett and Doug Hatchett, her father-in-law Mina Winter, sister-in-law Janice Jackson, mother-in-law, Mickey Winter, her husband’s younger brother Skip Winter and grandson Austin.

Nancy is survived by her husband Philip Winter, her children Misti Wimberly (Edwin), Jason Winter (Michele Elpant), Darrin Winter (Julie), Mindi Overstreet (Jason Williams), her sister Terry Massey (Jimmy), brother Johnny Brazell (Sharon), her grandchildren Cody Winter, Crystal Winter, Madison Prentice, Gannon Winter, Zach Winter, Zoe Winter, Tyler Overstreet, Trent Overstreet, Emerson Williams, and her great grandchildren Jacob, Jada, Melody, Grace, Michael, Adam, Ava, Aiden, Caleb and Larkyn.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday May 2, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Merkel located at 301 Locust St with Joshua Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Starbuck Funeral Home.

Memorials can be made to the Merkel Museum or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www. Pulmonaryfibrosis.org. The family of Nancy Winter wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr, Mageto and her nurses at BSW Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center, Baylor University Medical Center and the nurses, doctors and VPN Hospice team on the 5th floor of the Pickens Building.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy Fern Winter, please visit our floral store.