Mary Ellen CutbirthABILENE, TXMary was the beloved mother of Mary Frances and James Wilbert. She was the grandmother of eight: Blynda Langford of Austin, Becci Hardaway of Abilene, Bretta McIlLeroy of Denver City, Bryon Hardaway of Clarksvile, Maryland, Katherine Ray of Woodward, Oklahoma, Michael Cutbirth of Rockledge, Florida, Edward Cutbirth of Abilene, Texas, and Daniel Cutbirth of Katy, Texas. She was also the great-grandmother to nineteen and great-great-grandmother to one. She had many nieces and nephews.Mary came to Texas as a young girl from Doyle, Oklahoma where she was born on April 15, 1917. She was born into a farm family and picked cotton during the move to Texas. She lived around the Tahoka, Texas area. She helped her parents, Thelma and Judge Clyde Sage on the farm and went to school there. After graduating from Tahoka High School, she went to live in Midland, Texas, where she met and fell in love with Wilbert Cutbirth. He lived in Monahans but visited her nearly every weekend in Midland. They were married six months later and remained married until his death, nearly 56 years later.She had her 100th birthday April 15, 2017. This was a milestone she celebrated with her family and friends. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Thelma and Judge Clyde Sage; her older brother, James Orville Sage; and a younger brother, William Harrison Sage. She is also preceded in death by two sisters, Juanita Irene Haggerton, and Helen Margaret Hensley. She is survived by four siblings, Charlene Grisham of Clyde, JC Sage of Abilene, Ruby Reed of Odessa, and Janet Ellison of Monahans. She is also survived by her children Frances and husband Mike Hardaway and James and wife Denise Cutbirth. Both of her children live in Abilene. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.She was known for her skills of cooking, sewing, and serving others. These skills were evident as she served as a minister's wife and as an elder's wife. She was a member of the Church of Christ, and was the matriarch of our family and will be deeply missed by all. She is now enjoying the rewards of Heaven for which she had prepared herself. She has spent a lifetime looking forward to Heaven. Her grandson and grandson-in-law will be her pallbearers.Graveside services for Mary will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, November 11, 2017, in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery, 5701 Hwy 277 South. The family will receive friends for a visitation on Friday evening, November 10, 2017, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, also located at 5701 Hwy 277 South. You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliotthamilfuneralhomes.com.