RICKY JOE ABERNATHY, age 63, formerly of East Prairie, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Burleson, Texas after a long illness.

He was born November 21, 1957, at Flint, Michigan, to Robert Franklin Abernathy and Josephine Hurley Abernathy.   He had lived in East Prairie for several years with his loving parents, Joe Bob and Patsy Sue before moving to Burleson, Texas.   He then started working with his brother Tim at the masonry. Ricky was Tim's right hand man at Abe's Masonry.

Surviving is his children, Kristin Sterling and her son Hayden Sterling; and Robert J.; his special friend Marsha Choate; his brothers, Robert S. Abernathy and his husband, Peter Vamvakas; Timothy E. Abernathy; and his sisters, Teresa (Jerry) Vinson and LaVonda (Anthony) Wallace, as well as nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.

Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com

Pallbearers will be: Randy Boswell, Dean Hedge, Steve Norman, Terry Mayab, Michael Odell, Michael B. Odell, Corkey Clark, Roy Dean and Allen Henshaw.