Joseph Daniel Heminger age 98 years 8 months slipped away peacefully on Friday October 19 2012 into the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He had such a glorious day to go to his Heavenly eternal home. A private memorial service will be held at a later date with North's Funeral Home in Abilene handling arrangements. Joe was born February 4 1914 in Creek County Oklahoma at an oilfield camp where his father was the general foreman of pipeline and station operations.   His parents were Sadie (Zink) Heminger and Cyrus Daniel Heminger. On May 15 1916 his father received a promotion to Division Superintendent of his company and moved to their offices in Tulsa. On October 4 1918 when Joe was 4 years old his father died during the influenza pandemic of that year. October 4 1918 was also Sadie's 39th birthday and at that time they had five children at home. Joe's mother raised him in Tulsa and he finished his schooling there. During that time in the midst of the Great Depression Era he worked as a drug store soda jerk and later was hired by the State of Oklahoma Bank Examiner as a courier. He had two older sisters Dora and Helen and two older brothers Nelson and Jimmy who stayed in Tulsa. On July 11 1935 he was employed by the Gypsy Oil Company an exploration and production company that was wholly owned by Gulf Oil Corporation. Joe married Mary Ellen Hitchens a classmate on November 25 1936 in Tulsa. He first knew her at age eleven in school.   Their daughter Barbara Anne was born December 9 1941. Joe was transferred to Gulf's Houston office on September 1 1958 retiring in 1976 with 40 years and 7 months of continuous service as an accountant. He was a member of a Christian church Texas Lodge of Research A.F. & A.M. a Master Mason since 1958 a Knight Templar and a Shriner. Preceding him in death were all members of his immediate family; an infant son in 1940; and Mary Ellen his beloved wife of 59 years on December 5 1995. Survivors include his daughter Mrs. Barbara A. Brewington; his granddaughter Mrs. Jana L. Gray and husband Stephen and their children Austin Bailey and Jackson all of Abilene; his grandson Jason S. Brewington and wife Sherry and their children Owen and Warren all of Fort Collins Colorado. Joe was a wonderful story-teller often speaking of days gone by with incredible detail. He had an amazing memory a huge heart a sharp mind an eye for detail and above all else was always a gentleman.   The family wishes to express sincere thanks for Joe's sweet Hospice caregivers whom he loved and appreciated.