Paul Ables

Paul Edward (Coach) Ables

Paul Edward Ables (known by most as Coach or Abe), 86, of Monahans, Texas, passed away February 2, 2021 in Big Spring, Texas.

Visitation will be 3:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2021 at Harkey Funeral Home, 210 S. Allen, Monahans, Texas.

Masonic and Military graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Monahans Cemetery, 400 S. Helen Avenue, Monahans, Texas. Pastor Jeppie Wilson will be delivering the opening and closing prayers.

A Memorial Tribute will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Ward County Event Center Gymnasium, 1525 E. Monahans Parkway, Monahans, Texas. Memories and stories of Coach will be shared and refreshments served.

Paul Edward (Coach) Ables was born in Barling, Arkansas on July 9, 1934 to Floyd and Hazel Ables. He was raised and went to school in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Coach’s love of athletics began during his years playing football and basketball for Van Buren High School. After graduating from Van Buren High in 1952, he received a scholarship to play football at Connors State Junior College in Warner, Oklahoma.  While there, he met a soon to be longtime friend by the name of Frank Krhut.

After graduating from Connors, Coach’s journey continued and another football scholarship led him to Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Once again he was playing football alongside his buddy, Krhut. For the Christmas holidays, Coach would hitchhike from Alpine to Arkansas to see his parents, then hitchhike back to Alpine to work on obtaining his batchelor’s degree.

Coach graduated from Sul Ross in 1956, and was then drafted into the Army, He served in the Army 1958-1960 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Marksmanship Badge and achieved the rank of E6. He returned to Sul Ross to finish his master’s degree.  He also went on to earn his Superintendent’s Certification.


After returning from serving his country, Abe coached in Potosi, Missouri, El Paso, Texas, Clarksville, Arkansas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Llano, Leakey, and Monahans, Texas. Coach decided to retire from coaching and teaching from
Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD in 1993 but continued working in the SAC Building and serving on the M-W-MISD School Board.

Coach was passionate about the game of football and was a positive influence not only to his players but to his students.  As a result, he touched the lives of hundreds of individuals both on and off the field throughout his coaching career and beyond. He received multiple awards and honors throughout his coaching career but the three honors Coach was most proud of were the naming of the “Coach Ables Lobo Den” in Monahans, the M-W-P-ISD Lobo for Life Award, and the plaque at Eagle Stadium honoring him as coach of the 1975 8-Man State Championship football team in Leakey.

Throughout his coaching career, he was the inspiration behind launching the football program for Potosi High School in Potosi, Missouri.  He was the defensive coordinator for the Mayfield Trojans in Las Cruces, New Mexico and was instrumental in helping lead the Trojans to their 1972 State Championship.  He also led the Leakey Eagles to win the last 8-Man State Championship football game ever played in the state of Texas.

Not only was Coach passionate about football, he had a love for coaching basketball and track.  He was the Girls Track and Basketball Coach taking the Llano Girls Basketball team to Regionals twice. He also coached Girls and Boys Track in Leakey, taking Bella Albarado Rubio and Lance Blazek to the State Meet in numerous events and upon returning to Leakey each student weighed more than when they left due to the number of medals they brought home.

While in Leakey, not only was Abe a Coach, he was the Government teacher and LHS Principal. Each morning he drove the route bus to pick up the Navarro family at the Jacoby/Fair Ranch Bus Stop in Mountain Home. He and his right hand woman, Linda Brice made a great team and set a good example for the students.

Coach was a Mason, a past member of different Texas  Lion’s Clubs, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Monahans.

Coach always loved volunteering to assist in any way possible in basketball games, baseball games, track meets, or just wherever needed.  He was instrumental in establishing the annual Weaver-Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament and single handedly organized it for many years. David Weaver and Max Johnson were not only co-workers but were so much more than that…. They were Coach’s true friends!

Coach also taught drivers’ education every place he ever coached.  According to his students, he would not only teach them how to drive, but was a mentor, storyteller, and supplied some comic relief.  Coach taught ALL his drivers’ education students how to change a tire which came in handy for many of them.
After retiring from M-W-P-ISD, Coach took a job at the Ward County Golf Course as the Course Marshall.  When he wasn’t working at the golf course, he was taking money from his Gin playing buddies who would stop by his house ready for Coach to beat them.  He also spent a lot of time with his daughters and their families. Later in life, he would spend his afternoons playing dominoes and gin rummy with Kim, Jeannie, Karsen and fellow Veterans.

Coach Ables was preceded in death by his father Floyd Ellsworth Ables (1961), mother Hazel McAlister Ables (1984) both of Van Buren, Arkansas, sister Reba Dell Wagner Krishner (1999) of St. Louis, Missouri, and brother Mac Leon Ables (2004) of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Coach Ables is survived by two daughters, Kimberly Kay Ables Branam from Midland, Texas, and Paula Jean (Jeannie) Reeves and husband Tim from Christoval, Texas.  Three Grandchildren, Kala Livsey and husband Will from Coppell, Texas, Paige Cadwallader and husband Clark from San Antonio, Texas, and Karsen Ables from Midland, Texas, and Great Grandchildren, Max Cadwallader, Jack Cadwallader, and Cora Cadwallader (due in July 2021) all from San Antonio, Texas.

Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers are Tim Reeves, Arcadio Rivera, Frank Paul Walter, Travis “Buddy” Buchanan, Jeppie Wilson, Larry Otto, Joe Vasquez, Mike Meixner, Richard Hale, Mickey Owens, and Mickey Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Weaver-Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Coach Ables, Monahans High School, 809 S. Betty, Monahans, Texas 79756 and/or the Coach Paul Ables Scholarship Fund Leakey High School in care of Hondo National Bank-Frio Canyon Branch, P.O. Box 1580, 410 S. Hwy.83, Leakey, Texas 78873.

The family of Coach Ables wishes to extend their sincere thank you to everyone who is has had a positive role in his abundant life. He also would want his former students and players to know how much he greatly enjoyed teaching and coaching them, not only in school and sports, but also in life. Most importantly, thank you to his Drivers Ed students for not getting him hurt while they learned how to drive and change a flat tire!

For those of you unable to attend the services, you can watch them live on Kimberly’s Facebook page; Kimberly Kay Ables Branam.  Click on the profile displaying the Red  Leakey Eagle sign.