Abigail Susan Hoats, died June 11, 2018, in San Francisco, Calif. Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of Thomas R. and Kaye E. Hoats.

She grew up in Emmaus and graduated from Emmaus High School in 1996. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering at Penn State, and her Master of Science degree in environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

She lived in the Bay area after graduate school until 2014, when she relocated to Paso Robles in California’s Central Valley. She was employed by Chevron for the past 11 years. During that time, she spent more than three years in Angola. This gave her the opportunity to travel extensively, which she loved to do, especially in Africa and in South and Central America.

She volunteered her time wherever she was, first as an AIDS Buddy in Allentown, then with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Engineers Without Borders in San Francisco. While with EWB, she traveled twice to Tanzania, working on a project to bring fresh water to a remote village. In Angola, she was instrumental in Chevron’s efforts to support local orphanages. In Paso Robles, she served on the board of directors of must! charities.

She lived her life to the fullest, always ready for a new adventure. She was dearly loved by her family and by many friends and colleagues who provided her with exceptional care and support while she dealt with a long and difficult illness. She always had a positive outlook and did not let her illness stop her from working hard or having fun.

She is survived by her parents; sister, Elizabeth (Betsy) and her husband Daniel Krauss and their daughter, Rachel; fiance Brian Armer; aunts and uncles Nancy and Joseph Bayzick, Mary Beth and Mark Luchi and Catherine; three cousins. She was predeceased by a nephew, Andrew Krauss and uncle Robert.

Contributions in her memory may be made to must! charities, 212 S. Main St., Templeton, Calif. 93465, or to Engineers Without Borders, San Francisco Chapter, 972 Mission St., San Francisco, Calif., 94103.

Celebrations of her life will be held in California and Emmaus at the convenience of the family and are to be announced at a later date.