Mary Evelyn Hinkle

July 7, 1927 - February 26, 2013

Mary Evelyn (Carson) Hinkle of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma was born July 7, 1927 in Story, Oklahoma to Horace Edward Carson and Sidna Louella (Pesterfield) Carson. She departed this earthly life on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, in Pauls Valley, at the age of eighty-five. Mary grew up working on a broom corn farm with her family in the Story Community, near Maysville, Oklahoma. She attended the French School, in rural Garvin County, until the eighth grade. Mary attended Story Baptist Church where she invited Christ to be her savior as a young child and was baptized in the Washita River. Mary went on to graduate from Maysville High School in 1945 where she excelled in home economics and basketball. Mary then attended Oklahoma Baptist University where she played on the women’s basketball team. She then transferred to Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University) where she graduated in 1948 with a teaching degree and a zeal for cheering on the Cowboys. After graduation, Mary taught grades first to twelve in Kinta, Oklahoma for one year and then accepted a teaching position in Cushing, Oklahoma where she met Andrew Hinkle. After a six week courtship, Mary married the handsome World War II vet and editor of the Cushing Daily news, on December 3, 1950. Mary and Andy lived in Cushing where their two children, Andrea and Rodney, were born. In 1963, fifty years ago, the Hinkle family moved to Pauls Valley where Andrew purchased a printing and office supply company, now known as Hinkle Printing. Mary and Andy worked side by side running their business until 1976, when they retired to fulfill a lifetime dream. Mary and Andy purchased a fifth wheel travel trailer and traveled all across the United States where Mary affectionately earned the nickname “Lightening”. They both loved to fish, travel, play Uno, et cetera which they did devotedly for twenty-five years until the love of Mary’s life left her side on September 30, 2002. Mary was a fifty year member of the Pauls Valley First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served in various areas throughout the congregation. One of her favorite activities was leading the singing every Wednesday at the Pauls Valley Care Facility. Mary was able to minister to those at the care facility for nineteen years. Mary loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and allowed that love to flow through her to everyone with whom she came in contact. Her godly, motherly love will be an example to her family for generations to come. In addition to her church activities, Mary was a thirty-four year member of Chapter AR of PEO, and an active member of the Red Hatters, Pansy Garden Club, LaMadre Mother’s Study Club and Garvin County Extension Home Makers. In her free time, Mary also enjoyed getting rowdy with her bunko girls, a good ‘ole game of dominos every Friday night and tuned in everyday at 6:30 pm to watch “Wheel of Fortune”! Mary was affectionately known as “Nanny” to her family. The pride and joy of her life was her grandchildren, Aleisha and Wil. She attended every piano recital, basketball and football game, tennis match, band concert, academic team meet and school activity in which they participated. Nanny was so proud of them and loved to tell of all their accomplishments. She was often heard saying “Just ask me about my grandkids”. Gardening, growing flowers and bird watching were some of Mary’s favorite pastimes. She enjoyed participating in the Garvin County Fair where she entered her prize vegetables and flowers. She was the recipient of a drawer full of blue ribbons as a result. Mary was also a gifted seamstress. She enjoyed showing off all of the suits made throughout high school and college. Mary even made her “ball gown” when she was a candidate for Miss Oklahoma A&M. She enjoyed sewing throughout her life and spent many hours making the “perfect outfit” for Andrea as she grew up. Mary definitely “bled ORANGE”. She was so proud her daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and husband, and grandson all attended OSU. Mary never missed the opportunity to cheer for her favorite Al Mater, especially the OSU Cowboy basketball teams. Every year she knew all the players by name and would keep score sheets for each game throughout the season. Mary was always quick to remind you that she too played basketball in high school and at OBU and even coached a girl’s basketball team in her early years as a teacher. Mary is survived by her daughter, Andrea (Hinkle) McCabe and “favorite son-in-law” Tom McCabe of Pauls Valley; grandchildren Aleisha (McCabe) Marty and husband Seth Marty of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Wil McCabe of Stillwater, Oklahoma.; son Rodney Hinkle of Somerville, Texas; sister-in-law Jo Carson of Pauls Valley; brother-in-law and wife Clinton and Ann Hinkle of Reymore, Missouri; nieces and nephews: Craig and Beverly Carson of Pauls Valley; Candace and Dennis Gibson of Pauls Valley; Tim and Donna Hinkle of Kansas City, Missouri; Brenda and Harry Wilhoit of Platt, Kansas. Mary is preceded in death by her husband Andrew Hinkle, brother LaRoy Carson, and parents. A celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 1:00pm with Lance Whaley officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley. Services are under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com Gracious thanks are extended to the many friends for their acts of kindness to the family.