Mary Nell Hodkin

HODKIN, Mary Nell, our beloved mother & grandmother was born in Abilene, TX. on January 21, 1930, and passed from this life January 7, 2004 after a long illness. Mary was preceded in death by her son, Carl A. King in1999. She is survived by her daughter, Emily F. Carrington & son, Richard W. King; two brothers, Bill Suggs & Jerry Suggs; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 10:00AM Saturday, January 10, 2004, at the New Hope Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyvale. Mary Nell Hodkin Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away on January 7th, 2004, at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas.She died very peacefully in her sleep, from complications of cancer. Mary was born January 21st, 1930, in Abilene, Texas, to Joseph Atlas Suggs and Flora Ella Barnett.In 1946, she married Rayburn A. Pruitt recently home from WWII.Emily Faye was born to this marriage. In 1950, she married Jack Eldon King who worked for Texas & Pacific Railroad and bore Carl Allen in Abilene.The railroad moved Mary and her family across Texas and they finally settled in Dallas in the mid 50's where Richard Wayne was born. Mary worked as a waitress rising early in the mornings so that she could be home in the afternoon when her children returned from school.She always worked hard at being the best Mother she could be. After 1960, she succeeded in doing this alone.As you can imagine, this was incredibly difficult for a young woman on a waitresses salary, but she always had a smile for us, and dinner on the table, even if it was at the caf where she was working. Her husband, Joe Hodkin, preceded her in death, in 1987. Even after raising her own children, untiringly, Mary accepted the role of raising two of Richard's children while he and his wife Lucie worked.Several years later, after the death of Lucie's father, she undertook caring for Lucie's elderly mother, who had Alzhiemers.Never a more selfless woman could be found.We (Richard and Lucie) owe her our undying love and gratitude. The loss of her son Carl, in 1999, was the tragedy of her life. Mary's friends and all who knew her will always remember her for her outgoing and friendly nature. She had a smile for everyone, willing to give of her time and herself for anyone who was in need.The focal point of her life was her family.Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the light of her life.She also kept her extended family together through her resolve to keep the Perry Reunion a success year after year.We will never forget the hard work, yet also, will we never forget all the fabulous memories of Christmas Eves, camping trips, forty-two games (which we rarely won,) cookouts, campfires, egg hunts, s'mores, and countless other things which Mary made special for each of us. There will be an empty place in each of our hearts that will never again be filled. We love you Granny.