Mittie F Hinsley

Mittie Frances Hinsley was born to Samuel Cecil Tabler and Mary Alice Jeffris on June 8, 1925, on a farm in Ben Lomond, Arkansas. Growing up on a farm instilled in her a great work ethic and caring for others.

As the oldest daughter of 8 children, she had much responsibility at a young age. Days started by milking cows and feeding chickens before walking to school. Other time was spent washing clothes over an open fire, ironing with flat irons straight from the fire, cooking and canning for the winter, and caring for her siblings. Living through the Great Depression at a very young age taught her to survive and persevere through hard times.

Mittie married Fletcher Hinsley December 20, 1940, one short year before Pearl Harbor and his drafting into the Army. She followed him as an Army wife, moving and living through very cold winters in Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, before he was deployed on D-Day to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. She returned to Lockesburg, Arkansas to live for 4 1/2 years during the War, and worked as a seamstress.

After the War, they had one daughter, and moved to Dallas for work in 1949. Mittie attended school to be a hairdresser and worked for several years in two prestigious Dallas salons, making TV appearances as a hair model, before opening her own salon. She worked with youth and in other areas at the church for 50 plus years. Mittie was also secretary for bowling leagues at Bronco Bowl in Dallas and later Red Bird Lanes in Duncanville.

Throughout the years, she enjoyed all kinds of handwork; sewing and crocheting were probably her favorites. She gifted many newborns with handmade quilts over the years. Crocheted afghans were a favorite of her 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, as were her special breakfasts for them. She was especially excited to get to meet her great-great-grandchild in December 2016 and to know of a second to be born in September 2018. Her family was precious and loved tremendously by her. She always welcomed family into her home and was happiest when surrounded by them. Her love of Jesus, Southern Gospel music, painting, and baking/cooking/canning from the garden will always be fond memories for those closest to her. Heaven rejoiced and welcomed her "home" on July 21, 2018.

Mittie was preceded in death by her husband, Fletcher Hinsley, her parents, as well as 4 brothers and one sister.

She is survived by daughter Janis Crow and husband Bill (Mabank, TX); granddaughter Jana Dennie and husband James (Mabank, TX); granddaughter Sheri Merrill and husband Gregg (Grand Prairie, TX); great-grandchildren Gregory Merrill, Haylee Merrill, Kaela Dennie Rhodes and husband Ryan, and Kyle Dennie; great-great-granddaughters Kinley Rhodes and Karsyn Rhodes (due September 2018); as well as sisters Winnie Hunter (Shreveport, LA) and Shirley Musgrove and husband Charles (Midlothian, TX), and many nieces and nephews.