Mildred G. Jenkins

Mildred Elizabeth Gibbens Jenkins passed away Monday, February 1, 2016, at her home in North Richland Hills. Service: 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church of Colleyville, 1000 Church St., Colleyville, 76034. Interment will follow in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Bloys Campground in Fort Davis, Texas, Vitas Hospice, or FUMC of Colleyville. Mildred was born January 23, 1922, in Fawnsdale, Alabama to Ernest and Annie Douglass Gibbens. She grew up in Alpine. She graduated from Alpine High School in 1938. After high school she attended Sul Ross University where she received a degree in education. She taught school in Texas, New Mexico, Iowa and Washington state. She retired after 30 years of teaching. Many of her students have still kept in touch with Mildred and told her how much they appreciated her as their teacher. Mildred married Marion T. "Shorty" Jenkins in 1942 in Alpine prior to his being sent overseas with the military. They were happily married for 73 years. During this time they traveled extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. They collected antiques and were actively involved with camping and music groups. Mildred had been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Colleyville since 1984. She loved the Lord and didn't mind telling anyone about Him. She enjoyed reading, travel and spending time with her family. She loved to cook and share good food and recipes. Making friends and sharing stories with friends were some of her favorite things. The Lord, her family, and her many friends were the loves of her life. We would like to thank her wonderful caregivers and Vitas Hospice for the loving kindness they extended to her. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Annie Gibbens; her sister, Margaret; and her brother, Ernest. Survivors: Mildred is survived by her spouse, Marion; her daughter, Kerry Kniese and son-in-law, James Kneise, of Colleyville; her granddaughters and their spouses, Nicole and Erik Austin, and Michelle and Mark Shields; her great-grandchildren, Karoline and Gabe Austin, and Emma, Travis and Zane Shields; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.