Born on August 26, 1934 to Hugh and Anna Sue Bledsoe of Humboldt, Tennessee, Mary Jane loved being a Texan, but never forgot her roots. She attended Baylor University, where she earned her medical technician certification. Mary Jane met her husband of 57 years, Dr. Jerry Hinnant (d. 2011), while attending Baylor. After graduation, they settled in his hometown of Dallas, where they raised their three children. Mary Jane used her innate business sense and talent for curating quality inventory to start and then successfully expand gift shops at Old City Park and then the Dallas Arboretum. Upon retirement, she continued to use these skills by volunteering at her church’s gift shop.
Mary Jane had an adventurous spirit and a wide variety of interests. She loved symphonic music and regularly attended performances of both the Dallas and Garland symphonies. In earlier years she enjoyed family trips camping, canoeing, skiing the Rockies and Swiss Alps, and ziplining in Costa Rica. Mary Jane loved learning and expanded her horizons through her extensive world travels. She enjoyed attending a wide variety of lecture series and college classes. She loved caring for all of God’s creatures. When at home, she was either working on a puzzle, reading a book, or tending to her beautiful garden. She was thrilled when her garden received a local award.
Mary Jane was a strong woman who lived life fully and loved her family unwaveringly. She always gave sound advice and was a wonderful storyteller. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth Tanoos, Rebecca McKillop, and Howard Hinnant (Theresa), eight grandchildren, Tasha (Nick), Mary (Seth), Benjamin, Tory, Kaylee, Daniel, Caleb, and David, two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Liam, sister Ruth Anne Garrett-Hancock, sister-in-law Betty Hinnant, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will take place at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m, with a reception after the service. Interment will follow at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Oak Cliff. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Mary Jane’s memory to the Simmons Cancer Center at UT Southwestern at https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/simmons/giving/ or to the World Central Kitchen at https://wck.org/ .
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