SYLVIA HANKINS MCKINNEY, dedicated Goose Creek pioneer and teacher passed away on July 13, 2013, in her home in Fairview, TX, at age 101. Sylvia was born, January 24, 1912, in Lonewolf, OK and became a pioneer settler to the oil boom town of Goose Creek, TX, August 1918. She graduated from Baylor University, began her Masters Degree in Education at Northwestern University and completed her degree from The University of Houston. Her father, the late Dr. L.A. Hankins and two other physicians founded Baytown's first hospital, Goose Creek Hospital, in 1932, later known as The Baytown Medical Center. Sylvia Hankins married Carl McKinney, Jr.,of Goose Creek, TX, July 1936. Carl graduated from New Mexico Military Institute, was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Memorial Baptist Church. During World War II, he served as a lieutenant, junior grade, in the U.S. Navy. He was an engineering graduate of the University of Alabama and was a senior staff engineer in process engineering at the Exxon Refnery,
and a resident of Baytown since 1920. Sylvia Hankins McKinney began a teaching career in Goose Creek CISD, 1932-1941, returning to the classroom in 1951, until retiring in 1977. She was primarily responsible for introducing the first speech and dramatics program to this school district. Most of her years were divided between Horace Mann and Baytown Junior schools, teaching speech and dramatics, with her last two years teaching Texas and American History at Baytown Junior High. Sylvia became a member of Memorial Baptist Church in 1922, being an active worker for 60 years and serving in numerous capacities--two of which were Sunday School Teacher Department Superintendent and director of many dramatic programs to various organizations within
the church and community, as well. She was a child of God, and that knowledge was the sustaining power in her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. L.A. Hankins and husband, Carl McKinney, Jr., Baytown, TX and brother, Lawson Adamson Hankins, Covington, LA. Sylvia Hankins McKinney is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Alicia Talley, Fairview, TX, a neice, Prima Hankins Normand and a nephew, Lawson Hankins, Covngton, LA; cousins, Hilda Hankins Suess, Missoula, MT and her beloved family, Judy and Jerry Lickliter, Jenifer, Chris, Jordan, Cory, Cole and Cody Schribner, Jaree, Kelly, Regan and Conor McNamarra, and Teresa, Jason, Cannon, Kylie, Arrow, and Judah Lickliter, Dallas, TX.
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