Mary Ethylon Pollard

Mary Ethylon Hancock Pollard died on October 3, 2002 in San Antonio, TX. Ethylon was born January 29, 1914 in Malone, TX, the fourth of five children of Charles "Charlie" Cleveland Hancock and Virginia Estelle Craig Hancock. After Charlie's unexpected death in 1927, Stella cared for and successfully raised the children into adulthood. However, for Ethylon there was always a void left by premature death of her beloved father. Ethylon graduated from high school in 1931, and shortly thereafter met John Hollis Pollard, who was managing a travelling skating rink, which came to Malone. They soon fell in love and were married in June 5, 1932 in Blum, TX. The wedding party included Hollis' brother Harold and fiance Luciel Logan. As the country struggled in economic depression, Hollis and Ethylon learned to work hard and spend prudently, a trademark of their "Greatest Generation". This quality kept them economically, if modestly, successful their entire lives. At home in Osceola, TX Ethylon gave birth to sons Charles Hollis in 1934 and Donald Lee in 1940. She was active in community affairs as a volunteer with the Home Demonstration Agency and other public services. She worked as a seamstress in a clothes manufacturer in Hillsboro, which contributed to her excellent ability to make clothing for her family and friends. In 1950, she was appointed Postmaster of the federal Post Office in Osceola, TX. She served in and thoroughly enjoyed this position until May 1953, when she resigned her commission to move to Seymour, TX where Hollis had taken a new job as district sales manager for a farm implement company. In Seymour she helped found the Kitchen Koaches, a support group comprised of the mothers of the public school football players. In Seymour she also worked for a florist and, later, in Irving for a retail fabric store. In 1958 Hollis was reassigned to Lubbock and he and Ethylon moved. In the following years they enjoyed living in Dallas, San Antonio and Mt. Pleasant because of Hollis' job. They retired in Mt. Pleasant where they were members of the Country Club, and enjoyed many years playing golf with friends. They won several club Couples Championships. After Hollis died in 1978, Ethylon successfully and independently maintained her home in Mt. Pleasant. Because of illness she moved to San Antonio in April 2002, to be near her son Donald and family. Ethylon was preceded in death by her son, Charles Hollis Pollard and husband John Hollis Pollard; her three sisters, Faye Tanner, Lee Harper, and Blanche McNairy; and a brother, Ross Hancock. She is survived by her son, Donald Lee Pollard and wife Patricia; daughter-in-law, Joyce Pollard; grandsons, John Hollis Pollard II, David Harold Pollard, D. Paul Pollard, Jeffrey Howard Pollard and Daniel Ross Pollard and their families; eleven great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.