(October 31, 1921 – July 22, 2016)
The family of Mary Alice Garner created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories.
Services 10am Tuesday, July 26 at Harvest Hills Funeral Home, with David Segit officiating and Cody Frasure, Chris Newby, Steve Podsednik, Kyle Thompson, Miles Tindle, Greg Whisenant assisting as Pallbearers. Burial to follow at Hico Cemetery.
Mary grew up and has lived in the Hamilton/Hico area all her life. Played tennis (singles and doubles) and was district champ in singles; pitched for her school’s softball team, and won awards for penmanship and typing. Loved and enjoyed taking care of her family – always put them first. Enjoyed reading and sewing; she was an avid Dallas Mavericks, Cowboys and Ranger’s fan; Loved to travel anywhere within the United States. Did her best to never miss any of her children’s sporting or school-related events, and also played basketball with the adult (“Outsiders”) basketball team in Iredell. She was a life-long member of the Iredell Baptist Church.
She prided herself with her ability to multi-task and keep up with all conversations in the room. She was an excellent cook and always enjoyed cooking for her family. She enjoyed planning and organizing family reunions. For many years she also enjoyed gardening and canning. When it came to family she was always generous and thoughtful and willing to help her children and grandchildren in any way – financially, emotionally, or in whatever capacity was needed.
She attended school in Fairy for grades one through nine. She finished the remaining school years at Hamilton High School. She was a housewife while her children were young, but in 1965 she attended the Vocational Nursing Program through the Hico City Hospital and received her LVN license. She worked at the Hico Clinic upon receiving her nursing license and worked there for several years before becoming the Director of Nurses (DON) at the Hico Nursing Home. After the state guidelines changed requiring a registered nurse to function in the roll of DON, she served as Assistant Director of Nurses from August of 1989 to February of 1999. Her husband convinced her to retire but she enjoyed nursing so much that she returned to work part-time for many years in various roles including that of Certified Nursing Instructor. During her career as LVN she was very proud to be a member of the Tri-County League of Vocational Nurses and served as Secretary to the State Vocational Nurses Organization.
Preceding Mary in death were her parents and her husband, Adrian Woodrow Garner whom she married February 9, 1939, in Stephenville, Texas. Her husband died on December 10, 2008, after 69 years and 10 months of marriage. One son, Gene Thurston Garner (infant son who died at birth).
Surviving Mary are two sons, Woodie Garner and wife Cheryl of Hico, Donald Garner and wife Melba of Arlington, two daughters, Diane Podsednik and husband Steve of Hico, Joyce Murley and husband Dan of Hico, grandchildren, Adrian Garner, Alicia Frasure, Cheryl Newby, Greg Whisenant, Cindy Myers, Denise & Jennifer Garner, Desira Roy, Lindsey Mosher, Sara Podsednik, 11 Great-Grandchildren.
Mary is also survived by brothers, Jim Hyles and wife Lela of Mineral Wells, Cecil Strickland of Gatesville and brother-in-law Earl Massingill of Gatesville and sister-in-law Gisela Hyles.
Serivce Information
Chapel service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, at the Harvest Hills Funeral Home in Hico with burial to follow in the Hico Cemetery.
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