Mary Allie Hilson Matkin was born on July 31, 1939, in the small community of Banks, Arkansas and grew up about 40 miles away in Camden, Arkansas. She was the second of five children born to Aaron and Marjorie Hilson. A proud graduate of Fairview High School in Camden, she often talked of happy childhood memories and good friends that she had growing up.
Mary married Ted Matkin on June 6, 1959, in LaPorte, Texas and they had three children; Neil, Lauree, and Lisa. Neil and his wife, Janyth Clemons, reside in LaPorte, TX, Lauree and her husband, Randy Kolar, reside in Orangefield, TX and Lisa and her husband, Tony White, reside in Broken Arrow, OK.
Mary had eight grandchildren ages 11-22: Ashley Kolar, Nathaniel Matkin, Aaron Matkin, Stephanie Kolar, Benjamin Matkin, Joshua White, Alex Kolar, and Kara White. Her parents and older sister, Oma Jean, preceded her in death but she is survived by sister Jean Carlin and brother Aaron Hilson of Camden, Arkansas and sister Patricia Rayford of Bossier City, Louisiana.
Mary went to business school in Shreveport, Louisiana. She lived in Orange, Texas for 25 years and in Vinton, Louisiana for nearly 15 years. She worked for Prudential Insurance, the Equitable Bag Company Employee Credit Union, and H&R Block. She was a lifetime member of the Parent Teacher Association and served as president and vice president for many years when her children attended West Orange schools and continued three years after her children graduated. She also volunteered her time as a tutor at the schools for several years. An avid and gifted artist, her home was decorated with beautiful works of art that she had painted or drawn. She loved plants of all kinds and cared for a sizable variety of flowering plants.
A beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary passed away on December 22, 2008. Visitation will begin at 11a.m. on December 26, 2008, at Claybar Funeral Home at 504 N. 5th Street in Orange. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. at Claybar Funeral Home. Reverend Pat Windham will perform the service. Interment will be at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Davis, Max Davis, Nathaniel Matkin, Aaron Matkin, Benjamin Matkin, and Joshua White. Honorary pallbearers will be Carl McClelland, Gary Havens, Roy Calloway and Alex Kolar.
If friends desire, they may make a contribution to the American Cancer Society.