Published: November 05, 2009 09:36 am      

Mary Ellen Hancock Childress

In loving memory of Mary Ellen Hancock Childress, the light of our world, who entered this life on June 11, 1966, and left life here on earth on October 29, 2009, after a long battle with cancer.

Loving wife of William “Jeff” Childress, whom she married on June 28, 1985, she had found her one and only soulmate. During their 24 wonderful years of marriage, and out of love, the Lord blessed them with three beautiful children: Rachel S. Childress, William J. Childress II, and Johnathan Herald Lloyd Childress.

To all of those who knew her, Mary was the best mother in the world, and her children very much agree.

Her family gave her several nicknames, including, Mellen, Mimi A Boo, and George.

Mary graduated from LaPoynor High School in Poynor, Texas, in 1984.

After her marriage to Jeff, they lived in the Athens area until they packed up and moved to Elmore City, Okla., and surrounding area, where they lived for the better part of 10 years.

In that time, her children acquired many very loyal and best friends: Heather, Chad, Marc, and April, became known as “The Kids,” and they belonged to her, and she became “Mom” to them as well. She would always say if the kids ever have children, she wanted them to call her “Big Mama.”

While in Oklahoma, she discovered her passion — the casinos and loved to go and win big.

In January of this year she was diagnosed with cancer, and in May, with Jeff knowing that her heart was still in Texas, he brought her home to live with her sister and her great-nephew, Brighton. During those months, she got to know them and love them and to share the many wonderful memories of her life. She loved her Brighton, and no matter how she was feeling, always said that he ‘brightoned’ her day.

She loved to sit and laugh with her entire family as much as she could. Everyone took part in the splendor of her life. Mary’s life was filled with laughter, joy, and happiness, and every day she woke up with a sunny outlook on life. She was loved by many, and many she loved.

Always the giver, she rarely asked for anything. All she ever did was love people. She never met a stranger.

Words cannot express how much we love her and how very much she will be missed.

To Dr. Gary Rahe of Oklahoma City, Okla.; the ninth floor cancer wing at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Oklahoma City; Dr. Donald Richards of Texas Oncology, Tyler, Texas; the third floor cancer wing at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital, Tyler, Texas; and the nurses of the Hospice of East Texas, Tyler, Texas, — thank you for making her last days as comfortable as possible.

She was preceded in death by her father, Herald Hale Hancock; a brother, David Lynn Hancock; a nephew, “Little” James Alfred Blystone; and a neice, Haley Marie Kendall.

She is survived by her husband, William “Jeff” Childress, of Waskom, Texas; daughter, Rachel Suzanne Childress of Waskom, Texas; sons, William Jeffrey Childress II of Stonewall, La., and Johnathan Herald Lloyd Childress of Waskom, Texas; mother, Maxine Schreiber Hancock of Karnack, Texas; sisters: Denice Hale Easter of Euless, Texas, Leslie Grace Hancock of Waskom, Texas, and Constance “Connie” Marie Pritchett of Athens, Texas; a brother, William Theodore Hancock of LaRue, Texas; her special niece, whom she said was always in her “happy” spot and her sunshine, Julie Harris of Beaumont and Waskom, Texas; her very special great-nephew, Brighton Reese Harris of Waskom, Texas; and great-niece, Brennan Grace “Gracie” Harris of Fairfield, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She will be laid to rest at the Colonial Gardens Mausoleum Little Chapel in Marshall, Texas, on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. at the same location.

Services are under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home of Marshall, Texas.

Online memorials may be made at www.sullivan-funeralhome.com.