Molly Hinds England

Mary Jeanette "Molly" Hinds England, 82, died April 3, 2009 at Abilene Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be Monday, April 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, located at 525 Beech in Abilene with Reverend Bill Libby and Reverend Greg Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Mark Morrison, Donald England, Bill Seals, Chanc Hall, Wayne Lanham and Larry Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Bennie Jones, Howard McChestney, Larry Bradley and James Boynton. Molly was by all accounts an elegant lady who was born in Abilene, Texas on June 15, 1926. Her parents were Jeanette Sullivan Hinds and Austin Montgomery "Boss" Hinds. Her siblings were Venita "Nita" Hinds Barton and Austin Montgomery "Bo" Hinds. Molly grew up in Abilene and Tye, Texas and proudly drove "Dolly Dodge" to Abilene High School where she graduated on May 28, 1943. She was an Abilene High School cheerleader 50 years before her granddaughter, Jessica's days as an Eagle cheerleader. Following high school, Molly briefly attended Texas Woman's University in Denton until her mother became ill and she returned to Abilene to be with her family. She enrolled in Hardin-Simmons University where she was a "Cowgirl" and HSU Homecoming Queen. While at HSU, she met Joe P. England whom she married on December 28, 1948, and with whom she shared a love envied by all for 52 years until Joe's death on January 6, 2001. Following her graduation, Molly moved with Joe to Monahans, Texas where she began her lifelong career as an elementary school teacher. While in Monahans, Molly and Joe had their first son, Christopher Pope England. In 1956, Molly, Joe and Chris returned to Abilene where Molly had her second son, Austin Hinds England. She resumed teaching until her retirement from St. John's Episcopal School. Molly was active in the Junior League of Abilene and was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Molly was preceded in death by her mother, father, stepmother (Lorena Hinds), sister, brother and her beloved Joe. Molly is survived by Chris England and his wife, Melanie; Austin England; Dayna England; grandchildren Jessica England Owen and her husband, Aaron; Griffith Dry England and Hutton Sullivan England; and great granddaughter Madeline Grace Owen. The family wishes to express its most sincere thanks to the staffs at the Oaks at Radford Hills and Abilene Regional Medical Center Memorials can be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center or Alzheimer's Association.