Marguerite McKinney (Redmond) Nispel's Obituary
Mardy, the third of 5 children born to Ed and Mima McKinney in Durant, OK, had her independent spirit nurtured by a devoted, loving family. She says she was the “Skinny McKinney” – a gangly tomboy — who finished high school early, and spent a couple years at Southeastern State Normal School before graduating from Phillips University in Enid (1942). She immediately joined girlfriends in Big D for WWII-related office work. She met Gene Redmond, her tall Navy flyboy, at a USO dance. They married in December 1943. For the next 20 years they moved coast to coast and north to south. Enjoying duty tours in Hawaii, Florida, Texas, New Jersey and Maine, they built their own loving crew with 5 children. Vacations centered either on visits to family in Arkansas or Oklahoma, or camping trips to state and national parks. During those trips, Mardy began collecting her rocks and geodes – a unique passion she carried with her throughout her life. In 1959 they retired from Navy life to their original home in Dallas where Gene worked for TI and Collins Radio. He kept to the air as a flight teacher and a charter pilot. Gene and Mardy were founding members of Midway Hills Christian Church where Mardy taught Sunday school, was active in CWF, volunteered at North Dallas Shared Ministries. She also enjoyed bridge, reading, and dancing, and happily joined in the many activities of children, nieces, and nephews. After Gene’s untimely death in 1968, she embarked on perhaps the most independent adventure of her life. In 1970, with Lissa (16) and Rick (14) in tow, she headed to Heidelberg, Germany for a year of European travel and life. They admit they doubted their sanity when riding the German train to their temporary army quarters the first day. They soon settled in and began soaking up the wonders of the old world. Through friends at MHCC, Mardy met Dick Nispel – a retired army officer. When they married in 1976, they began a relationship of wonder and adventure. With grown children and grandchildren – and a host of unexplored states and provinces — they sought out fun destinations for their excursions in a customized travel van. For 15 years, they explored and collected rock souvenirs, trekking from Florida to Alaska, California to Vermont, with a little genealogical sleuthing along the way. At home they enjoyed square dancing, big family celebrations, and (rock) gardening. They both took extraordinary pleasure in visits with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked about her influence on them, they most recall her generosity, compassion, and profound commitment to family. She lovingly provided a true home – both literal and figurative – to nieces and nephews, grandchildren and children for decades. Mardy continued to travel for many years after Dick’s death in 1991, often with her older sister, nieces, nephews, children or grandchildren. She even added Russia and new European countries to her passport. When she was finally unable to go herself, she delighted in the adventures of her progeny. We are all grateful for her loving influence and spirit of joyful independence. _________________ Preceded in death by: parents Edward Taylor and Mima (Hall) McKinney of Durant, OK; brother Hall McKinney; sisters Rosemary Biggerstaff, Cecil Tyson; husbands Richard Eugene Redmond, LCDR US Navy (1968), Richard L. Nispel, Col. US Army (1991); stepson Jeff Nispel (2008) Survived by 5 children: Brother: Ford McKinney of Oklahoma City, OK, Genie Williams (Ken) of Oakton, VA, Lynn Redmond-Gold (Glen) of Aurora, CO, Lissa Redmond of Georgetown, TX, Jon E. Redmond (Nancy), Rick Redmond (Carrie) of Dallas; stepchildren: Rick Nispel (Retha), Anita Nispel, of Carrollton, TX. Grandchildren: Jaimin Harris (Dave), Shannon Williams, Jonathan Redmond, Jennifer Redmond, Brendan Redmond-Gold, Dylan Redmond, Sadie Redmond. Great grandchildren: Aiden Harris, Eliot Hettler. Numerous nieces and nephews she loved as her own children. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Sunday May 31, 2015 at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday May 31, 2015 at Midway Hills Christian Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75238 at Restland Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mardy’s memory to Midway Hills Christian Church, North Dallas Shared Ministries or other charity.
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