Mary Ellen (Mimi) Hathaway's Obituary
Mary Ellen Witherspoon was born on May 5, 1937, the third of four girls born to Preston and Inez Witherspoon. She remembered happy days of childhood, good times playing outside, reading Nancy Drew mysteries, good meals prepared lovingly and knowing she was loved.
She loved Latin, disliked Algebra (with a passion!) and took violin lessons…for six weeks. Actually the lessons cost six dollars a month and the family just couldn’t afford that. She graduated from Sunset High School and was awarded a full scholarship to Texas Christian University. She was married to Phil Hathaway and later to Jim McCoy. Her nieces and nephews were loved as though they were her own. Her niece Pam named her “Mimi”and she was called Mimi thereafter.
She worked for Dennis Owens company and later purchased this company, an oil and gas well testing corporation. She was later vice president of Echometer Company and sold real estate in the Plano area. After a challenging battle with cancer, she went to work for Weir’s furniture in sales where she was a Million Dollar Salesperson before retiring in 2003.
She enjoyed gardening, decorating and entertaining in her cottage on Westwood, worshiping the Lord in Church and out, her friends “the Magnolias”, working the New York Times crossword puzzle (IN INK!) until she lost her eyesight.
She started jogging at thirty years of age, before it was fashionable for women to run at all. She met up with some other runners including Marian Garret and this group of sx eventually became the White Rock Running Club. This club later became the White Rock Marathon! She ran the Pikes Peak Marathon the first year women were allowed to run. Women were allowed only to run the Barr Trail of the Mountain. She finished second and was awarded a hefty medal that the organizers had to scramble to get...probably because they didn’t think any lady would actually finish!!! She ran with JOY! She continued to jog and play tennis until her battle with cancer.
She and her sisters met for lunch every week for “Sisters’ Day” and catching up for many, many years. After retirement, she started taking oil painting classes from a talented artist, Becky Parks. She continued with Becky even painting in France with her until Becky’s death. She also studied with other teachers, always learning, learning, learning. Her best friend, Dorothy and her painted together many years, sharing laughs and encouragement and they never missed the monthly artists’ luncheon.
From her family:
Whether you knew her as Mary, Mimi or both, she was a uniquely warm and special presence in all of our lives. She is survived by her cousin Barbara Coleman (David) of Henderson Nebraska, Niece Lynn Lovett (Gary) of Carrollton Texas, Niece Pam Jeffries (David) of Port
Angeles, WA, Nephew Bill Dickenson (Karla) of Murphy and Nephew Jim Dickenson (Cheryl) of Fort Worth along with 13 great nieces and nephews and many great great nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, Inez and Preston Witherspoon and her three sisters, Carol Wiederhold, Jeanne Wells and Linda Dickenson. She was also preceded in death by her niece, Ann Moore and nephew, Larry Wells. She will be missed by family, her friends in the Magnolias, her painting group as well as many, many dear neighbors and friends.
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