Rose Hankins

Surrounded by her family, Rose Marie Hankins, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2017, after a brief illness. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2017, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Gardens as well.

She was born Rose Marie McGaw on December 14, 1932, in Longview, Texas. Her parents named her after the 1928 silent film, "Rose Marie," that they had seen on one of their first dates. She graduated from Longview High School in 1949 at the age of 16. She attended Kilgore Junior College from 1949-1951 where she was a member of the famous Kilgore Rangerettes. Rose Marie continued her education at Baylor University and graduated in 1953 at the age of 20 with a degree in Education. She also earned a Master's Degree in Education from Baylor in 1970. She touched many lives during her 32-year teaching career. She taught throughout Texas including the cities of Snyder, Slaton, EI Paso, and Cranfills Gap, and finished her career with the Midway Independent School District in Waco.

Rose Marie was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Woodway, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, went on mission trips, sang in the Senior Choir, and served as an office and library volunteer. She was also active in many civic organizations including Altrusa of Waco, the Delta Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, Good Sam's Club, Baylor Singing Seniors, and Waco Senior Kiwanis. She spent many hours volunteering with Head Start, Christian Women's Job Corps, and Care Net Pregnancy Center of Waco.

Rose Marie loved to travel. She visited many places in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. She also traveled to Europe, Mexico, Turkey, Canada, Morocco, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. She spent many summer vacations traveling by RV and visiting the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. Rose Marie loved dogs and spent many happy hours walking them until her health declined.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence E. McGaw, Sr. and Dorothy Bearce McGaw; her brothers, Sonny and Bobby McGaw; her sister, Grace Lippman; and her husbands, William Whitley, Jr., J.W. Kirkpatrick, and Roger Hankins; and her beloved dogs, Bunny and Ginger.

She is survived by her daughter, Ovata Bell, and her husband, Tim, of Waco; her son, Dr. Mark Whitley and wife, Sherry, of Witchita Falls; step-daughter, Suanne Stroup, of Killeen, TX; step-daughter, Jan Jones, of Langston, Alabama; step-son, Keith Hankins and wife, Sherry, of Waco; step-son, David Hankins and wife, Peggy, of Pleasant Garden, North Carolina; 18 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, with another great-grandson due in December.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Woodway Building or Library fund, or to Care Net Pregnancy Center of Waco.

Visitation

Friday October 27, 2017 , 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Grace Gardens Funeral Home

Chapel Service

Saturday October 28, 2017 , 11:00 AM

Interment

Saturday October 28, 2017 , 2:00 PM