Mary Kathryn Hamilton

Mary Hamilton, 89, of Tyler, Texas, passed away and went to be in her Savior’s waiting arms on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Park Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler with Rev. Dennis Parnell officiating. A private graveside burial service will be at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s honor may be made to the charity of your choice or to CIMA Hospice through a partnership with Jordan Health Services, 921 Shiloh Road, Suite B-100, Tyler, Texas 75703. Those wishing to leave condolences for Mary online may do so at www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com. Mary was a beloved wife and mother. She was born December 17, 1927 in Terre Haute, Indiana. She moved to Tyler, Texas, with her family as a young woman when her father took a job to help open the Tyler Mattress Factory. In 1953, she met Sam Hamilton at a Sunday school Christmas party, and they were married a short seven months later on June 26, 1954. Mary worked at People’s Bank until the birth of her firstborn, Lynn Hamilton (Parnell). In 1983, Sam opened Hamilton Supply where Mary worked as a secretary. She raised four children and was passionate about children’s ministries at her church, First Baptist Church Tyler. She often served in the church nursery and as an assistant for the children’s choir ministry. Mary enjoyed quilting and was a member of the First Baptist Church group that made quilts for babies diagnosed with AIDS. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Louise Heyder; her brothers, Bill, Bob, Ernie and Jimmy Heyder; her sisters, Virginia Hess and Betty Gross; her daughter, Joni Hamilton-Boyette; and son-in-law Jim Parnell. She is survived by her husband, Sam Hamilton; daughter, Lynn Hamilton Parnell; sons and daughter-in-laws, John and Cindy Hamilton and Dan and Stacy Hamilton; grandchildren, Jason Boyette, John Paul Hardy, Laura Kay Luman, Josh Hamilton, Jenny Hamilton Wells and Rachel Hamilton; as well as seven great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be John Hamilton, Dan Hamilton, Jason Boyette, David Gross, Josh Hamilton and Justin Wells.

Mary Kathryn Hamilton

December 17, 1927 - January 31, 2017