Mary Lynn Hooker

Mary Lynn Hooker February 28, 1956 January 13, 2014 Mary Lynn Hooker, 57, was called to her eternal home in Christ Jesus on Monday, January 13, 2014, at 2:45 p.m. She slipped peacefully away at her home in Aransas Pass, Texas, with her fianc and family at her side. Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 18, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waco. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6:00 8:00 p.m., Friday, January 17, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco. She was an example of how to rise above difficult circumstances with a sweet smile and happy spirit. She was a blessing to those spending time with her this past year. Mary Lynn was born on February 28, 1956, in Waco, Texas, to John Tanner J.T. Hooker and Mary Wadsworth Tremaine Hooker. She graduated from Richfield High School in 1974, and was a Waco Cotton Palace Princess the same year. Mary Lynn graduated from Baylor University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Business Education degree. She was a member of Alpha Phi Business Fraternity, Pi Beta Phi Sorority and was a Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Little Sis. Mary Lynn treasured her many Waco and Baylor friends, and those friendships continued throughout her life. Mary Lynn married Richard M. Kendrick on December 27, 1980. Although they divorced several years later, they remained close friends for a lifetime. She lived in the Dallas area for many years, where she started her first promotions business, Hooked on Boating. After her parents died, Mary Lynn moved back to Waco in early 2004, and lived in her childhood home for several years. Mary Lynn's family spent every summer vacationing in Rockport, Texas, catching fish and playing on the gulf shore. She never lost this love of the coast and eventually moved to Aransas Pass where her business grew larger. She changed the business name to Black Dog Signs and Promotions, to honor her faithful dog, Ellie. Her business grew to include screen printing and monogramming, as well as promotions. She loved the Rockport community and was very generous in giving her time and talents to help several local organizations. She was a member of the Rockport and Aransas Pass Chambers of Commerce, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Rockport Yacht Club and the Aransas Pass Yacht Club. With a friend, she founded and hosted several annual All Hallow's Eve Parties at Black Dog. She was very interested in all things concerning animals. In cooperation with three extraordinary business associates, Dickie Kendrick, Karol Scardino and Renee Cochran, the business grew, and she moved and expanded her store space. Her many coast friends at The Uhr Memorial Billfish Tournament, Bastmante, named their bronze award sculpture in her honor, the Top Hooker Award. Mary Lynn found the special person in her life in fianc, Johnnie Uptmore, when they reconnected at a Richfield Reunion in August 2011. Johnnie was her caregiver and constant companion for the entire length of her illness. He was an example of devotion and commitment that was extraordinary. Her family and friends are forever grateful for his gift of love to her. Mary Lynn was preceded in death by her parents, Tanner and Mary Hooker; and her grandparents, Southern Paul and Aura Tanner Hooker, and Arthur Edward Montague Tremaine and Margaret Leighton Tremaine. Mary Lynn is survived by her fianc, Johnnie Ray Uptmore of Waco; her sister, Margaret Hooker Collis and husband, Donald David Collis of Austin, Texas; nephews, David Tanner Collis of New York, New York and Christopher Leighton Collis of San Antonio; uncle, Richard Leighton Tremaine of Lafayette, California; cousin, Sandra Hooker Snouffer and son, Thomas Lyle Tullous, Jr. of Dallas; cousin, Pamela Hooker Arthur and husband, Kenneth Arthur; and sons, Gardner Harris and Tanner Harris of Austin; the many members of the John S. Tanner family; and countless faithful friends. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers include David Dial, Michael Sharp, Tommy Jones, Al Conchola, Bill Coxwell, Tucker Coxwell, Dino Scardino, Tim Selaiden, Dickie Kendrick, Robert Lewis, Robert Ingram, Keith Jones, Kenny Crowson, Jim Dees, and Brent Bahner. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Humane Society of Aransas County, St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Waco, or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.