Mary Ladd Hinkie

On the evening of Wednesday, September 21, 2022, our very dear Mary Frances Parault Hinkie Ladd left her tired, earthly body and went to rest with Jesus. Funeral services for Mary will be held Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel in Mansfield, LA. Interment will immediately follow at Sloan Cemetery in Mansfield. Bro. Jimmy Price will officiate the services. Visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday, September 24, from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at RoseNeath Funeral Home in Mansfield.

Mary was born on May 19, 1944, to Arthur and Marjorie Helen Allen Parault. She was a member of the 1962 graduating class of Coushatta High School in Coushatta, Louisiana, and she had recently joined classmates to celebrate their 60^th Class Reunion. Not long after graduating from high school, Mary married Phillip Hinkie. Although their marriage only lasted a short time, they remained friends throughout the years. Mary later married Marshall Ladd, and they remained married until his death in 1989.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Helen Dull; brothers-in-law, John Dull and Edward Evans; great-nephew, Clinton Paul Jenkins; and many other cherished family members and friends. She is survived by her sister, Marjorie “Skiter” Evans; uncle, Clyde Allen and wife Mary; nieces, Lisa Jenkins and husband, Ned Walter; Debbie Brewer and husband, Bruce; nephews, Jim Dull and wife, Karen; Charlie Dull and wife, Gayle; Mike Dull; and Bryan Evans and wife, Veronica; great-nephews, Ray Allen Meshell and wife, Amanda; Christopher Dull and wife, Casie; Dalton Dull, Christian Evans, and Aaron Evans; great nieces, Melisa Meshell, Amber Jenkins, Christina Brewer and Hope Dull; great-great nephews, Logan Meshell, Aidan Bremer, Daniel Gandy, Jr., Haze Hickman, and Anthony MacDougal; great-great nieces, Aubrey Jenkins and Kaylee Hickman. She is also survived by many extended family members and friends.

Mary retired from DeSoto Retirement and Rehab Center on December 30, 2021. She lovingly cared for many people and made many dear friends during her tenure there. Before going to work at the nursing home, Mary was the manager of B-Quik in Mansfield for many years. She enjoyed the vast number of people that she was able to connect with on a daily basis while working there.

Aunt Mary loved shopping at Wal-Mart, getting her fingernails and toenails manicured at the salon, and eating at Camillia Grill in Mansfield. She had recently developed a love for Johnny’s Sweep the Kitchen pizza. She loved animals and enjoyed watching her favorite horses and cows play in the pasture behind her home. She cared for many dogs and cats over the years, but her most recent favorites were her cat, Raincloud, and her dogs, Sissy and Penny. Aunt Mary also loved her shiny, granny-green apple-colored Chevy Sonic. Many would tease her about the color of her car, and she would happily respond, “It’s so purty.”

We have heard many adjectives from people, as they have described Aunt Mary and what she meant to them. Some of those include independent, strong-willed, spit-fire, kind, loving, hard-headed, but the one that has been mentioned the most is well-loved. Indeed, she was well-loved by many. Anyone who knew her knows that she was well-loved because she loved us all so well, and that is why we will miss her so much.

The family would like to thank everyone for their enormous outpouring of love and support for us and for Aunt Mary. We would especially like to thank Naishia Pipkins, APRN, ANP-BC, at DeSoto Regional Family Medicine. Thank you, Naishia, for your patience, for answering all of our calls and texts, being a friend to Aunt Mary and for making a house-call on a Saturday to help her decide how to carry out her final wishes. Those kinds of health-care providers are difficult to find. She loved you so much.

Over the past couple of months she has told us many times, “I’m going to be fine, just fine. Whatever the Lord has in store for me, I’m ready for it.” She did not fear death, and she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I asked her once what passage of the Bible was her favorite, and she responded, “All of it – from the beginning to the end. That’s my favorite part.” This gives us all great comfort, for we know that we will one day be with her again. “…..and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Calvary Baptist Church, 2313 Sloan Rd., Mansfield, LA 71052, where she was a long-time member, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.