Mildred Watkins Mingus
Mildred Watkins Mingus (Mimi) after a long life of almost 102 years is in the arms of Jesus. She died on November 3, 2023 in her home in Ennis, Texas. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be held on what would have been her 102nd birthday, at 1:30 PM Thursday, November 9, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Friona. Services will be livestreamed at https://fbcfriona. com/livestream and other First Baptist social media platforms. Local arrangements by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Mildred was born on November 9, 1921 to Robert E Lee Watkins (dob 11/15/1881) and Myra Elizabeth (Johnson) Watkins (dob 03/04/1885) at home in the small town of Washita, Arkansas, the seventh of eight children. She spent her childhood days watching her mother serve as the town postmaster, running the post office out of their house while her father worked on the farm.
She had a hard life growing up on the farm with no electricity or indoor plumbing. There was one store, which carried everything from gas and kerosene to vegetables, candy, fabric and most everything a family would need. Sometimes with permission she would go to the hen house and get an egg and go to the store and buy a candy bar.
Despite her hard life and loss of her parents at a young age, she was able to survive and thrive. She was exceptionally bright. She skipped the third grade, was the Valedictorian of the 8th grade class and went on to graduate as Salutatorian from Prescott High School in Prescott, Arkansas. Mildred continued her studies at Draughon’s Business School in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she worked as a dental technician in exchange for room and board. She even learned how to make false teeth! When the war started, an Army Cadet Corps came and offered free nurses training. She was ready to try a better career and moved to Dallas, Texas, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Dallas Methodist School of Nursing in 1946.
An advertisement in the Dallas paper needing nurses at the Parmer County Hospital in Friona, Texas caught her eye. She got on the train and headed to Friona where she worked at the hospital, which was an old barracks. Like a movie scene from a Hollywood love story, that move, a West Texas storm, and a chance encounter led Mildred to meet the love of her life, Lloyd Calvin (“Mickey”) Mingus who was a farmer in Friona. They married in Carlsbad, New Mexico on August 6, 1947. They bought land and built a home where they raised two children on the farm. She was able to be a stay at home mom after Mickey asked her to quit working.
Mildred was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Friona. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church, Friona where she gave her life to Jesus and was baptized there. When her children moved away and her husband had died March 4, 2000, she had an opportunity to lease and sell her home and move to Ennis, Texas to live with Janet and her husband Fred in June 2009. She became a faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Ennis, Texas where she became friends with many in her Sunday School class. She truly loved the Lord and loved reading her Bible.
She was very active up into her late 90’s and still had her driver’s license although her driving was limited to her weekly beauty shop appointment and of course CVS! She even had the distinction of being the oldest registered voter in Ellis County last year! She would most always greet people with that great big smile and say, “Did you know I am 101 and have all my teeth?!” Her sense of humor made everyone smile. Her hair was always perfectly coiffed, and a day never went by that her nails weren’t painted the perfect shade of pink that she did herself! She was amazingly stylish in her beautiful clothes, fine jewelry and shoes as a young woman and until her final days, which she adamantly told us, “They were too pretty to be buried in.” Shopping was always fun with Mimi. In her last years, she would “shop” in her hundreds of catalogs, that to her delight, came daily in the mail. Mimi’s giblet gravy was the best ever! Her recipe is now in the hands of her granddaughter, Christy! She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, clipping coupons, solving crossword and word search puzzles and watching Wheel of Fortune. Mimi loved saving money with her coupons, especially at CVS. One of the things she was proud to stock up on was toilet paper that was on sale. We would tease her about this, but she got the last laugh when the pandemic came and she had a closet full of toilet paper for all of us! Her spiritual gift was giving, and many were blessed by her generosity. She really loved her egg drop soup from The Wall in Ennis who loved making it for Mimi.
Mildred loved music and instilled that love of music into her children who are still using their God-given musical talents. Mildred loved her grandchildren. Her oldest granddaughter, Carly, named her Mimi. Then everyone began affectionately calling her Mimi. Each of her granddaughters were special to her. As Mimi began to age, she shuffled as she walked, and Kimberly nicknamed her “Scoots”! She especially loved her great grandchildren. For every occasion she would give PEZ and M&M’s to them. Mimi will be forever remembered and missed by all who were blessed to know her. What a legacy she left behind!
She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd “Mickey” “Papaw” Mingus, her parents, and brothers - Richard, Grover, and Norman. Sisters – Mozelle Gill, Pauline Booth, Freida Burrow, and Willadeen Lockhart and her son-in law Fred Rose, June 2, 2017.
She is survived by her daughter Janet (Rose) Thomas and husband Bob (Ennis, Texas), son Gary Mingus and wife Suzi (Ennis, Texas). Granddaughters Carly Porter and husband Josh (Robinson, Texas), Kimberly Koerner and husband Jeff (Dallas, Texas), Christy Williams and husband Clint (Houston, Texas). Great grandsons Jonathan Porter, Caleb Koerner, Jake Porter, and one Koerner to be added soon, and great granddaughter Millie Williams. She also leaves behind a bonus grandson Blake Thomas and wife Lexi (Waco, Texas) and bonus great grandson Charlie Thomas. Also, numerous nieces and nephews and of course our little Maltese, Maggie Pearl.
A special thank you to Hospice Plus nurses for loving and taking care of our mama - Betty Gage, Paula Rogers, and Candi Underwood and Shannon Price nurse aide and many others who came to care for her. Finally, a special thank you to J. E. Keever Mortuary, Inc. in Ennis, Texas.
Flowers are appreciated; however, in lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution in her memory to First Baptist Church, 404 W 5th Street, Friona, TX 79035 or Tabernacle Baptist Church (Kingdom Generosity Fund), P.O. Box 117, Ennis, TX 75120.
You may send blessings to the family and sign the online guest book exclusively at: hansardfamily.com
