Obituary -- Mary Helen Wainwright 1918-2019

Funeral Services for Mary Helen Wainwright, age 101, were held Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Cummings Family Funeral Home at 11 A.M. Visitation was held from 10 A.M. until service time. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family to be established. Cummings Family Funeral Home was entrusted with the services for Mrs. Wainwright. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at the Cummings Family Funeral Home under Obituaries.

My Life-In Mary Helen’s words
To me my life has been blessed & special. When an adolescent my parents said I was just like, “Topsy”- I just grew & grew up so fast; like how the many years I’ve lived have passed & passed so quickly, too.

I passed on November 19th, 2019, after a battle with pain & weakness; & just getting older.
I was born April 10, 1918; on a farm near Sheridan MO. I was the youngest child of 8. My oldest brother, Colburn suggested to my parents Thomas & Harriet Payne that my name be Mary Helen… & so it was. Most who knew me called me Mrs. Wainwright when I grew up for even at 1st grade I wanted to be a teacher.

I have wonderful memories of my childhood years. I remember entertaining myself most of the time as older brothers & sisters were away at school or married with homes and families of their own.
I especially enjoyed following my Dad whenever he went-tag along Mary. I loved also to ride a favorite Shetland pony. I remember 1 doll & buggy that kept me entertained for hours. When all else seemed to become tiresome I had kittens to enjoy. They were always close by so I could usually get lost from reality.

Starting school was just the natural thing to do & I loved it. I fell in love with all my teachers & decided on being a teacher from the very 1st day! Talk about chasing a goal- I did so, so early in life!
Reading just seemed to come to me. One day in 1st grade, when the teacher asked me to read the story to the class; I just did it, making no mistakes & from that day on, I could read.
I walked the half mile to & from school unless it was raining or snowing. It was then that Dad took me by horseback or by a team hitched to a buggy or a sled.

When in 7th grade my family & I moved to a farm east of Bedford.

I completed the 8th grade in a 1 room schoolhouse under a “super duper” teacher.

I graduated from Bedford H.S. in 1936. That Summer I successfully completed Normal Training & received my teaching certificate. My 1st teaching assignment that same Fall was at the Mt. Pleasant School, north of Gravity.

When 14, I met the love of my life Edgar. 8 years later we were married & we had 2 sons Steven & Philip. We strove together to beautify & care for the land we loved & be loving & caring Christian parents.

Teaching has taken up a lot of my life & glad for the gift of helping children learn of life. I taught for nearly 50 years in Taylor County retiring at 79 in 1998. So many schools; several one rooms, & then to Blockton, Conway, Gravity, & finally at Bedford.

Even after surviving a tornado, being the last to survive in my class, the last survivor of all my siblings; I feel graced by God for my wonderful, long life.

My retirement has been filled with mowing yards, helping my sons in & out of trouble and sometimes being a 2nd home for them, watching football, NASCAR, #24, talking politics to whoever would listen, & getting close to God.

I thought I’d never live to be 101 when I was a lil’ girl picking wildflowers in the timber & swimming in the creek, but I did, and I thank God with all my heart for the gift of my life.

I was preceded in death by my parents Thomas & Harriet Payne, my husband Edgar, 3 brothers, 4 sisters, and 2 grandchildren (Emily Jeanne & Christopher) and many nephews & nieces.

I leave behind my son Steven and Cynthia, son Philip; my grandchildren & great grandchildren, many special friends, and daughter-in-laws Sandy Wainwright and Peggy Wainwright.

I love you all.