Mary Ellen Hanna

Mary Ellen Hanna, of Dallas, Texas, joyously entered the arms of Jesus on September 29, 2014, after battling the effects of congestive heart failure. She was 87. The only girl, born in the middle of four older and three younger brothers, she made her appearance on June 14, 1927, at home on the family farm, to John Wesley Robinson and Mary Elizabeth Price Robinson, a Plano pioneer family. Mary Ellen attended Lebanon Elementary, and graduated from Frisco High School, before entering the work force at the end of WWII. An exciting five years with the Dallas Morning News led to an opportunity to work at Magnolia Petroleum Company (now Mobil Oil), where she worked for 25 years before retiring. It was during those years that Mary Ellen overcame a deep shyness and developed her signature sense of style, always a picture of elegance and grace. She also developed her unique way with people, her beaming countenance and unflagging spirit allowing no one to walk away a stranger, and making every friend feel as though they were her best. Mary Ellen became a consummate hostess, freely opening her home to family and friends for a wonderful meal, fellowship, or a mean game of bridge, playing consistently with the same group of people for over fifty years. At the heart of her, though, was her faith. She walked and lived and breathed it, seeing every human encounter as an opportunity to introduce Christ. After growing up in the First Christian Church of Plano, Texas, she and her late husband Frank, were among the founding families of Hillcrest Church, where she served in many capacities, including years of hosting Bible studies in her home, and serving faithfully on the prayer team. After Hillcrest became what is now Prestonwood Baptist Church Dallas, she chose to stay and adopt the new congregation as her own, remaining an integral part of it until her death. Mary Ellen had a profound effect on all who knew her, and the kingdom of heaven is forever changed because of the faithful life she lived on this earth. She is preceded in death by her parents; six brothers and five sisters-in-law, James and Margaret Robinson, John and Irma Robinson, Quentin and Altha Robinson, Leland and Grace Robinson, Vernon and Ann Robinson, and Lewis Robinson; her first husband of two years, Neil Newton, and his mother Paulene Newton; and her second husband of 22 years, Frank Hanna, and his mother Lenette Hanna Farrar. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Sharon Robinson; her long-time dear friend, James “Scotty” Rodgers, and his family; her god-child, Margaret La Rocca and her family; three generations of nieces and nephews; and many new and lifelong friends.Visitation will be held at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 George Bush Turnpike, Dallas, TX 75252, on October 1, 2014, from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Memorial services will be held at Prestonwood Baptist Church Dallas, 12123 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75230, on October 2, 2014 at 10:00am, followed by interment at Plano Mutual Cemetery at 12:30 PM, 2128 18th St., Plano, TX, 75074. Memorials may be made to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, TX 75227, www.texasbaptistmen.org or Hope for the Trail Therapeutic Horsemanship (equine therapy for special needs children), 325 Brown Creek Road, Weatherford, TX 76085, www.hopeforthetrail.org.