Florence Hinkley

Florence May Hinkley of Alma, MI went to be with her Lord on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Gratiot Medical Center, Alma, MI. She was ninety-nine years young.

Funeral Services will be held at Elsie United Methodist Church, Elsie, MI on Friday, April 8, 2011 at 11:00 A.M., Pastor Edwin Snook and Pastor Fred Fischer will officiate. Burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, MI. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 6-8 PM. and on Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 3-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie Chapel Elsie, MI. An Eastern Star Service will be held at 7 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

Florence was born August 8, 1911 to James and Laura (Cann) Pellow in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of four children. Florence was raised in Detroit and worked in downtown Detroit as an accountant and a model at a furrier. Florence married Loyal Riley Hinkley on November 29, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan. They had six children including identical twins. Florence and Loyal built a new brick home in Ferndale in the 1930's. Then Loyal wanted to own his own newspaper so they moved to Elsie in 1944 and bought the Elsie Sun, a weekly newspaper, and later founded the weekly shopper, The Elsie Area Advertiser. They both published the paper until the late 1970's when they retired. Florence lost her husband and partner in life in 1981.

Florence was an active member of the Elsie United Methodist Church, arranging the altar flowers and serving on boards even into her nineties. She was a member of the Elsie Chapter of the Eastern Stars and served as a Worthy Matron. She joined the Elsie literary Club in 1944 and was a member throughout her lifetime. Florence enjoyed watching the Detroit Tiger games, and cheered on the U of M football games too. She loved all kinds of flowers and was an avid gardener canning hundreds of quarts of vegetables in the summer. Florence was fond of cross-word puzzles, and she always was looking for a good book to read. She had an excellent memory and was a great story-teller. She entertained her family with wonderful stories about her life when she was growing up. Florence was a wonderful cook, especially her pies. Many of her recipes have been passed down to her grandchildren. Florence also played the piano beautifully for her own entertainment and her family.

She is survived by her 5 children; Donald (Nancy) Hinkley of Venice, FL, Daniel (Mary) Hinkley of Big Rapids, MI, Kathleen (Jim) Bearup of Elsie, MI, Dolores (Herb) Bucholtz of St. Johns, MI, and Michael Hinkley of Alto, MI, 14 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. Florence was preceded death by her husband, a twin son David Loyal, grandson Scott Michael Hinkley, 2 brothers and 1 sister.

Memorials may be made in her name to the Elsie Masonic Lodge, Scholarship Fund. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie Chapel Elsie, Michigan.

Read Florence Hinkley 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.