Obituaries

Mildred Lou Hubbard Hoke

Mildred Lou Hubbard Hoke, age 93, died Friday, July 5, 2013, in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on Sept. 3, 1919, in Blytheville, Ark., the daughter of George Gaines Hubbard and Leah Mary Grindell Hubbard. The Grindell family was one of Blytheville's earliest families. On June 29, 1945, she was married to Wallace Stuart Hoke of Raton, N.M., who preceded her death in 1998. Mildred Lou attended college at Southwestern at Memphis (Rhodes College) where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She was an active member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Osceola and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Blytheville, serving faithfully on the Altar Guild at both churches. As a member of St. Stephen's, she was the first woman elected to serve as a Vestry member in the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, and represented St. Stephen's several years as a delegate to Diocesan Convention. She was a founding member and President of the Junior Auxiliary Chapter in Osceola and a long-time member and President of Chapter N.P.E.O. She was Vice President of Hubbard and Hoke Furniture, which was founded by her father in 1916. For a number of years she managed The Cupboard, a division of Hubbard and Hoke Furniture. Mildred Lou was preceded in death by her brother, George Grindell Hubbard of Blytheville in 1985. She is survived by all five of her children: Stuart Hubbard Hoke of Fearrington Village, N.C.; Carole Nixon Hoke Johns of Columbia, Mo.; Sara Lou Hoke Long (Clark) of Blytheville; Marion Leah Hoke Rainey (Steve) of Stow, Ohio; and Wallace Scott Hoke (Mary Beth) of Jonesboro; and 11 grandchildren: Ramsay Stuart Hoke, Bennett Winters Hoke, Molly Virginia Johns Tennyson, Arlls Clark Long Jr., Nathaniel Wallace Long, Leah Mary Johns, Anna Kathleen Long, Sara Jane Hoke De Stefano, Joseph Christopher Hoke, Scott Stephen Rainey and Lyndon Wallace Rainey; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and long time friend, Jane Sheddan Hubbard of Jonesboro, and nephews George Hubbard III, Bill Hubbard and Ben Hubbard. The burial Liturgy will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Blytheville, the Rev. Scott Trotter presiding. The interment will follow immediately at Elmwood Cemetery, the Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke officiating. The pallbearers will be: Ramsay Hoke, Ben Hoke, Clark Long, Nathan Long, Joseph Hoke, Scott Rainey and Lyndon Rainey. Carney Funeral Home of Blytheville is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 1512 Willow Street, Bltheville, Ark. 72315. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Craighead Nursing Center in Jonesboro for their devoted care and service. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at the home of Scott and Mary Beth Hoke, 2505 Wood Street in Jonesboro. Condolences may be offered at www.carneyfuneralhome.com.

Published July 7, 2013

Upcoming Events