Mary Hopkins was born in Arkansas to John Franklin Hopkins and Sarah Elmyra "Myra" Hopkins on January 14th, 1894, the 3rd child and 2nd daughter. Her older sister, Minnie, died when she was only 7 years old. She spoke of how her sister Minnie would wash the dishes and she would dry them and she seemed to have fond memories of her big sister.

Mary, or May as she came to be called, moved to the Garvin county, OK area from a rural farm near Mena, Arkansas in a covered wagon with her parents and 4 siblings in 1902. The family first settled on a farm near Elmore City, then moved to the Walker area, and had settled on south Gardner street in Wynnewood by 1920. She spoke often of her fond memories of growing up with her parents and siblings, going to ice cream socials and taffy pulls and she said she had a happy childhood. She also worked hard as the oldest living female child helping raise her siblings and even picking cotton.

She stayed home to take care of her parents, but after meeting J.W. Castleberry, a widower times two with three children, at a church social she married him at age 36. Her first child, Sarah Geraldine, was born when she was 38. Sadly, Geraldine died at 16 months of age. She prayed for another child and Catherine Brydia was born when she was 42. She also had two stepdaughters, Willie Lee and Margaret and one stepson, Oscar Castleberry

After her marriage she lived in several places, but returned to the home on Gardner street in Wynnewood after her husband's accidental death in 1952, where she lived until moving in with her daughter in OKC in 1971. She and her grandchildren returned to the old home place every summer until her health failed. She always considered Wynnewood her home and loved it very much. The home was sold to the refinery after her death and demolished.

Granny, as she was known, was an integral part of her 2 grandchildren's lives and they both lived with her for significant periods of their lives. She was a loving, comforting presence to her grandchildren, Mary Catherine and Mark Kendall, and they loved her very much. No one could take care of you better when you were sick! Granny's homemade potato soup was a delicious comfort during any illness.

Granny worked hard all of her life and seemed to be born to take care of others. It is our sincere hope that she is resting well now with her parents, siblings and children.

We love you, Granny!