Mary Lou Hopkins

Mary Lou Hopkins joined her beloved husband Alfred on April 9, 2013, in Heaven, at the age of 84 years, 1 month and 5 days. She was born in Quenemo, Kansas, to Tom and Myrtle (Cunning) Williams on March 4, 1929. At the age of twelve she started to relieve the telephone operator in her home in Quenemo. She attended Quenemo Elementary School through the 8th grade. She then came to Ottawa, Kansas, to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator where she met and married the love of her life Alfred Hopkins on March 12, 1946. She worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for thirty-five years, retiring in 1980. Together they purchased many houses in Ottawa renovating them to rent or resell. In 1989, they moved to a farm north of Williamsburg, Kansas, where they enjoyed a number of years of country life, raising a garden and numerous flowers. She especially enjoyed using her riding lawn mower to mow their yard. Their marriage of sixty-four years was blessed with two children, daughter Delores and son Kenneth. She enjoyed spending time with family. She was a member of the Pioneers of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company; life member of VFW Post 5901, Ladies Auxiliary; and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 2700, in Ottawa, Kansas, where she served as past Madame President and past Chaplin of the Aerie. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for five years; Crestview Nursing Home Bingo and Activities Coordinator; and Phone Friends at Ransom Memorial Hospital. She also sold Stanley Home Products. She is survived by daughter, Delores Edwards and husband Delbert of Ottawa; son, Kenneth Hopkins of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Ray Ott and companion Kathy Molitor of Williamsburg; Michael Ott and wife Melinda of Williamsburg; Kenneth Hopkins and wife Sharon of Allen, Texas; Jenny Lyn Jensen and husband Tony of Baldwin City, Kansas; and Timothy Edwards of Ottawa; ten great-grandchildren, Raymond Ott-Jensen of Quenemo; Hillary Clark of Ottawa; Kendell Ott-Jensen of Lawrence; Christopher and Cody Ott of Williamsburg; Jeffery, Jeremy and Michael Hopkins of Allen, Texas; Alexander and Carson Edwards of Ottawa; three great-great-grandchildren, Lillian Ott-Jensen of Quenemo; and Adalyn and Brayden Clark of Ottawa; many nephews, nieces and cousins; and sister, Martha Knight and her companion Bill Warrington of Ottawa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Hopkins; parents, Tom and Myrtle Williams; brothers, John, Richard, Tommy, Lewis, and Donald (Dutch) Williams; and sister, Betty Jean Evertson. Funeral Services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 10:00 A.M. Monday, April 15, 2013. Friends may pay their respects to Mrs. Hopkins at Dengel & Son Mortuary from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday, and after 1:00 P.M. Sunday, to the service hour where the family will meet with friends from 3:00 to 4:00 Sunday afternoon. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. The family suggests memorial contributions to Franklin County Cancer Foundation c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.