Ellen Marcia Hinson Ph.D.

1958 - 2020

HINSON,PhD., Ellen Marcia Ellen Marcia Hinson,Phd, was born Dec 13th, 1958 in Ft Knox, KY. She passed away peacefully on Nov 9th, 2020 . She was preceded in death by her father Bert Hinson and her mother Irene (Nona) and stepfather Dave (Papa) Nieves. Ellen excelled in life despite being born with cerebral palsy. Her affliction never slowed her down. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Wichita Falls,TX and went on to earn a Phd from the University of Texas. She became a college professor and taught for several years at various universities in the Dallas area. Ellen had a love for Shakespeare and English Literature. Ellen was brilliant at retaining knowledge, being able to answer the majority of questions on her favorite TV show, Jeopardy. Ellen never let her disability prevent her from challenging herself, including learning how to drive a car in her younger days. Ellen had a gift of gab and could talk to anyone "at length" about practically any subject. Ellen was a true Christian and a child of God. She was spiritual in her everyday life and accepted her disability as part of God's plan for her. Ellen loved to write poems, and many of her poems were a reflection of how she saw life from her wheelchair each day. Below is an example of one of them. MY DREAM I wheeled myself around between the human walls, where even a child, appeared to be tall. I saw buttocks and thighs, --such an unpleasant sight slacks that were too baggy, others that were too tight. I wheeled myself, unnoticed, my company a dream; a solitary island, among the human stream. From time to time somebody, would stop to say: "Hello", to the anger of others, for slowing down the flow. But I went on unruffled, thinking, sometimes aloud, "someday I'll leave this chair and be part of the crowd". How hard I worked! My muscles were aching from the strain, but I worked on until, I could not stand the pain. When I felt I was ready --being very discrete I ventured off the chair and stood on my own feet. I can't explain the feeling, it isn't just a dream; I'm no longer an island, I am part of the stream. - Dr. Ellen M Hinson Ellen is survived by her two sisters, Lena Vernon and Rena Duca. She is also survived by brothers in law, Bill Vernon and Joe Duca, as well as several nieces and nephews. Ellen's family would like to thank the caregivers at Sunrise Assisted Living for taking excellent care of Ellen over the past 6 years.