Mary Stinson

Mary 86, was born on Sept. 19, 1927 in Evansville, IN to Esther Weisman and George Taylor. She spent much of her early youth in Miami, FL, during the school year, and in the Wisconsin Dells, during the summers. She married and raised her family in Evansville, then moved to central Indiana after retirement to be near her son.
Mary attended Central High School in Evansville and Oklahoma A & M University in Stillwater, OK, where she majored in Journalism. In college, she belonged to Kappa Delta Sorority and enjoyed riding horses, playing tennis and fencing.
Mary took flying lessons when she was 15 years old and earned her pilots license when she was 16. She then flew for the Civil Air Patrol during WWII. Once, while flying solo, her plane ran out of gas, and she successfully landed it in a cornfield near Elberfeld, IN.
Mary began her work career at Deaconess Hospital’s purchasing department, then in the 1960’s, she began work at Chanell 7, an ABC affiliate, where she wrote commercials and worked as the Continuity Director. After leaving the television station, she bought the Evansville Advertising Agency, where she created print, radio and television ads. She also worked at St. Joseph’s school in the county, the Vanderburgh School Corp., University of Evansville and Evansville Courier & Press.
Over the years, Mary engaged in many activities. She was an excellent pianist and particularly loved playing jazz and classical music. As a youth, she attended Interlochen Music Camp, studying the clarinet. She also loved gardening, running, camping, deep-sea fishing, collecting foreign sports cars and antiques, watching BBC and British TV programing, visiting her beloved Prince Edward Island and most of all caring for her Old English Sheepdogs, Charlotte, Sugar, and Rachel. Mary was a passionate animal lover who valued animal life as highly as human life and supported the Humane Society.
Mary practiced both Judaism and Christianity. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Hill Stinson and her half-brother, Earl McConnell. She is survived by her daughter, Zell Renfro Watson (husband, Sr. Stephen Watson) of Brooklyn, NY and sons, Victor Renfro (wife, Sharon Renfro) of Muncie, IN and Adam Renfro (wife, Denise Weinholt-Renfro) of Hope Mills, NC and grandchildren, Benjamin Watson, Abigail Watson, Daniel Renfro, Mark Renfro, Arjay Renfro and Taylor Renfro. Mary also had many special friends including , Nejeba Ayari, Jennifer Rueger and Deanie Carroll.
A memorial service will be held at Mary’s residence on Saturday, Oct. 12th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For additional service details email casaterra@aol.com.
Mary’s family requests memorials be made to the Vanderburgh Humane Society, P.O. Box 6711, Evansville, IN 47719.
Whetsel Funeral Service is honored to serve the family Mary E. Stinson.