Mary Helen Eakins

Mary Helen (Smith) Eakins, of Groesbeck, passed away peacefully at home, with no pain and with her family close, on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at age 84.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Pavilion in Faulkenberry Cemetery, prior to the funeral service.

The funeral service will begin at 11:00 am. Saturday in the Faulkenberry Pavilion with Pastor Ben David Watson officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Trevor Baize, Marcus Ray Hanna, Tommy Smith, Larry Smith, and Frank Phillips.

Mary Helen was born February 10, 1938, to Leslie Gordon Smith and Estelle Ione (Phillips) Smith in Groesbeck.  She was next to the oldest in the family of 8 children, so she was a natural helper in taking care of the younger children.  She grew up and attended school in Groesbeck, until marrying at the young age of 16.

Mary Helen and James (Buddy) A. Eakins were united in marriage on October 9, 1954, and continued to live in Groesbeck where they raised their family.   Her youngest sister Judy was born at the same time as her daughter and was like a sister to her children instead of their aunt.  

Mary Helen worked as a beautician for several years at Thelma Newsom’s shop and later with Donna Stewart in her shop.  She and Donna remained close friends for life.  She worked for Dr. Rahaman and worked in the office of 3 different Justices of the Peace:  Judge Marvin Pruitt, Judge John Ahlfinger, and Judge Marcus Ray Hanna.   She liked to laugh that her work involved being the clerk, judge and jury in some cases.  She and Judge Hanna had a special friendship through their time working together. 

Mary Helen was a wonderful cook, having learned from her mother and grandmother, Nina Phillips.   Family meals were most frequently at “Mama" Smith’s house.  Mary Helen took care of her father and mother as long as they lived, and she also took care of another couple who didn’t have children to help them.   It was her kind nature to want to see that everyone was taken care of and to feed everyone.

She loved taking care of her home and her yard, and to watch Judge Judy and other court shows on TV.   She enjoyed trips to the boats in Louisiana and to the Casino in Choctaw, OK.   She was very lucky on those trips and would win 9 times out of 10.  She celebrated her birthday this February at Choctaw, which was her last outing.

Mary Helen was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Groesbeck.   She was blessed to have her loving children living close and taking care of her.

Mary Helen was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leslie Gordon Smith, Jr.; sister-in-law, Nita Smith; sister, Dorothy Crocker; brother-in-law, D.J. Crocker and brother-in-law, John Jarvis.

She is survived by her son, James W. Eakins of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Peggy S. and R.T. Beck, Jr. of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, Gary W. and Gloria Eakins of Groesbeck; sister, Shirley Jarvis of Groesbeck; brother, Larry W. Smith of Mexia; brother, Tommy G. Smith and wife June of Frisco; sister, Judy E. Turk of Rosenberg; and sister, Barbara Davis of Ft. Worth; and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor her through a memorial gift may donate to the Victory Baptist Church of Groesbeck (P.O. Box 685, Groesbeck, TX  76642).