Obituary: Nina Mae Bivins, October 27, 2010 Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines November 2010 *********************************************************************** The Observer/Enterprise, Coke County, TX - October, 2010 BIVINS Nina Mae Bivins, 90, of Bronte, Texas, passed on from this world into our Lord’s Hands after a long, fruitful, and enjoyable life on Wednesday, October 27, 2010. More lovingly known as “Memaw” by her family and friends, she was a beloved mother and grandmother and was famous for her pies and Christmas candy. Nina was born on September 24, 1920, in Knox County, Texas, to Ida Mae Bosworth and James Lawrence Davis. Nina was the youngest of 8 children - 3 daughters and 5 sons. They grew up on the family farm in Knox County until her father passed away when she was 4 years old. They then moved into Knox City where Nina enjoyed going to the Baptist church and playing high school sports with her friends. She graduated from Knox City High School in 1938. On June 25, 1940, she married Thomas Mason Bivins. In 1945 their son, Garry was born in Albuquerque while Tom was in Army Air Corps during WWII. Following the war, they moved to Christoval where Nina worked at the Christoval Drug Store and Tom worked for Ohio Oil Company. The Ohio Oil Company was shipping out to go overseas and Tom did not want to leave his family so he then went to work for Tom Green County. In 1964 (when Garry graduated from high school), they all moved to San Angelo. Tom worked for the Tom Green County Property Appraisal office and Nina worked at Sears Roebuck & Company for almost 20 years. They were faithful members of College Hills Baptist Church. In 1984, they moved to Bronte to be near Garry’s family where she tended to her home, family, and gardening. Memaw loved to cook and enjoyed making lunch for her family, granddaughters and all their friends while they were in school. She was always taking food to others and loved visiting with people. Memaw was an active member of First Baptist Church in Bronte and a strong Christian who loved studying her Sunday School lesson and going to church. She loved gospel music, the Gaithers and baseball - especially the Chicago Cubs! She was devoted to her family and nothing pleased her more than spending time with them - especially her great grandchildren. Memaw loved being a part of the Foster Grandparents Program where she would read to children at Bronte Elementary School. Memaw also loved fishing at Paradise Point at Lake Buchannan, where they went almost every year since 1960, although she was terrified of water. In 2006, Memaw moved to the Bronte Health & Rehab Center where she quickly made friends and made it her home. She enjoyed joking with the residents and staff and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities - especially baking cookies and going to the Bronte ball games - she loved to wear her Longhorn shirt. Nina is preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers and sisters. She is survived by her son, Garry and his wife Karen of Brady, Marilyn Bivins of Bronte; four grandchildren, Christy and her husband David Hortenstine of Taylor, Texas, and Melissa and her husband David Jenschke of San Antonio, Emily Fiveash of Lubbock, and Garrett Fiveash of San Angelo; treasured great-grandchildren Lauren, Matthew & Mason Hortenstine, Jacob and Joseph Jenschke of San Antonio. She is also survived by countless children and friends she considered her family. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of the Bronte Health and Rehab Center for all of their care and kindness, and all of the wonderful people who became like a family to Memaw. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Kitchen Fund or the Bronte Health and Rehab Auxiliary. A memorial service was held Saturday, October 30, at 1 pm at the First Baptist Church of Bronte. Services were under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home in Bronte. *************************** Permission granted by The Observer/Enterprise for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb and/or the Coke County Archives of the USGenWeb. Copyright. All rights reserved.