Doris Hinkle

Doris McCastlain Hinkle, surrounded by her loving family, went to be with the Lord on October 29, 2009. She was born January 23, 1918 in Graysonia, Arkansas to the late Earl and Flossie Meeks Wagner. She was also preceded in death by her two brothers, John Wagner and Seth Adams Wagner; husbands, Hugh Marvin "Ted" McCastlain and Col. Carl C. Hinkle, Jr.; and her granddaughter, Doris Lynn Nelson.
She was a beautiful lady and a very wise woman, a person you could always go to and talk with about anything. Everyone loved to hear her stories of her childhood, adolescent years and her adult life. She was a true best friend to her children and a wonderful, loving mother. Her greatest joy was being with her "kids". Her grandchildren lovingly called her "Goose." She loved playing bridge, watching her birds, was an avid reader of books, her daily newspapers and The Upper Room Devotional and loved cheering on the Cowboys. She believed in living life to the fullest and she will be greatly missed.
Doris is survived by her four children, Mary Lynn Nelson and her husband, Sheffield of Little Rock, Hugh McCastlain of Friendswood, Texas, Julia Stoner and her husband, Terry of Sugar Land, Texas and Laura Sholes and her husband, Keith of Little Rock. She is also survived by her wonderful grandchildren, Cindi Nelson Zieres and husband, Craig of Fort Worth, Texas, Laura Ann Hendrian and husband, Bill of Hesperia, Michigan, Kelly McCastlain of Memphis, Tennessee, Ted McCastlain and wife, Debbie of Little Rock, Holly McCastlain of Austin, Texas, Travis Stoner of Houston, Texas, Jessica Stoner, also of Houston and Adam Sholes of Little Rock. Her step-children are Stanley Hinkle Blair and husband, Andy of Cedar Key, Florida, her children, Bud Adams of Wenatchee, Washington and Shields Adams-Plasencia of Palm City, Florida; Chris Hinkle and wife, Kay of North Little Rock, Arkansas and their children, Jennifer Hinkle-Stanley of Ottawa, Kansas, Kelsey Hinkle Bardwell of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Lindsey Hinkle Ward of Bradenton, Florida and her daughter, Shelly Crook of Panama City Beach, Florida.
Doris was a member of St. James United Methodist Church, Agape Sunday School Class and Faith Circle. She was a member of PEO and she attended the International Bible Study Fellowship and the Community Bible Study.
She served as State Representative from Monroe County for five years. In 1965, Doris was appointed by Gov. Orville Faubus as Commissioner of Revenue for the State of Arkansas, the first woman to hold this position. While serving as a State Legislator, Doris was instrumental in passing a number of bills, including a bill to establish the Louisiana Purchase State Park in Monroe County. She sponsored or co-sponsored a number of important pieces of legislation, including the bill for special funds to the State Department of Education to be used for the education of handicapped children, a bill that created the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy and a bill that created the Little Rock Branch of the University of Arkansas School of Law. She was selected as Outstanding Legislator in 1965 and selected for inclusion in Who's Who in the World of Women & Women in Politics. She was a Charter Member of the National Society of State Legislators and served as President of the Order of Women Legislators. In addition, she served as the State Racing Commissioner, State President of Civil Defense and State Chairman for an annual Red Cross Campaign.
Doris has 22 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews and a sister-in-law, Betsy Wagner of Dallas, Texas, all who will cherish her memories.
The family would like to thank her doctors, Dr. James Kane, Dr. Susan Santa Cruz and Dr. Samuel Strong; Linda Doyle, R.N., Deborah Wright, R.N.; her caregivers, Vernon White and Ruby Griffin; Rena, Rodney and Michelle of Little Rock Hair Productions; the Agape Sunday School Class and her long time friend and neighbor, Flo Pullen.
A Service will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, on Monday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Fred Haustein. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Agape Sunday School Class or Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501)224-2200. Doris' online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com