Mildred Hathaway

Mildred E. Hathaway, 88, longtime resident of Decatur, died Thursday, July 10, 2008, in Oceanside, California. Mrs. Hathaway was born in Villa Grove, Illinois, the eldest daughter of the late Chester and Gayle (Weaver) Mecum. She married Jack Hathaway in 1943 at the First Methodist Church in Decatur. Her husband preceded her in death in 2005. Mrs. Hathaway was an award winning china painter and loved to teach the art.She was a member of the Palette & Brush China Painting Club of Decatur,as well as numerous other china painting organizations in Florida and California. She loved her art, her gardens, and her family. She is survived by her daughter Rebecca Hathaway and son-in-law Bruce Sutton and their fur kids Bogart and Panache of San Diego, California; daughter Deborah Hathaway of Houston, Texas and grandchildren Tasha (John) Hock of Shafer, Minnesota, Betsy (Bob) Quigley of Mukilteo, Washington, Chip (Monica) Clark of Austin, Texas, and Amanda Clark of Houston, Texas; great-grandchildren Drew Quigley, Zane Hock, and Shelby Singleton; sister Jane Thornton of Chatham, Illinois, brother Chet (Liz) Mecum of Springhill, Florida, brother Maurice (Nina) Mecum of Champaign, Illinois, and sister in law Helen Witt of BartlesvilleOklahoma, as well as nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.In addition to her passion for china painting, Mildred's artisan interests included; antiquing, hat making, flower arranging, and ceramics. She was a volunteer for the hospital Thrift Shop and active in the PTA for Southeast Elementary School. Visitation 10:00 A.M. and memorial services at 11:00 A.M. at Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home, Decatur on Friday, August 1, 2008. Internment will be in Camp Butler National Cemetery, Riverton, IL. immediately following the services. Memorials may be made in her name to the World Organization of China Painters, 2641 N.W. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73107-5407, where a scholarship fund has been established in her honor, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.brintlingerandearl.com. "
}