Ima Mai Dingle peacefully and confidently departed this life on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, after 94 years of triumphant living. Service: Her service of triumph will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Couts Memorial United Methodist Church, 802 North Elm St., Weatherford. The Rev. Mike Marshall and the Rev. Robert Briles will conduct the service. Interment will be in Memory Gardens. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Galbraith Pickard Chapel. Pallbearers are Rodney Bradley, Jason Bradley, Justin Bradley, Robert Allen Brabson, David Brabson and Jon Brabson. Honorary pallbearers are Roy Joe Grogan, Dr. Mark Eidson, Dr. Phil Lobstein, Dr. Tom Cockerell, Dr. Robert Johnson and Dr. Philip Giles. Memorials: May be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or a charity of your choice. She was born Jan. 12, 1916, to Will and Bessie Brabson in Brock. After moving to Oklahoma with her family, she graduated from high school in Cowden, Okla. Returning to Texas, she earned her degree as a licensed vocational nurse at Weatherford College. She was a faithful longtime member of Couts Memorial United Methodist Church in Weatherford. She was also a member of Daughters of the Confederacy, the African Violet Society and the Doss Heritage Center. Her family was her greatest treasure and she had unrestricted love for every member. She was known for her generosity and her cooking, and her grandchildren often referred to her home, and especially to her kitchen, as "Dingle's Diner." There seldom was a time that one or more of her many progeny was not present in the home. The welcome mat was always out. In turn, her love was returned by her family and no one has ever been cared for more lovingly than she. For the last several years her daughter Vada and husband Wayne have lived with her giving her daily attention. Margaret, Ann and Ginger also visited her almost daily and son Robert called her ever evening. Her sons-in-law declared that if there were such a thing as reincarnation, they wanted to come back as their mother-in-law because they knew they would be well taken care of. Ima Mai was preceded in death by husbands, Earl Williams, Benjamin Brabson, Thomas "Bud" Pearson and M.A. Dingle; daughter-in-law, Joann Brabson; an infant brother, Thomas Brabson; and an infant grandson, Wesley Bradley. Survivors: She was blessed with seven children and their spouses, Margaret and her husband, the Rev. Michael Patison, Robert Brabson, Ann and her husband, Joe Herring, Vada and her husband, Wayne Elders, Virginia and her husband, Roger Bradley, Marlene and her husband, Rick King, and LeRoy Dingle and his wife, Carole. She also has a special cousin, Orva Lou Jones. She also treasured her 21 grandchildren, her 40 great-grandchildren and her six great-great-grandchildren.
Published in Star-Telegram on October 26, 2010