Ola Faye (Russ) Hinsey was born on March 16, 1931, in Panhandle, Texas to Charles LeeRoy and Mabel Elizabeth Russ. She graduated in 1948 from Panhandle High School. She graduated from West Texas State College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952.
In 1953, Ola Faye began her teaching career at Wyman Elementary School in Denver, Colorado. There she met William Cecil Hinsey. They married on Feb. 12, 1954. Ola Faye and Cecil were parents to three daughters, Kathy, Carol and Peggy.
The family from Denver to Eugene, Oregon in 1957 and settled in Silverton, Oregon in 1963. She taught at Eugene Field School in Silverton, retiring in 1989 after 24 years in the teaching profession. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, and sewing, passing these passions on to future generations. Their Paradise Alley farm was a source of joy and bountiful fruit.
After retirement, Ola Faye and Cecil traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, by van and RV. She really loved the Oregon Coast, watching the waves crash while looking for agates, glass floats, and bird watching.
Ola Faye was grandma to Zachary, Jacynda, Dave, Tim, Ben, Matthew, and Adam. She enjoyed working on puzzles with the grandchildren as they ran roughshod around the farmhouse and barn. As time went on the tradition of running around the house with reckless abandon was passed on to great grandchildren, Sawyer, Harrison, Landon, Hazel, Wade, Jacob, Noah, and Iris.
Ola Faye is survived by her brother, Charley Russ of Panhandle, Texas; daughters, Carol Wnek (Mike) of Bremerton, Washington, and Peggy Kaney (Brian) of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; grandchildren, David Nickodemus (Beth), Timothy Nickodemus (Kim), Benjamin Nickodemus (Holly), Jacynda Wheeler (Chad), Zachary Wnek, Matthew Kaney (Caleb), and Adam Kaney; and great-grandchildren, Jacob, Noah and Iris Nickodemus, Sawyer, Harrison and Landon Wnek, Wade and Hazel Wheeler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Cecil Hinsey; sisters, Maurine Russ, Laura Lee Adams, and Mary Sue Triplett; and daughter, Kathy Nickodemus.
A celebration of life service was held Jan. 27 at the Silverton United Methodist Church.
In memory of Ola Faye, the family invites you to give to your favorite charity.
Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel
