Dorothy Dean Hopkins, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, favorite aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the age of 85. She was a pillar of strength in her church and community. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering strength that will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Celebration of Life: 2PM April 6, 2024 at Blue Ridge Baptist Church 300 FM 1771, Marlin, Texas 76661. Family and friends are invited to a fellowship and light lunch following the celebration of life.
Born on February 19, 1939, in Waxahachie, Texas to Carl Preston and Lucy Mae (Jenkins) Mangan, she was a 1957 graduate of Waxahachie High School and attended two years at Texas Christian University before marrying her first husband, Charles Sanford Kinard. Together they raised three children and shared 24 years of love and companionship. Though their paths eventually diverged, Dorothy approached life’s challenges with grace and resilience. She married Gene Carnell Hopkins on April 20, 1984, in Killeen, Texas. Together they created countless memories filled with love, laughter, and shared adventures. Sadly, he preceded her in death on January 9, 2018, after 33 years of marriage. In addition to her husband Gene, she was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Preston Mangan, Lucy Mae Jenkins Mangan, her stepmother Sue Mangan, brothers Carl Mangan, Jr, Ernest “Buddy” Mangan, Charles Mangan, and her beloved sister, Beddie Rene Lowry.
Left to remember Dorothy with love and affection are her children, Kay Kinard Bushman, her husband Bart, and their daughter Kaylee Bushman; Gerald Kinard, his wife Shayne, and their son John Harlan Kinard; Kelly Wallis, her husband Robert, and their children, Matthew Wallis, Katherine Zilliox, and Micah Wallis; and stepdaughter Kyra Gunn and her son Sean Gunn. She is also survived by her stepsister Sandy Matthews, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was affectionately known to everyone who met her as Mom, Mom Kinard, Mom Hopkins, Momma H, Aggie Band mom and her favorite two names: Grandma and to Kaylee, always Nana Montana. She loved her grandchildren fiercely and created such lasting traditions and memories with them.
Dorothy’s walk with Jesus was evident in all she did. She was a pillar of strength, volunteering in countless ways in her church; often working in children’s and youth ministries. She was one of her church’s most faithful volunteers as a sponsor to many GA camps, RA track meets, youth ski trips and mission trips, as well as coordinating banquets and working Vacation Bible School for many years. She loved music, singing and studying her Bible. She was a prolific writer and loved sending cards, notes, and prayers that she wrote to her friends and family.
Dorothy retired from Texas A&M University after 22 years of service as an administrative assistant for the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. She loved her band kids and was a master at planning the logistics of getting them all over the country and traveling with them around the world. She was the band mom to thousands of cadets and loved hearing about their lives after they left Texas A&M. While at Texas A&M, Dorothy served as an A&M Mentor and received the President’s Meritorious Service Award in 2001. One of the highlights of her career was having the distinct honor of having a fish camp named after her. She loved her group of Camp Hopkins counselors and kept in close touch with them for years.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Dorothy’s memory to The Texas Aggie Band Association scholarship fund for deserving cadets, or to the charity of your choice.
Dorothy touched countless lives with her acts of kindness, generosity, and boundless empathy, always there to lend a listening ear, offer words of encouragement, and provide unwavering support to those in need. Her legacy of love lives on in those who were blessed to know her.
Print Obituary & Condolences
I had the honor of providing Ms. Dot’s beauty needs for her while she resided at The Delaney in Waco. She was quite proud of her widow’s peak that she said others in her family had. She shared many stories of her years at Texas A&M. She loved her Aggies. Shortly before she died, she sang parts of the Aggie War Hymn and School Song for me in her beautiful voice while I was styling her hair. She also talked about living in Waxahachie while she was growing up. She also loved her family and her faith was very evident. Thank you Dot for allowing me to be a small part of your the many treasured experiences in your life. Sincerely with love,
My son and I had the pleasure of singing monthly at The Delaney. Dorothy was always such a bright light and an encouragement to others. Her sweet smile and beautiful voice are forever etched in my mind.
As the DiL of one of Dot’s “besties” I can tell you she was loved immeasurably. I only ever got to spend a little time with her but my husband and his sisters have tons of good memories that involve Dot. Although I am sure she didn’t always have good times, I cannot recall ever seeing her without a loving look or smile. Thank you to her familie (s) for sharing her. The world is a little less without her light.
I am sure Glenda was happy to greet her and give hugs!!!
Kay, Daniel and I are so sorry for your loss. I loved seeing the photos when you and Kaylee would go visit her. What special times! May these memories bring you peace and smiles. What a remarkable woman. I wish we could be with you and your family on April 6, but circumstances are such that we will not, we will be thinking of you and praying for you! Love, Patty and Daniel.
Gosh- what a gaping hole that cannot be filled- Her love and gentleness were most definitely one of a kind. She truly blessed everyone in her path. She will be greatly missed, but her memories will hold strong forever.
We loved Aunt Dot. She was the most kind, sweet, loving lady. So many wonderful memories of her and y’all visiting and us visiting down there when I was a kid.
I am sorry to learn of Dorothy’s passing. She indeed made a huge impact on members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band during her time with the Band. I first got to know her well as we worked together supporting a wide variety of bands activities and performances. She did most of the work, but allowed cadets like me to be involved. Dorothy helped many of us through the years. She was always ready to listen and coach, celebrate and shed a tear, through the best of times and trying times.
Wonderful lady who always took such good care of us. We loved her dearly and she will be missed.
I am so sad to learn of Dorothy’s passing and find myself choked up as I read her obituary and condolences. I know we can’t live forever and 85 is a long life, but this woman was a saint. I knew her from the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, and, oh boy, whenever things were rough with upperclassmen being unhappy, there was one thing you always knew for sure, and that was that you had a safe place in Dorothy’s office; she would love you no matter what. Indeed, an Aggie Band Mom to so many. Thank you Ms. Hopkins. You were excellent. You made the Band better and brighter, and we cadets never could have “stepped off for the Colonel with that special marching magic that turned the heads and stirred the hearts” of so many, had it not been for all your hard work behind the scenes. God bless you and your family.
Heaven got a beautiful angel. Ms Hopkins was the kindest and most caring person. She always had words of encouragement and a warm smile.
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BQ 1996
Mrs Hopkins meant so much to us BQs. She was always an encouraging warm presence to a bunch of scared fish.
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Andrew Adams FTAB ’06
What a great lady! She had such a warm heart for us in the Aggie Band and I have many memories of visiting with her in her office. She always made my day better. What a beautiful example simple, quiet, and consistent faith and perseverance in our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless and comfort her family with such blessed assurance of her eternal reward.
Dorothy and I worked together for entire time with the Texas Aggie Band. Her work with the logistics, trip planning, and all the behind the scene details made the work of the Band Directors much less hectic. Her real contributions was the example of faith, love of family, and her mom’s special touch with the Bandsmen. Good times and challenging ones , Dorothy made a positive impact on thousands of Bandsmen, and was a special friend to me. Kay, Gerald, Kelly, and Kyra, you are so blessed to have had this special lady as a mom. I have so many fond memories. Know that she is loved by many Aggie Bandsmen. Col. Jay O. Brewer ‘81