Obituary of Mary Carolyn Minyard Hamilton

On a beautiful sunny day, Mary Carolyn Minyard Hamilton passed from this world into the arms of Jesus. Mama was a lover of life, children, animals and the Giants, but she especially loved her family. Our mother was a wife for 63 years to Jerry Dale Hamilton (who passed away on November 8th, 2022) and mother to Joni Hamilton Tolon (Michael), Jon Hamilton (Kathy) and Jennifer Hamilton Skinner (Jim). She is also survived by grandchildren, Jessica Hamilton Morris (Shane), Cady Tolon Macauley (Olajide), Elizabeth Tolon McInerney (Tom), Joel Tolon, Rachel Tolon, Courtney Skinner, Caitlin Skinner and Conner Skinner. Great grandchildren surviving include Luke Morris, Logan Morris, Landon Morris, Levi Morris, Tijesu Macauley and Ikemi Macauley. Born on September 4th, 1941, Mama arrived into the world along with her twin brother, David to her parents, Albert and Pauline Minyard and her big brother, Wendell (Tink). Her older brother, Albert Jefferson (A.J.) passed away before she was born.

Mom was born in Lauratown, Arkansas and moved along with her family to Redlands, California when she was four years old due to her father needing work and to be close to family members. Mom grew up in Redlands, California and graduated from Redlands High School. She and Dad were married in 1959 and together created a little family. They moved to Chico, California in 1967 and lived there for many years. Being extremely hard workers, during the 70’s Mom and Dad purchased several rental properties and a couple of different grocery stores, even when they had never worked in that type of business before. The grocery stores were sold and then a year or two later, Mom and Dad decided to purchase Mid-Valley Lumber Company in Willows, California. This was also despite our parents never having worked in the lumber business before. Mid-Valley Lumber Company ended up expanding to additional locations in Williams and Colusa over the years. Our parents started their retirement journey in the early 90’s, and then after selling Mid-Valley Lumberyards, they retired full time in 2004. They alternated traveling to Arizona in the winter, then to LaPine, Oregon in the summer, (chasing the sunshine). They also had a beautiful home in Willows, California that Dad built in 1983 completing all the custom woodwork himself.

Mom and Dad had a beautiful marriage together and loved each other very much. Over the years, Mom enjoyed softball, camping, golfing, and baseball, especially the San Francisco Giants. More than anything else however, Mama enjoyed her family and being together. It was the most important thing to her. Mom tried to live her beliefs, values and Christianity to all who knew her. She had

an amazing sense of humor that she used every single day. She had the gift of laughter and she and Dad had many great memories and times together. Mother’s favorite statement was how ‘thankful, grateful and blessed she had been her entire life’. She believed strongly in God and where she was heading after this physical life was over. We love you, Mama!