Obituary of Mary R. Tinker

Dr. Mary R. Tinker, 106, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at home. Mary was born, October 24, 1908 in a house located on Ridgway Road in Brooktondale, NY. Her dad decided at her birth that she would grow up and attend Cornell University and become a doctor and she did!! She graduated from Candor High School, in 1925, from Cornell University, in 1929 and Cornell Medical School, in 1932. In 1934, Dr. Lockwood, the long time family physician in Brooktondale, died. Dr. Mary’s father called and asked her to come home and practice medicine in Brooktondale. She came and practiced medicine from 1934 until October of 1998, when she retired She touched the lives of many people as medicine and healing people was her one focus in life. She was very concerned that all children receive medical care and worked with the county to set up well-baby clinics. She received many awards for service to the community. In 1961, the New York State Medical Society selected her as “The Outstanding General Practitioner of the Year”. Perhaps the “awards” she most appreciated were the baskets of fresh strawberries, the plates of Christmas cookies, the boxes of Valentine chocolate or the birthday cards that her patients gave her. She delighted in nature and often stopped to take pictures as she was out making house calls. She was a daily Bible reader and found church to be an important part of her life. In her retirement, she enjoyed the change of seasons, the birds and her growing family. Mary was predeceased by her huband, Dr. Martin Tinker; sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Mason Lawrence; niece, Joan Mary Lawrence Littleton; nephew-in-law, Jack Littleton. Mary is survived by her nephew, John Ridgway Lawrence, niece, Janet (Bud) Kearns; three great nieces, Mary Frances (Scott) Raffo, Elizabeth (Jeff) Steinheider, Joan (John) Hafner; delighted in visits from her six geat-great nieces and nephews, Mason, Margaret Mary, Micah, Ella, Clay, Annora; her extended family includes, Rebecca Littleton, Madeline Lawrence Peters, The Gibbons Family (Susan, Chris, Matthew and Mark), Mellisa Schulte and family. Her family would like to thank Dr. Ann Costello, her staff, and Hospice of Ithaca for giving them the support they needed to care for “Dr. Mary” at home. The family also thanks her loving aides: Claudia Compton, Wendy Hunnewell and Kim Bougie. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. at the Caroline Valley Community Church, 546 Valley Rd, Brooktondale, NY with the Rev. Daniel Phillips, officiating. Burial will be held privately in the Ridgway Cemetery, Brooktondale, NY. The family will receive friends Friday, November 14, 2014 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 137 Main Street, Candor, NY. Memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Mary R. Tinker’s memory to the Caroline Valley Community Church, P.O. Box 95, Brooktondale, NY 14817 or Hospice of Ithaca,172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. Condolences may be made to Mary’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com