Rena Hopkins

Rena Lee Garland Hopkins, age 89, passed away at 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15th, 2017 at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital. She was a long-term resident of Spring Creek Health Care and of Flint Road in Calloway County. Mrs. Hopkins was born in Roan Mountain, Tennessee to the late J. E. Garland and Edith Calhoun Garland. She was a graduate of Roan Mountain High School and attended Milligan College.
Rena met and married Joe Dee Hopkins in 1947 while he was working for TVA in East Tennessee. About the time of her marriage, the rest of her family moved to Bradenton, Florida. The new Hopkins family moved to Almo, Kentucky in the late 1940's and lived there until their death. Mrs. Hopkins was a homemaker for many years to their four daughters.
In the mid 1960's the family purchased Hopkins Food Market of Almo Heights and operated it for many years. Rena retired from the small family grocery, but became bored with retirement and went to work as the bookkeeper for Kentucky Lake Oil. She once again retired and became a babysitter for several of the grandchildren.
Mrs. Hopkins loved and worked in her church, Flint Baptist, and was active in PTA and 4-H. She was also very involved and supportive of all her children's activities. She was an avid gardener and for many years chaired the horticulture exhibits at the county fair.
In addition to her parents Mrs. Hopkins was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Dee Hopkins; and by her brother, J.P. Garland.
Mrs. Hopkins is survived by her daughters Connie Talent and husband Ron, Vicki Hughes and husband Dale, Patsy James and husband Mark all of Murray Kentucky and Ricki Hiatt and husband Tony of Supply, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Suddie Cook Calhoun, Jeff Hughes and wife Stacy, Jennifer Hughes Donnelly, Matt James, Wesley James and Rachel Stark and husband Kyle; as well as eight great grandchildren, Ava Hughes, Ellie Hughes, Tanner Crawford, Cooper Crawford, Amelia Donnelly, Rose Donnelly, Luke Donnelly and Zoe Calhoun.
Rena will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother and friend who loved the Lord and who really enjoyed working hard and loving her family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with Bro. Bill Miller and Jeff Hughes officiating. Burial will follow in the Temple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. until funeral hour at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Jude Tribute Program, PO Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908 or to the Gideon's of Murray, for the Donation of Bibles in memory of Mrs. Rena Hopkins, PO Box 931, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at, www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com