Ellen Lorene Hankins

Ellen Lorene Hankins, devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on Wednesday July 23, 2014 at Millers Merry Manor at the age of 91. Lorene was born on May 19, 1923 in Hymera IN, the daughter of Bervil Thomas and Nannie May (Cobb) Smith. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1940 and from Indianapolis Business School in 1941. While living in Indianapolis, she was employed by the U.S. Income Tax Division Center and Eli Lilly Co. She and her husband Bill owned and operated the Hankins Grocery in Sullivan for many years. In addition to her parents, Lorene was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years James William Hankins, in 2007, infant twin sons, William Thomas and James David Hankins in 1949, her brother Jack B. Smith in 2011, and her first husband U.S. Army Air Force Cadet Robert Bruce Coryell, who was killed while serving during W.W. II in 1942. Lorene is survived by her loving daughter Janet Ellen Hays and her husband Lawrence E. Hays Jr. of Sullivan, grandchildren Craig A. Hays of Indianapolis, Carmen M. Gofourth and her husband Tom, great-grand daughters Kennedy, Korinne and Kaycee Gofourth all of Sullivan. She also leaves behind sisters D. Jannis (Bill) Sevier, Mary Lou Corwin, along with many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. Services for Lorene will be at the graveside at 1:00 p.m. on Friday July 25, 2014 in Center Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Ben Cassiday officiating. Services have been entrusted to Holmes Memorial Chapel.