Mrs. Mary Ellen Collie Hiter, age 91 years and 7 months of Benton, KY died on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at Lake Way Nursing & Rehabilitation in Benton, KY. She was born Saturday, April 21, 1923 in Fairdealing, KY.
Attended school at Cleveland and Maple Spring Elementary and Birmingham High School, graduating in 1941. Attended Murray State University and eventually earned a Master's Degree from there as well. She taught in the schools of Marshall County in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 60s, and 1980s, having taught at Birmingham, Clark, Fairdealing and Jonathan Schools, and had three generations of some Fairdealing area families as students. During World War II, she worked at Ford, in Dearborn, MI, initially putting piston rings in tank engines, and later selling War Bonds on the factory floor. She was honored by the DAR with a "Rosie the Riveter" award for her war service at Ford. In 1964, she and her husband Charles bought the farm she grew up on and she lived there for the rest of her life.
Mrs. Hiter is survived by two sons, Thomas Y. Hiter of Benton, KY and Charles R. Hiter of Benton, KY; daughter, Brookes Pickard of Louisville, KY; 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter Elizabeth Hooks, 4 brothers and 4 sisters. Her parents were the late Tom and Rixceny Crisp Collie.
Graveside services will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday November 15, 2014 at Hiter Cemetery with Thomas Hiter officiating. Burial will follow in Hiter Cemetery, Benton, KY.
There will be no public visitation.
Family asks that donations please be made to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Collier Funeral Home, Benton, KY.
