MIGNON CAMILLE OSTROM HANKAMER
1921-2021
Mignon Camille Ostrom Hankamer, age 99, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully at home on Saturday, the 1st of May 2021, with her family at her bedside.
Camille was born on the 14th of July 1921, to Beulah and Julian R. Ostrom in Eliasville, TX. She spent her formative years in Kilgore, graduating from Kilgore High School in 1938, and often remarked on her fond memories of summers spent in the tranquil Texas Hill Country at Camp Waldemar.
After high school, Camille attended Baylor University from 1938 to 1942. Camille cherished her experience at Baylor and was proud of her role as president of her sorority, Delta Alpha Pi (later colonized as Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority).
Raymond Edward Hankamer, Sr., Camille’s steadfast husband of 71 years, fell in “love at first sight” with her at Baylor. She was equally enamored with him and upon his graduation in 1942, they were married. Immediately thereafter, the devoted couple moved to Cambridge, MA where Raymond was in Radar School at Harvard College. In 1943, they returned to Houston and started a family, eventually having three sons, Ray Jr., Ronnie and Larry.
In 1950, the Hankamers bought one of the first houses in Tanglewood—“the countryside” at the time— where they lived for 32 years and built many fond family memories.
Camille and Raymond were passionately involved in many community, political and social organizations such as Second Baptist Church, River Oaks Baptist Church, The Oldham Little Church Foundation, Star of Hope Mission, Baylor University, the Michael DeBakey Museum, the Baylor College of Medicine (where they established the Hankamer Chair in Ophthalmology), the Republican Party, the Blue Bird Circle, Houston Baptist University (HBU) and River Oaks Country Club.
Camille fell in love with the idea of restoring historical Texas structures while on a trip to Old Independence, TX with Raymond and the American Museum Society of HBU. Camille and Raymond’s most ambitious project was restoring the Inge-Stoneham mansion, a Texas plantation home circa 1858. For ten years they worked diligently together to restore every detail of the home to its original form, ultimately earning the Ima Hogg award for Historical Preservation--well-deserved recognition for a decade of effort.
Camille and Raymond were early investors in Vail, CO, and spent many summers, winters and family Christmases enjoying the mountains with each other and their extended family. She became an accomplished angler at the side of her active husband, often out-fishing Raymond and his friends.
Camille, a devout Baptist, deeply loved her Lord and appreciated the many blessings He bestowed upon her throughout her long life.
Camille is survived by her sons: Ronnie Hankamer and wife, Kathy, of Houston; Ray Hankamer, Jr. of Houston and Larry Ross Hankamer of Austin and; grandchildren: Ron Hankamer, Jr and wife Kim, Richie Hankamer and wife Anna Claire, Emerson Kirksey Hankamer and wife Cici, Gabrielle Hankamer Welch and husband Rallin; and great grandchildren: Lauren, Garrett, Kate, Caroline, Rob, Kirk and Nico Hankamer, and Ashton, Ella and Gigi Welch.
Camille was preceded in death by her beloved husband Raymond, her grandson Patrick Clayton Hankamer, her parents Beulah and Julian R. Ostrom, and her brothers Jack Ostrom and Robert Ronald Ostrom.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. James Pool and Dr. Stephen Pflugfelder of the Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Michael Keating and ANP Alice Lynn of M.D. Anderson for providing years of caring and wise medical service to Camille. Special thanks also go to Roberto Rodriguez, Joyce Hill, Sylvia Josephs, Gwen Carter, for many years of loyal service and to Evergreen Private Care’s staff: VP Laura Cook, Private Care Manager Karla Bauer,Personal Care Coordinator Karen Hebert and nurse Rita Acuna, caregivers Michelle Perry, Tina Flores, Daniela Pineda, Rossana Madray, Melanie Holliday and Carman Gage.
A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 6th of May, in the Hankamer Chapel of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Rev. Danny Havard, Associate Pastor, is to officiate.
Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.
Serving as pallbearers are Ron Hankamer, Richie Hankamer and Emerson Kirksey Hankamer.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Lauren, Garrett, Kate, Caroline, Rob, Kirk and Nico Hankamer, and Ashton, Ella and Gigi Welch.
In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, contributions in memory of Camille may be made to Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor plaza, Mail Stop 160, Houston, TX, 77030; the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, One Bear Place, #97026, Waco, TX, 76798; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Please visit Mrs. Hankamer’s online memorial tribute page at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.