IRWIN

 Mary Charlene Huddleston Irwin was born Mar. 3, 1945 to Archie and Gertrue Cockrum Huddleston in Lindale, TX. She passed away Sept. 12 in Lone Star, TX. She graduated from W.W. Samuell High School (Dallas) in 1963 with classmate Leon Irwin whom she later married. She was a successful businesswoman with Estee Lauder and later with Ebby Halliday where she was a realtor, broker, and branch manager. Her employers valued her dedication and strong work ethic.

On Sept. 6, 1986 Charlene and Leon married and remained in Dallas. They moved to Lone Star, TX in 1993. She was a member of South Union Missionary Baptist Church, the Pandora Club, the 20th Century Club, three bridge clubs, and the Republican Women of Northeast Texas. She served on the Lone Star City Council and was Morris County Republican Chair. Charlene was authentic, funloving, confident and enthusiastic about life and had many friends. She was strong, sassy, spunky and faced her illness with serenity and courage. She was a woman of devout faith who loved her family, church and friends. She enjoyed entertaining, traveling, gardening and shopping and adored the many poodles she had through the years. She had a flair for decorating and jewelry designing.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 30 years, Leon Irwin of Lone Star; sister Dorothy Brock of Tyler; aunt Carrie Gordon of Winnsboro; stepchildren Ami Irwin and Aaron Irwin; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister and brother-in- law Geneva and James Hooks who raised her from age 12. The family is grateful for her church, neighbors, friends and Melissa, Kelly and all at Heart to Heart Hospice of Longview for their support and acts of kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at South Union Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Chad Thompson officiating.

Online condolences may be made at Nail-HaggardFH.com