Mary Elizabeth Hawkins was born January 21, 1931 at the hospital in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas. She married on December 18, 1949 at Bellefountain, Boone County, Arkansas, to Bobby Gene Presley, born March 26, 1928 in Holdenville, Hughes County, Oklahoma, and died August 5, 1987 in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Bob had cancer.

CHILDREN:
A. Robert Steven Presley, born January 13, 1953, in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Washburn University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Kansas. On August 4, 1973, in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, he married Susan Agnes Lampe, born March 10, 1953, in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas. Susan was killed in an automobile accident on May 8, 2000 in rural Van Buren County, Iowa. On December 26, 2004 in Kansas City, Missouri, Steve married Julie Trammell.

        1. Stuart Wilson Presley, born April 23, 1981, in Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa.
        2. Sarah Lillian Presley, born March 6, 1983, in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa.

B. Rebecca Ann Presley, born February 20, 1956 in Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Becky has a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the University of Kansas.

Mary tells a story about one of their summer trips to visit their Hixson grandparents as follows. The girls went to visit in shifts due to the number of them and Mary and Anita were there together. One of the highlights of the visit was when they went with their Grandpa to Batesville to pick up the type for the nation news. Their grandparents would give the girls a dime to spend at the dime store. The girls were debating on whether to save the money or spend it. Mary told Anita, "Oh I'm going to buy something." so, Anita decided she would too. Then after Anita bought something Mary decided to save hers, making her sister very unhappy.