Mary Ellen (Burkle) Snight

Mary Snight, age 100, died at Whispering Pines Village in Columbiana, Ohio, on July 11, 2024.

Born Mary Ellen Burkle on November 2, 1923, she was the youngest child of Mary Beulah and George Burkle of Columbiana. Mary graduated from Columbiana High School in 1941 where she played the French Horn in the band. When the new Firestone Park Pool opened, she was one of the first lifeguards hired and participated in some of the earliest Aqua Shows. When the war started, Mary moved to Akron to work for Goodyear Aerospace and remained there throughout World War II. In 1946 she married James Ogal “Pete” Hinerman and returned to Columbiana to start their new life together. After a period of five years battling Tuberculosis, the disease was considered “arrested” and Mary was eventually able to have three children, Jim, Mary Jo, and George.

Mary was renowned for her vocal talents, singing in the Methodist church choir and the Women’s Music Club productions. When her children eventually joined the band and choir, she organized various school banquets through the Band and Choir Boosters to help raise funds for new band uniforms and choir ensembles.

Following the death of her husband in November of 1966, Mary went to work first for Citizens Bank and then for NRM Corporation and Youngstown Sheet and Tube. When the steel industry began to shutter its plants in the area, she moved once again to the Akron area to seek work. While there she renewed an old acquaintance that blossomed into a romance and married John P. Zivkovic on August 16, 1980.For the next four years, Mary once again lent her talents to a church choir at Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church. In 1984, John, an avid golfer, moved their residence to the Myrtle Beach area, settling in Calabash, NC. While there, Mary also learned to enjoy the sport, accompanying John on the many golf courses in their new locale. Unfortunately, John passed away in 1988, leaving Mary a widow once more. For the next several years she poured herself into service work at her new congregation, King of Glory Lutheran Church in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

In the fall of 1995 Mary met a retired WWII naval commander named Eldridge Snight and they were married the following February. “Elly” and Mary were devoted to one another and remained active in their church and community, traveling whenever possible to attend Elly’s various reunions for his WWII service. In June of 2004 Elly passed away and Mary saw him honored at Arlington National Cemetery.

In the following years Mary remained busy with involvement at her church and continued to entertain family and friends at her home in Little River, SC. She loved her extended family and never missed an opportunity to attend the Burkle Family Reunions held every year in Columbiana in July. Following a period of health decline, she returned to Columbiana as a resident at Whispering Pines Village and remained there until her passing.

Mary was preceded in death by: Parents: George Burkle and Mary Beulah McFadden Burkle of Columbiana, OH.

Siblings: Betty Burkle Spanabel (Wilbur) of Columbiana, OH; George Burkle, Jr. (Mary) of Morgantown, WVA; Harold Burkle (Gini) of Columbiana, OH; James Burkle (Bettie) of Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Spouses: James O. Hinerman of Columbiana, OH; John P. Zivkovic of Calabash, NC; Eldridge A. Snight of Little River, SC.

Mary is survived by: Children: James O. Hinerman, Jr. (Brenda) of Lexington, KY; Mary Jo Norris (Jim) of Little Rock, AR; Thomas George Hinerman (Diane)of Columbiana, OH.

Grandchildren: Shane Hinerman (Jessica) of Los Angeles, CA; Kami Neely (Craig) of Dickson, TN; Kendra Farmer (Rikki)of Lexington, KY; Brock Hinerman of Lexington, KY; Audra Norris of North Little Rock, AR; Carlton Norris (Sarah) of Little Rock, AR; Devon Norris (Amber) of Little Rock, AR; Joshua Hinerman (Jessica) of Springfield, OH; Levi Hinerman (Jennifer) of Columbiana, OH.

Great Grandchildren: JT Brooks, Skyler Farmer, Piper Farmer, Brenna Farmer, Eliza Norris, Avery Norris, Dani Norris, Rhys Norris, Kelton Hinerman, Khloe Hinerman, Ella Hinerman.

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