Tinya Mia (Meeker) Finch, 62, of Early, Texas passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Private services were held with the family.
Tinya was born April 23, 1960 to Jim Ed and Dana Meeker in Dallas, Texas. She was raised in Dallas and attended Lake Highlands High School. Tinya was a devoted Baptist whose faith could be seen in her daily life. Children loved her, she worked as a Teacher’s Aide with special need students at the Boles School and Orphanage Home in Quinlan. She taught Children’s Church and Vacation Bible School for the three-to-five year old class for several years.
She was always anxious to learn. In the early 2000’s, she went back to college where she completed coursework in math, economics, and psychology at Western Technical College before medical matters kept her from going any farther toward a degree. Her mother was an accomplished Native American watercolor artist. While still a teenager, Tinya would travel with her to help set up shows and make the arrangements needed to exhibit her work throughout the Southwest. Tinya was an accomplished artist herself in several media. In the last 20 years of her life she focused on jewelry and greeting card design and creation. She was also excellent in calligraphy. From 2001 through 2006 Tinya owned and managed the Gallery on Main: A Gallery of Regional & National Artists in Onalaska, Wisconsin. She loved dogs and was caring for five at home at the time of her departure. She insisted that each of them was her favorite. Just as with the people in her life, she made each one feel very special and much loved.
Despite chronic health challenges over the past 20 years, including 4 major surgeries, she found joy and hope in absolutely every day. Though her greatest hope was in her Lord and Savior … many of her greatest joys were in her family. She was prone to laugh easily and took great pleasure in the smaller things of life. She would often make a new best friend while waiting in the check-out line at a store, she could speak easily to anyone and usually did. Tinya loved true crime television shows, was a night owl all her life, and loved to stay up and talk until the sun came up.
Tinya had a well-deserved reputation wherever she lived of being a source of support, kindness, and generosity to young adults she’d encounter in the community. Many came to call her Mama T. She had many favorite things … particularly in the natural world. Animals and trees of all kinds. Additionally, she was a life-long fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Grand Funk Railroad. Palo Duro was her absolute second favorite place. First place was reserved for anywhere and anytime she could be with her family. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother. Her greatest pride toward the end of her life, which surpassed everything else, was her beloved grandson.
Tinya is survived by her husband, James E. Finch of Early, Texas; son, Clint Tawwater and his wife, Becca of Early; and grandson, Teddy.
Tinya was preceded in death by her mother, Dana Mae Meeker; father, Jim Ed Meeker; and brother, Jeff Meeker.
Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.com