Paine, Mary Katherine Davidson (Mrs. Marshall Paine)

12/19/2013

OCTOBER 17, 1920 – DECEMBER 19, 2013

Mary Katherine Davidson Paine was born on October 17, 1920 in Bogalusa, Louisiana, but spent the majority of her
life in Baton Rouge. She passed away on December 19, 2013.

Mary Katherine and her husband, Marshall, were charter members of Ingleside Methodist Church. While serving as
Youth Director at Ingleside, Marshall received the calling to become a minister. Their first assignment was St.
Francisville – Tunica Church. Mary Katherine used to love to tell the story of the first Sunday that she and Marshall
went to church and she was asked to play the piano. She stunned the congregation by saying, “I can’t do that.” The
looks on their faces was one of apprehension. She quickly added, “Oh, I’m sorry, I do not know how to play the
piano, but I will be happy to help you in whatever craft or cooking projects you may have.” The relief on the
parishioners’ faces was quite evident, and they took her at her word. She was called on to do crafts for Bible School
and fundraisers for the church. She was instrumental in decorating the new parsonage that she and Marshall oversaw
being built. She crafted a nativity scene out of old dolls, including removing all the hair from one, in order to have a
bald wise man. She handmade the clothing of the entire nativity scene and made the barn out of styrofoam which she
cut and painted.

Mary Katherine was a talented, gifted person. Not only did she decorate her home and the parsonage but also her
daughters’ homes. She covered chairs and cornices plus made and hung all of their drapes. While visiting Bea’s
home, a friend remarked, I wish I could afford beautiful drapes. Mary Katherine assured her she could help her and
she did – for her entire dwelling.

Mary Katherine had a sense of humor and loved to laugh. She loved to wink at her family because none of them
could wink back at her; not Marshall, Arthur, Bea or Cathy.

She often chaperoned events for the church youth when they would travel out of town or out of state. She managed
to juggle her life in a way that enabled her to maintain the parsonage as well as her home in Baton Rouge.
Marshall had several assignments throughout his ministry including Port Allen; Donaldsonville, Slaughter – Bluff
Creek, St Luke’s, and Broadmoor as an associate pastor. Mary Katherine was by his side and would help in any way
she could at all of the churches they served. But, she never learned to play the piano.

Mary Katherine was a devoted mother to her three children, Arthur S. Paine, II (married to Carol Paine), Bea
Castricone, and Cathy Hoffmann (married to David Hoffmann), all of Baton Rouge. She brought much joy to the
lives of her grandchildren, Katie Paine Martin (Lafayette), Michael Paine (Mandeville), and Daniel Hoffmann and
Julie Hoffmann Boies (both of Baton Rouge). But the easiest way to bring a smile to her face was a visit from any of
her six great grandchildren, all of whom she absolutely adored.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Marshall C. Paine, her parents, Mary and Carl Davidson, her three
brothers, Bill Davidson, Dick Davidson, and Jack Davidson, and her grandson, Marshall “Marty” Paine, II.