MARY WILLARD
October 16, 1917 — May 12, 2016
Mrs. Mary Anders Willard, age 98, of Thurmont, Maryland passed away, Thursday, May 12, 2016 at St. Joseph's Ministries in Emmitsburg following a brief illness.
Born October 16, 1917 at Catoctin Furnace, Maryland. Mrs. Willard was the daughter of the late Howard Jonathan and Annie Mary Roof Anders.
She was married to Herbert Eugene Willard for 43 years. He preceded her in death in 1977. Mary then became a true matriarch to her family of seven children.
Mary and her husband were members of Catoctin United Methodist Church. Some of Mary's greatest joys were reading, making quilts for the church auctions and traveling with Diakonia Travel. She would bubble with effervescence when sharing the adventures of her bus trips. Her most favorite of all thrills was when she circled over the roaring precipice of Niagra Falls in a helicopter.
She is survived by two daughters; Betty Willard and husband Clarence Lee and Ella Raby, and son Gideon Willard and wife Alta, and daughter-in-law Barbara Willard. Surviving grandchildren are Rickey Willard, Kimbra Grimm, Stephen Raby and Stephanie Fulk. Surviving great grandchildren are Sarah Baker, Jared Grimm, Joshua Raby, Ashley Raby and Chelsea Fulk. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Mary will also be remembered by her faithful church friend Betty Miller, who called her every evening at seven for several years. Mrs. Willard was predeceased by four sons; Kenneth Eugene Willard, David Herbert Willard, Howard Allen Willard and Stephen Gary Willard, and a daughter-in-law Nancy Willard. She was also predeceased by a brother James Anders, a sister Evelyn Shipley, two step-sisters Beulah Green and Hennie Marshall and her good friend and traveling companion Anna Lewis.
The family will welcome friends at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 104 E. Main Street, Thurmont on Sunday May 15, from 6 - 8:00 pm, where funeral services will be held Monday, May 16, at 2:00 pm with Pastor Terry Orrence officiating.
Interment will follow in the family plot at Little Chapel on the Hill in Lewistown.
Serving as pall-bearers will be Tommy Fraley, Larry May, Gene Hurley, Austin Hurley, Rickey Willard and David Grimm.
If desired, memorial donations may be sent to Catoctin United Methodist Church, Nancy Fraley, 8018 D Apples Church Road, Thurmont, Maryland 21788.
The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Joseph's Ministries for their compassionate care during Mary's eight months residence. Also a special thanks to the caregivers who gave Mary many opportunities to sing the solos from her repertoire of sacred and patriotic music. Joy seemed to emanate from her soul as she sang and very meticulously conducted every phrase of each melody. Mary's "little concerts" always began and ended with Amazing Grace.