Mary E. (Nash) Mears, 86

GEORGETOWN - Mary E. (Nash) Mears, of Georgetown, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Harrison House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Georgetown. She was 86.

Born in Stockton, Md., Mary was the daughter of the late Harry C. and Nellie (Blades) Nash.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, H. Dale Mears, in 1971.

Mary is survived by four sons, H. Dale Mears Jr. of Georgetown, William D. Mears and his wife Joyce of Georgetown, Ronald D. Mears of Townsend and Lloyd A. Mears of Georgetown. She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard W. Mears, in 1974, and Gerald E. Mears, in 1988.

She is also survived by a brother, J. Paul Nash and his wife Linda of Greenville, N.C.; several nieces and nephews; and a very special niece, Jeannie Johnson of Milford.

Mary was a member of Providence United Methodist Church, and led a very active life endearing her to people all over Sussex County.

She served for 11 years as one of the dispatchers of the Sussex County Call Board, which pre-dated the 911 system. She also drove school buses for over 25 years.

Mary was a Delaware Master Gardener, Sussex County Division. She won Master Gardener of the Year in 1997, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2006.

She was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2931; volunteered with Delaware Hospice Festival of Trees; was a member of the auxiliary of the American Legion Post 8; was a member of the ANONA Council 11 of Pocahontas; served in the Georgetown Historical Society; served the Board of Elections; and was queen of Sussex County Cedars of the Red Hat Society at CHEER.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Providence United Methodist Church, Shortly Road, Georgetown. A viewing will be two hours prior to the service.

Interment follows at Providence Cemetery. The Rev. Ron Schatz will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Providence Church Cemetery Fund. c/o Maryleen Cathell, 216 W. Market St., Georgetown, DE 19947.

Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.

Letters of condolence may be sent via www.delmarvaobits.com or www.watsonfh.com.