Mary L. (White) Brown, 84 of Penn Run, PA., passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 24, 2018 at Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, CA.
She was the daughter of John W. and Blanche O. (Dunmire) White, born on September 20, 1934 in Indiana, PA.
Mary met her husband Clair in 1953. They only knew each other 6 months when they eloped to Winchester Virginia and got married. She was just 18, he a much older man at 26 years old. They were happily married for the next 60 years, they almost made 61, but Clair passed away on May 14, 2014, just before their June 6th anniversary. They were always together, and loved each other so much. As they got older, she would always say, I shouldn’t have married an older man, he just can’t keep up, as she would see him sleeping in his recliner.
She attended Saving Grace Church in Indiana, and so loved going there. Everyone knew and admired her belief in our Lord and Savior. She loved to celebrate his life. She would say she was getting tired and was ready to be with the Lord. She was not afraid to die, and be with her love, and the rest of her family that had passed.
They lived on a farm most of their lives, raising beef, pork, chickens, and milk cows. They, along with their kids worked long days, but they were always happy. When they started to downsize the farm, Clair started working, and retired from IUP in 1989. Mary started her working career in 1972 as a Restaurant Manager in Indiana, at the Family Host Cafeteria, which then became the Landmark Restaurant. They were located where HB Culpepper’s is now. After that she worked at Weston’s Department Store, where she managed the shipping and receiving department. When Weston’s closed, she then went to the Bon Ton, again managing the Shipping and receiving department. She retired from there after over 30 years of service.
She and Clair enjoyed traveling, and were able to travel many places in their retirement years. She was famous for her great baking. She baked thousands of beautiful wedding cookies over the years. She had the best sense of humor, always smiling and making people laugh with her. She so enjoyed going to the Clymer Senior Center, and always had a great time there. She had a heart of gold and loved meeting and talking to people. She loved being with her kids and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She remained very independent in her 84 years, and still lived at her home alone, with little Lacey, her Pomeranian. Lacey was her baby, and was so much companionship for her. Everyone that knew Mary loved her, and her crazy antics. She was a special lady who will be greatly missed by all.
She is survived by two children, Kenneth Brown and wife Brenda and Karen Vehovic-Green and husband Robert both of Penn Run, PA; one sister, Alice Lantz and husband William of CA and one sister-in-law, Joanie White of CA; six grandchildren, Bethany Cessna and husband Lew, Nicole Matko and husband Stevie, Melissa Caruso and husband Brian, Shawn Vehovic and fiancé Kayla, Katrina McAfoos and husband Aaron, Chad Green and wife Jessica, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clair Brown, one daughter, Linda, two son-in-law’s, Daniel Bell and Michael Vehovic, two brothers, Don and John White.
Friends will be received on Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the McCabe~Roof Funeral Home, 565 Franklin St., Clymer. Mary’s funeral service will be on Monday at 11 am at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Manor Cemetery, Penn Run.
On line condolences can be made at www.mccaberooffh.com.
