Mary Edna Neil Thomas
Mary Edna Neil Thomas, 103, formerly of Hickory, died Friday, April 26, 2019, at Southmont Presbyterian SeniorCare.
She was born February 14, 1916, in Hickory, a daughter of the late Leonard James Neil and Gwendolyn “Queen” Conkle Neil. She is the last surviving member of her family.
On July 25, 1934, in the First Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, W.Va., she married Raymond “Bob” Howard Thomas, who died September 29, 1997. They were married 63 years. Bob and Mary built their home on McDowell Road, currently called Red Fox Road, where they lived and raised their family.
Mrs. Thomas was a direct descendant of one of the first 10 settlers of Washington County through Johannes (Kunkle) Conkle “The Conkle’s of German Solitude 1784.” The Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Scenery Hill, displays the original Conkle Family stained glass window of “Jesus the Shepherd.” She was also a member of National Pike Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Thomas was a member of Chartiers Cross Roads Presbyterian Church and through the years led by her faith and belief, she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and directed junior choir. She served as a Deacon, a member of the Women’s Missionary Society and taught in the church after-school program. She was a member and volunteer of the Washington Hospital Auxiliary and also served on the Board of Directors of the Southwestern PA Area on Aging.
Mrs. Thomas was employed as a seamstress at Carnegie Park and Bell Sportswear. Her sewing skills were reflected in the dresses and prom gowns she made for her daughters and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for her grandchildren.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her heart and home was “the house by the side of the road,” where her grandchildren and friends could always come for help and comfort every day. Music was her gift and her love of poetry and the arts was shared with her children and grandchildren, encouraging each one to discover their talents through music, ballet and the appreciation of their inherited artistic legacy.
The family always could find a pasture, green fields and forest to roam and find respite from the outside world as Aunt Mary baked homemade pies, bread and homemade butter. At special family gatherings, with Mary at the piano, her sisters and brother sang in harmony, their mother’s hymns and classics were living praise of reminisce.
She is survived by two loving daughters, Mary Ann (John) Ostovic and Betty Eileen (Phillip) Camden of Florida; daughters-in-law, Alice Thomas, wife of the late Raymond Thomas, Bridget Thomas, the wife of the late Neil Thomas and also Jon (Jean) Pittman, whom she loved as a son, who lovingly called her “Sarge”; seven grandchildren, Raymond Thomas of Canonsburg, Gwendolyn (Tom) Hawkins of Ocala, Fla., Mary Alice (Anthony) Wojcuich of Washington, Adam (Michelle) Thomas of Ocala, Betty Sue (Carl) Dawkins of High Springs, Fla., Patrick Neil Thomas of Canonsburg and John P. Camden of Mishawaka, Ind.; great-grandchildren, John, David Timothy Thomas, Mark Dawkins, Christopher Wojcuich, April Young, Derek, Madison, Mariah, Gavin Thomas, Andrew, Robert and Felicia Dawkins and Molly Ann McCoid; seven great-great-grandchildren; five nieces, Margaret (Fred) Neil Rose, Linda Neil Dash, Beverly Fisher (Bill) Nelson, Lisa Fisher and Mary Elizabeth (Mort) Yancosek Gamble; and a nephew, Leonard J. (Jean) Neil.
Deceased are two sons, Raymond Miller Thomas and Alvin Neil Thomas; son-in-law, John David Ostovic and granddaughter Sarah Jane Ostovic; brother Wilfred C. Neil; sisters Ruth Odgen, Myrtle McDowell, Betty Yancosek and Lenore Fisher; two nephews, John H. McDowell III and Roy Charles Carlisle; and a niece, Mary Johanna Williams.
Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Chartiers Cross Roads Presbyterian Church with Pastor Gary Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Prospect Cemetery.
The Daughters of American Revolution service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday.
Those attending the funeral service should meet at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Chartiers Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 502 Old Hickory Ridge Road, Washington, PA 15301.
Additional information and a guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.