Mary Worthington

Mary Floy Worthington, 94, Beavercreek, Ohio, formerly of Topeka went home to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, February 20, 2016. She passed away peacefully at Pristine Senior Living of Beavercreek, Ohio where she was a resident for the past two years. Mary was born to Barton Lane Anderson and Dora Hay (Goracke) at the home of her paternal grandparents on August 25, 1921 near Imperial, Nebraska. Both parents preceded her in death. Mary was the oldest of four siblings, two survive; Muriel Martin, Parma, Idaho and Mark (Kathleen) Anderson, British Columbia, Canada. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jesse on Christmas Day 1944. When Mary was young, her family moved to Phillips County Kansas where she spent her growing up years on the farm with the exception of a couple years living in Wisconsin. She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1942, went to a local college, and received a teaching certificate. June 4, 1947, she married Earnest Lee Worthington at the home of her parents in Ottawa, Kansas. She and Earnest met at The First Nazarene Church in Topeka, Kansas in the mid 1940's. They were married 44 years at the time of his death in 1991. Together they had four children, three survive; Barbara (John) Teter, Fairborn, Ohio, Gary (Pam) Worthington, Hutchinson, Kansas, and Wayne (Holly) Worthington, Copperas Cove, Texas. The 2nd child Marvin Lee passed away at birth in 1951. Mary had 10 grandchildren, 9 survive, 25 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.

Mary lived in the Topeka area about 30 years raising her family. After children and retirement, lived in Benson, Arizona about 13 years, moved back to Kansas, lived in Kingman about 18 years, moved to Ohio to live by her daughter where she spent the last 10 ½ years of her life. She's had various jobs throughout her life; taught school, secretarial work, cleaned houses, took in ironings, babysitting, worked in the church nursery, church secretary, the last job held was a clerk for the State of Kansas.

Mary loved to read, write letters, dabble in genealogy, sew, always made all her own clothes, crocheted, embroidered, quilted, made dolls, canned lots of food, loved gardening (she would be up at 6AM in the flower beds), and who could ever forget all those homemade pies, cinnamon rolls, fudge, etc. The aroma flooding the house and melting in the mouth.

Mary's foremost love was for God and church, always up early reading her Bible. Growing up she attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church, in the 1940's started with the Nazarene church, been a member there ever since. Always helping out where needed; greeting, help with socials, office work, missionary work, making bandages, clothes etc. Mary's philosophy was "Idle hands are the devil's workshop".

She was loved and will be greatly missed by all. Her legacy has passed on to her children and now to the grandchildren. "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed" Prov. 31:28

A Celebration of Mary's Life will be held at The First Nazarene Church, Topeka, Kansas at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 3rd. All are invited. Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary's name to the family.

To share a memory of Mary or to leave a special message of condolence, please visit the guestbook below.