Mary M. Thompson Parsons

She was born September 28, 1924, in Rootstown, Ohio, a daughter of the late Leon and Lila (Sturdevant) Thompson. Mary was a member of the Rootstown Congregational Church UCC where she served as the church secretary. Mary was also a secretary for the Portage County Republican Party and served on the Portage County Election Board.

Mary graduated from Hiram College with a teaching degree in math. She taught in Chagrin Falls, and later as a substitute teacher in Rootstown. After marrying her husband, Joe Parsons, she helped operate her family’s dairy farm in Rootstown. Mary loved the outdoors, especially gardening and camping.

Survivors include her son Bill (Karen) Parsons of Rootstown, grandchildren: Paul (Sharon) Parsons, Randy (Erin) Parsons, Chad (Dawn) Parsons, and Jeff Parsons, as well as her 7 great-grandchildren, and many foster children and foster grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joe Parsons in 1997 and her sister Betty Johns.

Friends will be received Thursday, August 23, 2012, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main St., Ravenna. Funeral services will be officiated by Reverend David Pattee at 10:00 AM on Friday at the Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St., Kent. Interment will follow at Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the American Cancer Society.