Mary Shively

BOARDMAN - A celebration of life service will be held at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman on Wednesday, July 25, at 11 a.m., to honor the life of Mary Louise Shively, 79, who passed away suddenly at her home on Thursday, July 19, 2012.

Mary was born on Sept. 13, 1932, in Mount Pleasant, Pa., the third child of Russell and Mabel Myers.

Mary was a 1950 graduate of Ramsay High School, and was named to the Pennsylvania All-State Chorus her senior year. She was also a 1952 graduate of Miss Conley's School of Business, in Pittsburgh.
Upon graduation from business school, Mary applied her new found secretarial and administrative skills with her first employer, the Sears Roebuck & Company, in Greensburg, Pa. It was there that she met her lifelong partner and husband of 50 years, Merle W. Shively. Their mutual love of music became a common thread in their lives, and the hobbies they enjoyed together.

Mary was a 24 year member of the Bethel Lutheran Church. Over the years, she taught Sunday school, was an advisor for Luther League, was a member of the Bethel Elderberries, and was a fully devoted disciple of Christ. Her love of gardening, the outdoors and her "green thumb" were one of Mary's many gifts. She was a Charter member of the Applewood Acres Garden Club in Boardman, and served on the board of the Strongsville Garden Club, in Strongsville.

Mary's first love had always been music. She attributed this affection to the first two men in her life, her father Russell, and her brother, Russ. Her dad was a professional musician, who owned and operated Myers Music Store in Mount Pleasant, Pa. Her brother graduated with a music degree from Penn State University, and then toured with the Glenn Miller Band, as a trombone player. Mary was also a member of the AARP singing group, "the Notables," was a member of the Hammond Organ Society, and enjoyed attending musical performances around her community. Her love of family, love of God, and love of country were without equal.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Mary is survived by her three children, a daughter, Debbie Michael Gleydura of Poland, and two sons, David Karen Shively of Austintown and Michael of Parma; and four grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah Gleydura and Meghan and Nathan Shively. She also leaves behind two sisters, Jane Miller of Orange City, Fla. and Leannah Myers of Greensburg, Pa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother; and her husband, Merle, whom she married on Sept. 8, 1957.

Her family would like to thank those "special circle of friends," who got Mary out and about, and checked in on her, after she lost the love of her life, four and a half years ago.

Friends and family may call Tuesday, July 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Bethel Lutheran Church's Memorial Fund, or the American Cancer Society.

Professional arrangements are being handled by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.