Mary Loraine Markle

Mary Loraine Markle STUARTS DRAFT

Mary Loraine Markle, 85, wife of Don Markle, passed away on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at the Augusta Health Shenandoah Hospice House.

She was born on January 7, 1925, the daughter of Emily and Raymond Heller, in their home at 108 Washington Park, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Mary graduated from Nazareth High School and the University of Pennsylvania School for Medical Librarians, and thereafter was employed in that specialty at the Foxchase Hospital in suburban Philadelphia.

When her only child, David Lee, left home to attend West Virginia University, she studied and graduated sum cum laude with an associates in accounting from Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) in Pennsylvania. Thereafter she was employed in several businesses in accounting and eventually in her husband's independent venture in professional teacher training services.

She is survived by her husband, Don Markle; one son, David Lee Markle; one sister, Kathy Marc; one brother, Reuben Heller; and many of their children; many loving nieces and nephews on the Markle side. Her nephew, Bob, and his loving wife, Betty Markle, hosted many family gatherings precious to Mary. A small basket of gorgeous flowers from them remained at her bedside serving table until she passed.

Her lifetime hobby was a variety of handmade crafts, e.g., textiles, art, ceramics, quilting, ornaments, dolls, clowns, cross-stitch, flowers, paper crafts, decoupage, greeting cards, and many more. She delighted in doing workshops to teach craft skills. Oh how often she declared "I'm not a teacher or an artist!".Yet in her show and tell demonstrations of how a delightfully intricate and beautiful "gift" could be made by "just anyone", (even Mary) if "you figure out all the steps to create it" Presto! the magic of her innocent art took place! Unknowingly in her seeking lovely gifts for folks to make for their friends, her creative spirit tumbled forth in many ways that others admired, though she was ever overly modest about it.

Mary lived for 27 years in the Harrisburg area of central Pennsylvania in a lovely hillside home on a small mountain overlooking the Susquehanna River. Retirement brought her, in 1994, to be with good friends in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

The family will receive friends beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at Finley Memorial Church.

Relatives and friends are invited to a joyful service celebrating her life in our Lord's care, which will be held at the Finley Memorial Church in Stuarts Draft, 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010. The Reverend Don LaRue will be conducting and the Reverend Jeffery Schroeder, chaplain for the Stuarts Draft Christian Retirement Community, will share in the proceeding.

A social with light food and beverages will follow. Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes of Waynesboro will assist at the church followed by inurnment in the Markle crypt site at the Augusta Memorial Park.

No graveside service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Shenandoah Hospice House, 111 North Campus Lane, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939.

Family and friends may share their condolences and sign the guest register book on line at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.