Mary Battle Mackin

Mary Battle Mackin, 85, of West Wyoming and formerly of Forty Fort, passed away Saturday at home.

She was born Jan. 29, 1928, in Dickson City. She was the daughter of the late John and Mary Watso Battle. Mary graduated from Scranton Technical High School in 1946. She was a pioneer in the passenger airline industry, employed by Capital Airlines in Washington, D.C., for three years before marrying John Mackin in 1951. Mary was the mother of 12 children and celebrated 56 years of marriage. She always signed her cards and notes with "children are the melody of life." After tirelessly raising her family, she entered college at the age of 55, earning a BA degree from Misericordia University in 1988. Three years later, she earned her MA in humanities from Beaver College, Glenside, Pa. She pursued post-graduate studies at Oxford, England, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, and Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy. Her quest for knowledge was endless.

Mary was employed for six years as assistant reference librarian at Misericordia University, before retiring in 1996. She was an avid artist, traveler, gardener and reader. Her love of travel and desire to understand other cultures took her to 17 countries over the years. She was always ready for an adventure. Mary won numerous awards for her artwork, quilts and pottery in various exhibits, including the Fine Arts Fiesta in Wilkes-Barre.

Preceding her in death was her husband, John Mackin, 2007; daughter, Christine Mackin Marshall; granddaughter, Amy M. Spaid; grandson, Michael John Mackin; son-in-law, Francis Rushton; son-in-law, Alan Hill; and brothers, John and Fred Battle.

She is survived by her children, Daniel Mackin and his wife, Kathie, West Wyoming; Jerome Mackin and his wife, Grace, Moon Twp., Pa.; Catherine Mackin, Exeter; Susan Walters and her husband, Richard, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Cynthia Mackin and her husband, Robert Miller, Flagstaff, Ariz.; David Mackin and his wife, Mary, Avoca; Maureen Spaid and her husband, Joseph, Beaufort, N.C.; Stephen Mackin, Minneapolis, Minn. Teresa Rushton, West Wyoming; Patricia Flannery, Laflin; Mary Hill, Exeter; and John Marshall, Haverford, Pa.; 20 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and brother, Robert Battle, Palm Desert, Calif.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from the Metcalfe-Shaver-Kopcza Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 in St. Cecilia's Church of St. Barbara's Parish, Exeter. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Exeter.

Friends may call Wednesday 5 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Misericordia Library Fund, Dallas, PA.

Her bag was packed and she was ready to go.