Mary Alice Mathias

1926 - 2016

Mary Alice

Mathias

Mary Alice Mathias passed away at the age of 90, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Mary Alice was born in Canton, Ohio on January 5, 1926 to Herbert and Mary Ann Golden Anniversary Griffin Smith Calhoun. She attended the Cleveland Institute of Art where she graduated with a bachelors degree. While attending art school Mary Alice met Daniel W. Mathias and they were married on May 15, 1948 in Akron, Ohio. Mary Alice was a dedicated artist throughout her life, specializing in etchings; much of her work can be seen throughout Akron today. Mary Alice was a very active part of her community. She was the past president of both the Women's Art League of Akron and the Merriman Hills Garden Club, and she served as an active member of the Summit County Medical Alliance, the Akron Woman's City Club, the Children Services Board and the Ohio Arts and Crafts Guild. She did much volunteer work for the Akron Art Institute. Mary Alice was an avid gardener and would help out at the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. She was a member of several Garden Clubs and was instrumental in maintaining several garden islands in Akron. Mary Alice loved art, flowers and making the world beautiful, but what she loved the most was her family. In her spare time she would take trips to the cottage in Treasure Lake, Pennsylvania where she would take long walks with her husband and the dogs. Mary Alice was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Dan, of 62 years. She is survived by her four children, Jeffrey Mathias of Thomaston, Maine, Debbie Salyers (husband Gary) of Redding, Calif., Stephen Mathias, MD (wife Lynette) of Ridgefield, Conn., and Cindy Dougherty of Ridgeway, Va.; She had 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Mary Alice's life will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1361 W. Market St. in Akron at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, with a reception to follow. She will then be inurned at the Memorial Garden at St. Paul's Church. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Summa Foundation for Ophthalmology, 525 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44304 in support of Ophthalmology Resident Education. To share a memory, write a condolence or light a candle visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)