Mary Anne Osborne

Mary Anne Osborne, 85, of Kent, died Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Kent Healthcare Center.

She was born March 17, 1922, in Kent, to James Glenn and Helena (Cady) Osborne. She graduated from Kent State High School in 1940 and graduated from Kent State University in 1944. She also received her master’s degree in education from Kent State University. Mary taught Home Economics for 35 years and served as department head during her latter years at Washington High School in Massillon. During her tenure, she began a successful and popular program called “Bachelor Living” to teach young men how to manage their finances and take care of homes, drawing from football team members as well as other young men. One of her students was David Canary, who is a star in “All My Children.”

Mary was a warm and loving woman and adored by her family. She was a devoted aunt to her four nieces and nephews. For instance, she and her nephew Jeff Osborne arranged one summer to tour together in Europe. On the tour, her nephew met his future wife, Donna O’Bryan, with Mary cheering on the budding relationship. Jeff and Donna got married the following year in Dallas; Mary and her sister Jane flew to Dallas to attend the gala affair.

Mary was a lifelong and devout member of United Church of Christ of Kent, having joined in 1930 at the age of eight. She was also member of Circle E of KUCC; Coterie II, where she served one term as president; Woman's Club of Kent; Massillon Retired Teachers; and DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Like her mother Helena and sister Jane had in previous years, she served for one term as regent of the Aaron Olmstead chapter of the DAR and traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent the chapter at the annual national meeting.

She is survived by her sister Jane Osborne of Kent, brother Nelson Osborne and his wife Diane Osborne of Suwanee, Georgia; niece Linda Osborne Mullikin of Lawrenceville, Georgia, nephew Michael Osborne of Suwanee, Georgia; nephew Jeff Osborne of Dallas, Texas; nephew Jay Osborne of Marion, Iowa; grand niece Elizabeth Osborne of Suwanee, Georgia; grand niece Lauren Osborne of Dallas, Texas; grand nephew Patrick Osborne of Suwanee, Georgia; grand nephew Jeffrey Bruce “J.B.” Osborne of Dallas, Texas; and grand nephews Erik Shey Osborne, Daniel Shey Osborne and Coleman Shey Osborne of Marion, Iowa. She will be greatly missed and we believe she is in the presence of her loving Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8 – “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”)

Funeral services will be held in the spring at United Church of Christ with Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent. Memorial contributions may be made to United Church of Christ of Kent, 1400 E. Main Street, Kent, OH 44240. Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory are handling the arrangements.