Mary E. (Nash) Mears, 86, of Georgetown, Del., passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Harrison House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown. She was a member of Providence United Methodist Church and had led a very active life, endearing her to people all over Sussex County.
Mears served for 11 years as one of the dispatchers of the Sussex County Call Board, which pre-dated the 911 system. She drove school buses for more than 25 year and was a Delaware Master Gardener, Sussex County Division. She won Master Gardener of the Year in 1997 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. She was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2931, volunteered with Delaware Hospice Festival of Trees, was a member of the auxiliary of the American Legion Post 8 and the Anona Council #11 of Pocahontas. She also served in the Georgetown Historical Society, on the Board of Elections and was Queen of Sussex County Cedars of the Red Hat Society at CHEER.
Mears was preceded in death by her parents, Harry C. and Nellie Blades Nash; her husband of 32 years, H. Dale Mears; and two sons, Richard W. Mears and Gerald E. Mears. She is survived by four sons, H. Dale Mears Jr. of Georgetown, William D. Mears and his wife Joyce of Georgetown, Ronald D. Mears of Townsend and Lloyd A. Mears of Georgetown; a brother, J. Paul Nash and his wife Linda of Greenville, N.C.; several nieces and nephews; and a very special niece, Jeannie Johnson of Milford, Del.
Funeral services were scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26, with interment in Providence Cemetery on Shortly Road in Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Providence Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Maryleen Cathell, 216 W. Market St., Georgetown, DE 19947.