Mary Lou Hovis

Mary Lou (Wilkinson) Hovis, 69, of Harmonsburg Road, Meadville, died Thursday, May 3, 2007 at home in the presence of her loving family. She was born and raised in Meadville, Vernon Township area, September 11, 1937 a daughter of John Ellsworth and Lilly Louise Staley Wilkinson. She married Charles D. Hovis August 1, 1959 and he survives. She attended Vernon and Meadville Schools and graduated from Meadville High School in 1956, whereupon she entered the Meadville City Hospitals 3 year diploma program of nursing and graduated with a R.N. nursing degree. In 1984, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Villa Maria College and then a Nurse Practitioner certificate from the School of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania and PA Dept. of Health. Mary Lou was a member of the Watson Run Presbyterian Church where she was a former session member, choir member, Sunday school teacher, and youth group leader. She was a former member of the Vernon Grange, Vernon Lions Club, DeMolay Mothers, and served as president of the Meadville Football Mothers Club. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the I Can Cope cancer survivor group, she generously gave of her time and talents. Mary Lou worked as a registered nurse at Meadville City Hospital for 17 years, Allegheny College Health Center, and retired from Penncrest School District as the School Nurse mostly at Saegertown Elementary and High Schools. While living with her son in California, she also worked several summers as an AIDS research nurse at Los Angeles County Hospital. Survivors in addition to her husband of 47 years, include: a son, Gregg D. Hovis of Saegertown; two daughters, Lisa R. Pitell and her husband Michael of Wexford and Lori L. Johnson and her husband Keith of Uniontown, OH; four grandchildren, Tess V. Johnson, Grace L. Johnson, Sarah E. Pitell, and Matthew A. Pitell; a brother, John E. Wilkinson Jr. and his wife Shirley of Meadville; a sister, Joan A. Finn and her husband Gene of Tulsa, OK; a sister-in-law, Patricia Wilkinson of Linesville and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son Charles D. Hovis Jr., a grandson, Alex G. Hovis and a brother, William Wilkinson. She will be sadly missed and joyfully remembered. Friends and family will be received at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.. The funeral service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Watson Run Presbyterian Church, 13594 Harmonsburg Road, Meadville with Revs. Brian Snyder and Dan McEldowney officiating. Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan), 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, the Hillman Cancer Center, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, or Watson Run Presbyterian Church, 13594 Harmonsburg Road, Meadville, PA 16335.