Ruth Mary Patterson Carothers, 88, an 86-year resident of Liberty Township, Mercer County, died at 2:18 p.m. Saturday at Grove Manor Nursing Home, Grove City after a long illness.

Born in Grove City, Feb. 21, 1918, she was the daughter of Wilbur and Mary Rebecca Beatty Patterson.

She was a homemaker and a received an award for being a 60-year member of the Frank P. Cheeseman American Legion Auxiliary in Slippery Rock.

Mrs. Carothers was a 75-year member of the North Liberty Presbyterian Church. Her service to God included teaching Sunday school for 25 years. She also was a member of the first board of deacons for 13 years, member and president of the Evening Gleaners and a member of the Missionary Society, the Presbyterian Women and all women's Bible studies. She also was a quilter, choir member, Sunday school secretary and taught Bible school.

Surviving are three children, Lois Barber and her husband, Walter, Rebecca Dunkerly and her husband, Chester, and Robert Carothers and his wife, Karen, all of Grove City; eight grandchildren, Nathan Barber and his wife, Lisa, Jennifer Barber Faull and her husband, Douglas, Amy Barber, David Dunkerly, Matti Carothers Schepp and her husband, Jason, Stephanie Carothers Thompson and her husband, Doug, Greta Carothers Pierce and her husband, Joshua, and Adam Carothers and his wife, Dawn; and 10 great-grandchildren, Nathan Barber, Krystina, Catherine, Kaylee and Benjamin Faull, Jacob and Nathaniel Thompson, Lennon and Marshal Pierce and Troy Carothers.

She also is survived by two sisters, Phyllis Osborne and her husband, Harry, and Dorothy McNeish, all of Grove City; and a brother, Richard "Dick" Patterson and his wife, Della Mae, of Grove city.

Her husband, James R. "Nate" Carothers, whom she married May 25, 1946, died Jan. 12, 1998. A son, James W. "Bill" Carothers; two sisters, Mildred Webster and Jane Midberry; and a brother, Thomas Patterson, preceded her in death.

<B>CAROTHERS </B>— Friends of Ruth Mary Carothers, who died Saturday, June 3, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Cunningham Funeral Home</B>, 306 Bessemer Ave., GroveCity. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the North Liberty Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Jerry Mahaffey officiating.Burial will be at the North Liberty Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the Deacon's Fund, North Liberty Presbyterian Church, 209 North Liberty/Plain Grove Road, Grove City, PA 16127.