Ayers

Edna Adeline Ayers of New Castle passed away peacefully at 2:25 a.m. Saturday in Jameson Hospital, New Castle, following a brief illness. She was 89.

Edna was born Jan. 18, 1922, in Leesburg, Mercer County, the daughter of William and Rebecca Knight Flannery.

She graduated from New Castle High School in 1940.

In her younger years, she was employed in the gold room at the former Shenango Pottery.

She was a member of St. Camillus Church, New Castle.

Active in local politics, she was elected to the New Castle School Board, where she served one term as president of the board. During her tenure, Edna was proud to be instrumental in establishing the first girl's basketball program for New Castle High School and remained a faithful follower and supporter of the team. She also was appointed at one time to the New Castle Parking Authority. She was a member of the League of Women Voters and was active in the Democratic Party in Lawrence County.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren, and she enjoyed gardening and reading.

Her husband, John Ayers, who she married Aug. 26, 1944, passed away Nov. 26, 2003.

She is survived by her five sons, John “Jack” Ayers and his wife, Diane, of Arizona, Tim Ayers and his wife, Marylee, of New York, Ed Ayers and his wife, Andrea, of New Castle, Chris Ayers and his wife, Kelly, of California and Matt Ayers and his wife, Melanie, of New Castle; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her three sisters, Elsie Malloy, Wilma Briggs and Nora Eakin; and her three brothers, James, William and Albert Flannery.

<B>AYERS</B> — Calling hours for Edna Adeline Ayers, who died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the <B>J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory</B>, 111 W. Falls St., New Castle. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with her son, the Rev. Tim Ayers, officiating. Following her funeral service, there will be a procession to the St. Mary Cemetery, where committal prayers will be in Resurrection Mausoleum.Condolences may be sent to her family by visiting the website www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com