Worthington

Mary Frances Simmons Worthington, 91, of Slippery Rock, passed away at Newhaven Court in Zelienople on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.

She was born in McCrory, Ark., on June 17, 1933, to John Jefferson Simmons and Kathryn Irene Warner Simmons.

Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1953, and taught physical education in several schools in Memphis, Tenn., and Fort Myers, Fla., before moving to New York City a few years later. There, she met and married Paul Nicoma Worthington. She and her husband, who was a jazz bass player and later an economics professor at Slippery Rock University, spent over 15 years in the city she loved most before moving to Slippery Rock in 1972. The couple devoted themselves to working and raising their children. Mary worked at the Office of Personnel Management until her retirement.

Mary was a strong, independent woman with opinions on just about everything. She met life head on and believed you always “do the best you can with what you have.” She left home for college at age 16; worked to support her young family in NYC when few women did so; earned a master’s degree in economics from Queens College in NYC; started a youth bowling program in Slippery Rock; cared for her husband for many years when he was disabled; loved biking on local roads and rail-trails after her retirement; and when her biking days had ended, was a “regular” at SilverSneakers exercise classes, taking children and grandchildren along with her when they visited.

Mary kept her mind active as well, reading poetry, the Atlantic Magazine, The New Yorker and the Economist; taking retiree classes at SRU; and watching classic movies. For many years, her television was set to watch the next tennis match or baseball, football or basketball game, allowing her to root for her favorite players. And Mary always enjoyed a glass of sherry after dinner.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Paul; her parents; her brother, James Larry Simmons; and her sister-in-law, Mary Josephine O’Brien Simmons.

She is survived by her children, Paula Worthington (Bruce Meyer) of Chicago, Sarah Worthington (Nathan Carver) of NYC and Joe Worthington of Pittsburgh; and seven grandchildren, Robert, Benjamin and Jacob Meyer, Lillian and Henry Carver, and Jake and Justine Worthington. Mary’s niece, Maureen Simmons Miller, and nephew, Jeff Simmons, also survive her.

Mary’s family would like to express gratitude to the many friends and neighbors who did so much in recent years to support her, especially Chris DeLucca and her family. A special thank you as well to the warm, caring staff at Newhaven Court in Zelienople, where Mary bravely moved last summer, forging new friendships in a new setting even in her final months.

WORTHINGTON — The family of Mary Frances Simmons Worthington, who died Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, will receive friends and guests starting at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, followed by a celebration of life ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to: Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team, 162 Elm St., Slippery Rock, PA, 16057, https://www.srvfc.com/; Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, https://waterlandlife.org/; or Allegheny Valley Trails Association, P.O. Box 264, Franklin, PA, 16323, https://www.avta-trails.org/.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.