Mary Skinner Carothers

Mary (Skinner)Carothers, 92, passed on June 6, 2011 at the Scallop Shell Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Peace Dale, RI. She was the loving wife of the late Robert F. Carothers, and the daughter of the late George and Ethel Skinner of Conway, PA. Mary was the mother of four sons: Robert L. Carothers and his wife Jayne Richmond of Kingston, Richard A. Carothers and his wife Karen of Oklahoma City, the late James Carothers and his wife Susan of New Alexandria, PA, and John K. Carothers and his wife Amy of Reno, NV. She was the grandmother of Robert K. Carothers, Shelley Carothers Schurer, Matthew K. Carothers, Sam R. Pittle, Jennifer R. (Carothers) Crozier, Kathleen R. (Carothers) Brillantes, Andrew R. Carothers, Stacey (Carothers) Larson, David Carothers, Sean Carothers and Ian Carothers; and thirteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Thomas Skinner and his wife Kay of The Villages, FL, and her sister Ruth (Skinner) Negry of Monaca, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews. Born in Bulger, PA, in coal country, Mary had a deep belief in the power of education to raise people up, and was proud that each of her boys had graduate degrees. She attributed that to her having read to them endlessly when they were children. She had a strong sense of fairness and justice, a passion for the underdog and a love of the land, on which she planted many gardens. She was a member of Presbyterian congregations in Pennsylvania and Florida. A celebration of her life will be held Friday from 5-7 PM at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield. Burial will take place in Freedom, PA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Rhode Island Foundation, Citizens Scholar Fund, 79 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881.