Obituary for
Mary Ellen Pitney (Williams)
Mary Ellen Pitney, age 94, passed away on Friday July 1, 2016 at her home in Kinmundy, IL.
Mary Ellen was born in Carbondale Illinois on September 23, 1921, to William Matthew Williams and Martha Eva (Butler) Williams.
Mary Ellen graduated from SIU's school of education with a minor in journalism in 1941. During WWII, Mary Ellen worked for the FBI and the state department. Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Oliver Xavier Pitney in Reno, NV in 1947. While residing in California she worked as a teacher, a career that she enjoyed immensely. Mary Ellen was an avid geneologist and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Salem Chapter 202, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Salem.
Mary Ellen is survived by daughters Patricia Ridgeway of California, Sharon Folsom of Kinmundy, Pamela Crumb of Watervliet, Mi; brother, Dr. David Paul Williams of Halifax, Nova Scotia; 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Robert Pitney, brothers Chester, William Edmond and Daniel Earl Williams; sisters Virginia Olave Williams Miles, Violet Gale Newton, and infant sister Ione Williams.
A memorial mass and blessings of her cremains will be held on Monday August 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Salem. A reception will be held in the church hall following the memorial service.
Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders and may be mailed to the funeral home. Please visit www.jwnealfuneralhome.net to leave memorial tributes, condolences or to light a candle.
