Mary J. Carlson, 80 of Bonita Springs, FL and formerly of Philipsburg, passed away on Sept. 14 at North Collier Hospital in Naples, FL.
Born Jan. 13, 1931, she was the daugher of the late Millard and Thelma (Price) Thomas.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Philipsburg and for many years was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church in Bonita Springs, FL, where she was in charge of the acolyte program and taught in the children’s Sunday school department. She and her husband loved to travel and visited all the states in the United States, as well as traveled to many foreign countries. She enjoyed all the activities at her church and the club house in her community in Bonita Springs. She was a dedicated alumni of both Bob Jones University and and Penn State University and enjoyed watching Penn State football games. Even in her retirement, she loved teaching and working with children.
Mrs. Carlson retired as a special education teacher in the Pottstown School District. She formerly taught in the Hyde Elementary School in the Clearfield School District and had been a mission teacher at the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky in 1953.
She was a 1948 graduate of Philipsburg High School and received a certificate of education from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Education in 1953, when she was a mission teacher. She received her bachelor of science degree in education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC in 1957 and master’s of education degree in special education from Penn State in 1961.
On June 25, 1955 she wed John Leonard Carlson at Grace United Methodist Church by the Rev. Don Sease. He passed away on June 5, 2000.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister-in-law Christine Martin and niece Sharen Martin.
She is survived by her precious dog and companion Snowball, as well as many cousins. Also surviving is her special adopted family: Bruce and Susan Brumgard of Fleming, their children Melissa Joyce James, Desiree C. Brumgard and Lois M.A. Brumgard, as well as their grandchildren, Joshua James Joyce and Jena Lee Joyce. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Raymond and Erna Carlson of Bedford and nephew John Martin and his wife Suellen of Coconut, FL. Also surviving are special family Dr. Patrick and Lois Caulker and their children of Orange, NJ.
Services will be held on Sept. 24 at at 11 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Philipsburg with the Rev. Mark Thumma officiating. Burial will be at the Philipsburg Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sept. 24 from 9-11 at the church.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 912 Pine St., Philipsburg, PA 16866 -or- First United Methodist Church, 27690 Shriver Ave., Bonita Springs, FL 34135.
Online condolences may be sent to beezer-heathfuneralhome.com.