Mary Susan Pistner Carns, 77, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 at her home in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born June 23, 1937 to the late William and Dorothy Pistner.
She spent her very early childhood in Dubois before moving with her parents to Clearfield. She graduated from the St. Francis High School.
It was at St. Francis that she met her beloved husband of 44 years, Thomas Scott Carns. Due to his career at Harbison Walker, the couple made homes in Grantsville, Md.; Birmingham, Ala.; Aurora, Ohio; and Pittsburgh.
While in Birmingham, Mrs. Carns returned to college and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. She became a teacher and taught elementary and secondary history in Birmingham and Pittsburgh.
After her husband’s death from cancer in 2003, Mrs. Carns relocated from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati to be close to her daughter, Jenny, and son, Tom. She made friends everywhere.
She was known for her spirited good company. She was also never far from a bridge game or a Red Lobster. Her quick wit and easy laugh will be missed by many.
Mrs. Carns loved her grandchildren, and it was their company she most cherished.
She’s survived by a daughter, Mary Lee Carns and her husband, Jim of Beaufort, SC and her three children, John Carns Ryan of Houston, Texas; Sgt. William Robert Ryan of the U.S. Marine Corps. in San Angelo, Texas; and Molly Susan Ryan of Fairfax, Va.; a son, Thomas Scott Carns II of Mason, Ohio and his four children, Katie Carns of Berlin, Germany; Thomas Scott Carns III of Dalton, Ga.; and Christy and Kelly Carns of Cincinnati, Ohio; and a daughter, Jennifer Lynn Bouley and her husband, Pete and her four children, Patrick, Michael, Sarah and Christopher, all of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mrs. Carns is also survived by her much loved brother, Bill Pistner and his wife, Margie, of Greencastle.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday at the E.C. Nurre Funeral Home in Amelia, Ohio. A wake service will follow at 8 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Clearfield and followed by graveside prayers at Calvary Cemetery.
One of Mrs. Carns’ and her husband’s greatest sorrows was the death of their son’s wife, Karen Carns, in 2001. Remembrances in Mrs. Carns’ name may be made to the Karen Carns Foundation, 4600 N. Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, Ohio 45040. Mom, we miss you.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.