Mary Meyers, 1914-2008

Mary E. Meyers [Frostburg]

Cumberland Times-News

FROSTBURG — Mary E. Meyers, born Nov. 11, 1914 to Catherine Douglas and George Augustus Meyers, a life long resident of Lonaconing and formerly a public school teacher in Allegany County for 36 years, died Dec. 29, 2008 at the age of 94 at Frostburg Village Assisted Living, Frostburg.

Miss Meyers, a resident at her Main Street home for her entire life, began her teaching career in one room schools in Garrett County and thereafter taught elementary education to Allegany County children at Sulphur Springs, near Oldtown and the Pennsylvania Avenue School in Cumberland. She taught for seven years at the Hammond Street School in Westernport, later at Jackson School in Lonaconing. Her final teaching career was spent in 21 years at Central Elementary, immediately next door to the home where she had been born. As an outstanding first grade teacher, Miss Meyers taught hundreds of children to read and to love learning, a lasting legacy.

She was a member of the Allegany County, Maryland and National Retired Teachers Associations and held an honorary life membership in the Maryland Parent and Teachers Association.

Following her retirement from teaching in 1974, Miss Meyers became directly engaged in the civic affairs of Lonaconing and Allegany County. She was a member of the Lonaconing Bicentennial committee and active in making the 1976 Lonaconing Homecoming a success and for her efforts received the Lonaconing Jaycees Civic Award in 1976.

Miss Meyers was instrumental in forming the Lonaconing Furnace Park Association for the purpose of preserving the Lonaconing Iron Furnace (now an Historical Landmark) and establishing a community park at the site of the former Central Elementary School surrounding the Iron Furnace.

Miss Meyers worked with state and national figures in securing for Open Space funds, grants from the Maryland Historical Trust and the National Park Service and assistance from the District and State Wildlife Administration. Further, through the efforts of this committee the town of Lonaconing received $88,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the rehabilitation of sub-standard housing.

Miss Meyers gave frequent and extensive lectures and tours of the Iron Furnace and in that manner generated recognition of the history of Lonaconing. She was also a member of the committee to establish the George’s Creek Regional Library and re-mained an enthusiastic promoter of its varied facilities.

Miss Meyers was active in the Council of the Alleghenies, the Preservation Society and the Allegany County Historical Society. As Secretary of the Allegany County Committee of the Maryland Historical Trust she received special official recognition for the promotion of tourism locally. For some time she was a volunteer teacher for the Allegany County Literacy council. In 1986 she was appointed to the steering committee for the Allegany County Bicentennial Year celebration 1989. Miss Meyers also wrote for the Special Collections Room of the Frostburg State University a history of the Blacks of Lonaconing.

Miss Meyers was a graduate of the St. Peter’s Catholic High School in Westernport, Frostburg State College and the University of Maryland, College Park.

She was a life-long member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Lonaconing where she was Member of the Parish Council, taught Christian Doctrine and was an advisor to the Catholic Youth Organization. In 1998 Miss Meyers received the Archdiocese of Baltimore Medal of Honor as a “disciple of love and service”.

Surviving are her sister, Catherine T. Meyers of Frostburg Village Assisted Living; brothers, F. de Sales Meyers of Baltimore and Michael C. Meyers of Westminster; many nieces and nephews; devoted friends; and goddaughter, Andrea R. Bowden of Lonaconing and Baltimore.

She was predeceased by brothers, George A., John C. and Joseph G. Meyers.

Family and friends will be received at the Eichhorn-McKenzie Funeral Home P.A. (www.eichhorn-mckenziefh.com), Lonaconing, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated by Father James Hannon at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, Lonaconing, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009 at 11 a.m.

Last year at this time, Miss Meyers and her sister Catherine, donated their home adjacent to Furnace Park, to the town of Lonaconing. Plans are underway to convert it to a Heritage House to preserve the history, culture and way of life of the area that she so loved. The house is dedicated to Miss Meyers for her many contributions to her community.

The Meyers family wishes to thank the staff and “sitters” of Frostburg Village Assisted Living for their excellent care and many kindnesses.

Memorial donations for Mary E. Meyers can be made to St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Church Terrace SW, Lonaconing, MD 21539, the George’s Creek Regional Library, 76 Main St., Lonaconing, MD 21539 or Heritage House, c/o George’s Creek Promotional Council, P.O. Box 93, Lonaconing, MD 21539.