August 19 1921 June 18 2019
Mary Louise Dearnley August 19, 1921 – June 18, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Memorial Donation Mary Louise Dearnley, 97, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2019 after receiving wonderful care at Hospice House for several months. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Houston Elliott and Adelia Cohn Hall Elliott; her two brothers; Edward and Robert, Jr., her husband, James L. Dearnley; and their daughter, Kim McEntire. Mary Lou was born in 1921 in Wilmington, Del., growing up on a dairy farm near Kennett Square, Pa. She attended a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Kennett Square High School where she enjoyed theater and English. Always a storyteller, she entertained others throughout her life with tales of her many adventures on an active farm and beyond. Before graduating from Connecticut College, Mary Lou met her future husband while attending summer school and married him in 1943 in the midst of WWII draft and deployment. They were happily married for 74 years. During college she was coeditor of the school newspaper and participated in field hockey and fencing. She enjoyed many other sports during her lifetime including snow skiing, canoeing, golf and tennis. Mary Lou was a frequent volunteer throughout her life, volunteering during WWII to watch for enemy submarine boats off the N.J. coast. She volunteered as a librarian, as a Junior League member and provided leadership for community and political causes. In the 1960’s, she helped create several indoor exhibits in the Museum of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, expressing her love of nature and the outdoors. In 1961 she and her husband put their faith in Christ which had a profound influence on her life. Mary Lou became actively involved in the women’s ministry and teaching Sunday School at their church in Pennsylvania. She greatly enjoyed teaching for Child Evangelism Fellowship in homes and in hospitals and became a popular Precept Bible teacher for many years. At the annual summer camp of Faith Mountain Mission in Kentucky she was in charge of crafts and doing Bible lessons. She was passionate about praying for others, helping and comforting those in need and telling them of her Savior’s love. Flower arranging, gardening and writing letters were things she enjoyed. Other joys included raising three children, loving her extended family, reading and always learning, and traveling to visit missionaries, family and friends. Her interest in history led her to put together an extensive lineage of both her and her husband’s family. She was well known in her family for delicious pies, fun sayings and butterfly kisses! Mary Lou is survived by her daughter, Cindy Schoeffel and her husband Mark, of Charlottesville; and her son, Christopher Dearnley of Costa Rica. She was also loved by her ten grandchildren: Kimberly Schoeffel of Charlottesville, Rebecca McEntire of Charlottesville, Jeff McEntire and wife Marisa of Charleston, S.C., Beth Kalombo and husband Gil of Yakima Wash., Sarah Gregoria and husband Anthony of Williamsburg, Va., Steve Schoeffel and wife Sarah of Denver, Colo., Jon Schoeffel and wife Cori of Baltimore, and Larisa, Josiah and Isaac Dearnley of Costa Rica. Thirteen great-grandchildren will miss her, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. A celebration of Mary Lou’s life will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church on Park Street, where she was a member for 10 years. Please wear shades of blue, pink and purple to honor her love of color! The family will receive friends immediately after the celebration. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritans Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, samaritanspurse.org. Condolences may be sent to her family at www.hillandwood.com. Print Obituary Sign Guestbook Name: Location: Video: Image: Light A Candle Candle 1 Candle 2 Candle 3 Candle 4 Email: Personal Message: Personal Message (required) Confirm: Submit Guestbook entry
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Louise Dearnley August 19 1921 June 18 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Charlottesville, state: Virginia