Mary Evelyn Blackburn Rother, 92, of Gnadenhutten, departed her earthly body and entered the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ early Friday morning, August 29, 2014, with her son Jeff by her side, in the Community Hospice House, New Philadelphia, Ohio. She was born August 8, 1922 in Gnadenhutten; a daughter of the late Russell and Grace Dumbauld Blackburn.

Mary graduated from Gnadenhutten High School in 1940 as class valedictorian, and then attended and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Heidelberg College in 1944.

She worked as a Junior Chemist for Graphite Bronze in Cleveland, and then worked in production control for Bailey Meter Company in Wickliffe. Mary was also a teacher for the Mentor Christian School, teaching in subjects of Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, and her favorite, English.

Mary was a member of the Gnadenhutten Women's Club, Gnadenhutten Senior Citizens, Gnadenhutten Historical Society, Gnadenhutten Moravian Church, and the Moravian Women's Fellowship. Mary enjoyed gardening, reading, hiking, and bird watching. She was a volunteer as a nature guide at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio.

Her husband of 33 years, Louis Edward Rother, died on March 13, 1982. They were married on August 21, 1948.

Surviving are three sons: Charles (Deborah) Rother of Mentor, Ohio; Jeffrey Rother of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Steven (Susan) Rother of Snellville, Georgia; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Ruth (John) Hanel of Wilmington, Delaware and Barbara Blackburn-Crow of Caliente, Nevada.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the John Heckwelder Memorial Moravian Church in Gnadenhutten with Rev. Darrell Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery in Gnadenhutten. Calling hours will be one hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the John Heckwelder Memorial Moravian Church.