Mary Ellen (Raines) Slothower

Mary Ellen Slothower, 87, a lifelong resident of Wellsville, passed away Friday, November 26, 2021.

   She was born August 11, 1934, in Cumberland, MD the daughter of the late Clare E. and Nellie (Carder) Raines.

   Mary Ellen was a school bus driver for the Northern York School District for over 30 years. 

She gave many years to her community in various elected and volunteer positions. She served as Tax Collector and Auditor of Elections for The Borough of Wellsville. Mary Ellen was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Wellsville, Wellsville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, former leader of the Wellsville Scout Troup #146, the Wellsville Old M.E. Church and the Little Red School House Restoration.

   She was an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Wellsville Fire Company, Charter Member of the Wellsville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary when it formed in 1965, serving as its first Vice-President and then as President from 1977 thru 1990, as well as many years on the Board of Trustees. She was the driving force behind the Wellsville Fire Company's famous peanut butter egg fundraiser and was instrumental in the growth of the fire company's annual carnival and the large kitchen and building expansion project throughout the 1980’s.  

   Mary Ellen is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Ira "Jim" Slothower. Mary Ellen had five sons: Dennis (wife, Luana) of Wellsville, Mark (wife, Celeste) of Middletown, Scott (wife, Valarie) of Dillsburg, Edward, deceased (wife, Julie of Dover), and Ira J., III (wife, Karen) of York Haven. She had seven grandchildren: Andrew, Joshua, Zackery, Ian, Adrienne, David, Michael and twelve great-grandchildren. She is survived by a sister, Donna Foley of North Carolina and was preceded in death by her brother, Robert and her sister, Lois. 

   Services will be held Thursday, December 2, 2021, at 11:00 AM in her church, Grace United Methodist Church, 85 York St., Wellsville.  A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 1, 2021, from 6-8 PM at the Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc., 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg and on Thursday from 10-11 am at the church. Burial will be held in the Warrington Friends Cemetery, Wellsville.

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2595 Interstate Dr., Ste. 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Grace United Methodist Church, 85 York Street, Wellsville, PA 17365 or the Wellsville Fire Company, 95 Community St., Wellsville, PA 17365.

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