Mary Catherine Dempster, 87, of Dennison, passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the Community Hospice Truman House in New Philadelphia. Born October 3, 1934, in Crozet, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Sidney Wade Wood and Lola Catherine (Smith) Wood-West.
A resident of Dennison for most of her life, Mary was a 1952 graduate of Dennison High School before attending Kent State University. She will be remembered by many for her work at the Tuscarawas County YMCA where she was first a volunteer, and then employed for 40 years, first in the pool teaching Aqua-Babies, then in membership, and also the scholarship department. She was the receptionist and bookkeeper for her daughter’s business, Teresa’s School of Dance, for many years. She also could be found in the restaurant of Harrison County Sales, a family business started by her father and mother in 1952. Mary loved reading, as well as spending time outdoors while gardening or riding her horses. She loved animals with pets ranging from monkeys to parrots, fish, ferrets, and dogs. She rescued every injured animal she came upon, usually raccoons, opossums, flying squirrels, or crows. She dearly loved her dogs, especially her miniature Australian Shepherd, Kali. She had an enormous amount of spunk and a true fighting spirit.
On March 16, 1953, Mary wed John William “Jack” Dempster and enjoyed 63 years of loving marriage with him until his passing on April 23, 2016. They are survived by their daughter, Teresa (David) Moore; granddaughters, Darcie (Sean Rinehart) Moore and Kendra Moore; and great-grandchildren, Sage and Soren Moore Rinehart. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Hallie Page Dempster-Garbrandt, and her grandmother, Mary C. Smith, with whom she was especially close.
A celebration of life, officiated by Pastor Doug Mallernee, will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 10th, at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison. Mary’s family will receive callers on Sunday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the funeral home. She will be interred with her beloved husband at Evergreen Burial Park in New Philadelphia at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to the Tuscarawas County YMCA for the Back-a-Youth Scholarship Program, which provides membership and programs to children and single-parent families in our area, a program about which Mary was particularly passionate.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
740.922.1970
www.lindseyfh.com