Mary Mae Ferryman (nee Leethy), passed away on Sunday July 30 at the age of 83 years, 7 months, and 13 days.

The only daughter of Abram Vernon and Mary Luella Leethy (Kaeck), she was born on December 17, 1933 in Troy, Ohio. Mary resided in Troy until the time of her marriage to her first husband Robert H. Hanna. The next several years were then spent in the Sharonville, Ohio area. Relocating to Dayton in the early 1960s she married Raymond Ferryman.

Though, like most woman of the era, being a mom and homemaker occupied most of her younger years, Mary did work for a time as a order checker at Spring Hill Nurseries in Tipp City and as a proofreader at Printer Service Company in Dayton. In the late 1960s a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis resulted in her moving back to Miami County where she remained for the rest of her life.

Even with the MS slowly taking her vision and coordination, Mary lived independently until 2004. Her main joy was her beloved Cincinnati Reds which she followed religiously from her early teens in the days of the old Crosley Field up until the current season. The night before she passed away she spent listening to Cincinnati play Florida. Though they lost to the Marlins 3 to 7 it made no difference, because whether Cincinnati was having a winning season or not, they were always “her Reds”.

She is survived by 3 children Kimberly A. (James) Linthicum, Tracy R. (Lora) Hanna, and Bryan K. (Nancy) Ferryman. Stepson John Hanna and stepdaughters Sherry Wakins and Debbie Wakins; and sister-in-law Rosalie (Albert) Jarrett. Also left to morn her passing are 11 grandchildren, James Abram Linthicum, Matthew Linthicum, and Paul Linthicum; Anthony Hanna, Stacy (Glenn) Vigue, Maria Hanna; Travis Ferryman, Brooke (Todd) Edwards, Courtney Ferryman, Mikayla Ferryman, and Corbin Ferryman. Mary also leaves behind a legacy of 9 great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Abram V. and Mary L. Leethy; brother and sister-in-law, William and Jean Leethy; sister-in-law Betty (Willard) Miller; one infant son, Jeffery Hanna; one infant grandson Levi Hanna; spouses Robert H. Hanna of Pisgah, Ohio and Raymond Ferryman of Bland, Virginia; and stepson Michael Ferryman.

Viewing will be held at Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, 1124 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio on Thursday, August 3 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. Funeral service to follow at 11:00AM with Chaplain Mike Herbert officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests donations be made to the givers choice of the following: Hospice of Miami County at hospiceofmiamicounty.org, to the Meals on Wheels/Passport program through Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley www.cssmv.org, or to multiple sclerosis research at nationalmssociety.org. 

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