MARY CAROTHERS, 93, of Winfield, went to join her Lord on July 29, 2012. She was a long-time resident of Cowley County.

Mary was born on October 30, 1918 on a farm near Burden, Kansas. She was the daughter of James Thornton and Eunice (Rinehart) Dillman, the third of four children. Mrs. Carothers was descended from early Cowley County pioneers. Her maternal grandparents, Ephriam and Hannah (Portius) Rinehart arrived in Cowley County in 1875 and established a ranch in Richland Township. They traveled to Kansas from Illinois in a covered wagon, accompanied by Hannah's parents.

Mary's early education was conducted in the Excelsior Country School. She attended Winfield High School and graduated in 1936. After graduation, she worked on her family's farm. On a family trip to Indiana in 1940 she was introduced to the love of her life and on October 4, 1942, she and John S. Carothers were united in marriage at the Winfield Church of Christ. They celebrated 52 years together. To this union was born a daughter, Linda Lee and a son, John Thornton.

Mary was a life-long member of the Winfield Church of Christ. She and John were strong supporters of the Flint Hills Christian Camp near Sedan. They planned the menus and cooked for the campers for many years. After her children were grown, Mary worked for 26 years as a food service cook in the USD 465 cafeteria. After retirement, she enjoyed gardening, reading, needlework, and especially her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, Leona and Helen Dillman, a brother, Raymond Dillman, and her son-in-law, Don E. Gibbs.

She is survived by:
Her sister-in-law: Vivien Dillman of Tulsa, OK;
Her daughter: Linda Gibbs of Kansas City, MO;
Her son: John T. Carothers and wife, Carla of Winfield;
Her niece: Carol Stringfellow of Tulsa, OK;
Her nephews: Ken Dillman of Austin, TX; and Bob Dillman of Houston, TX;
Her six grandchildren: Lara Gibbs, Dayna Gibbs, Ellen Gibbs, Audra Adams and husband, Brent, Carmen Graham, and David Carothers and wife, Jennifer; and
Her 12 great grandchildren: Ariel Pourciou, Joshua Pourciou, Theressa Thacker, Deanna Carothers, Luke Graham, Tye Adams, Slade Adams, Kayla Gibbs, Chloe Watts, Alexander Watts, Joshua Gibbs and Briana Gowdy.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Miles Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday evening, July 31, 2012 from 4 to 8. The family will greet visitors from 5 to 7 that evening.

A Memorial has been established in Mary's name for the Flint Hills Camp in Sedan, Kansas. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.