Anita Mortimer Michael passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 16, 2017 after an extended illness.

Born March 19, 1927 in Petrolia, Anita was the daughter of Dr. Earle Lincoln and Gwladys (Morgan) Mortimer.

Anita graduated from Fairview Township Karns City High School in 1944. She then attended Carnegie Tech, receiving a degree in dietetics in 1948. She worked as a dietitian at Oil City Hospital from 1950-1952. Anita served as the dietitian at Clarion Hospital from 1965 until her retirement in 1988.

She married Joseph L. Michael on September 28, 1949 at her parents’ home in Petrolia. They lived in Oil City when first married, but moved to Clarion where they lived in their same home since July 1951. Anita was a devoted wife and mother who enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading and preserving the fruits of Joe’s garden, but above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Anita and Joe were blessed to celebrate 65 years of marriage before his passing in 2015. She had many special memories from trips and cruises with close friends. Anita especially enjoyed family visits to Arizona, Virginia and Kentucky to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed participating in the Clarion Civic Club and various musical activities as a member of the Clarion Community Choir and her church choir.

One of Anita’s greatest joys was being a member of First Presbyterian Church in Clarion for over 64 years where she served as a deacon, an elder, and a member of the Caring Callers and the Personnel Committee. She also served as the Moderator of Presbyterian Women. She enjoyed participating in the PW Churchwide Gatherings in Ames, Iowa and Louisville, Kentucky.

Anita is survived by a son, Tom Michael of Smithfield, Virginia; and two daughters, Ruth Ann (Mikki) Gries and her husband Jim of Marana, Arizona, and Mary M. Jones of Somerset, Kentucky.
Also surviving are two grandchildren, Megan Lynne Jones of Somerset, Kentucky and Andrew Michael Jones, and his wife, Megan of Strunk, Kentucky, and three great-grandchildren: Kinslee and Kason Jones of Strunk, and Madison Garland of Somerset.

In addition to her parents and husband, Anita was preceded in death by her sister Dorothy M. Finch.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion (www.clarionfirstpresby.org) or the Clarion Forest VNA Hospice (www.cfvna.org).

Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood Street in Clarion where visitation will be held from 3 to 6 pm on Friday. An additional visitation will be held from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, 700 Wood Street, in Clarion followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Scanlon and Rev. James Dietrich officiating. Interment will be in the Bear Creek Cemetery in Petrolia.

Friends and family may send online condolences, order memorials or obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.