Mary Belle Ace, 75, of Chicora passed away at 10 a.m. Friday surrounded by her loving family at the VNA Inpatient Hospice, Butler.
She was a 1954 graduate of East Brady High School. After graduation, she worked for Campbell's Grocery from 1954 to 1956. She then worked for G.C. Murphy in Butler, and from 1985 to 1989 she worked as a nurse's aide at the Chicora Medical Center.
Born in Kepples Corners, Fairview Township, Chicora, on Oct. 29, 1936, she was the daughter of Ernest P. Umstead - and Florence V. Claypoole Umstead.
She married Charles E. Ace on May 23, 1956. He died on Sept. 4, 2011.
She is survived by her daughters, Florence V. and James Walker of Chicora, Katherine and Dennis Steighner of Petrolia and Vicky and Dale Dunkle of Bruin; sons, Kenneth and Darlene Ace of Chicora, Ernest and Lisa Ace of Parker, Timothy and Cathy Ace of Argentine and Dennis and Faye Ace of Chicora; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She also is survived by her sisters, Donna and Daniel Surrena of Chicora, Janet Slater of Chicora and Alice and Chuck Hetrick of Chicora; brothers-in-law, Blakney Scott of Petrolia and Leonard Ace of Chicora; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Aileene Hetrick; brothers-in-law, Jack Hetrick and Robert Slater; and niece, Kelly Stewart.
ACE - Friends of Mary Belle Ace, who passed away Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets, Chicora, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2217 Chicora Road, Chicora. Services will follow at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Joseph Boomhower, pastor, will officiate.
Following the services, the interment will be in Mount Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery, Route 268 South, Chicora, PA.