Mary 'Lib' Stockwell

WILLIAMSPORT - Mary Elizabeth (Winner) Stockwell passed away on August 28, 2012. Born on November 18, 1922, she was the daughter of Kathryne Bennett and H. Merrill Winner. She was a direct descendant of Thomas Updegraff, who was the station agent of the Underground Railroad, which ran through her ancestral home, Long Reach Farm. As a child, 'Mary Lib ' knew a slave who stayed at the farm and was friendly with him, who remained on the property for years until his death. Mary Lib graduated from Williamsport High School, attended Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont, and graduated from Pennsylvania State University. During her years at Bennington, she worked at a settlement house in New York City, and wrote children’s' books. She received a post-graduate degree in 1946 from the Tobe-Coburn School of Fashion Careers in New York City, where she received the Legion of Honor Award from Mr. Gimbel, president of Gimbel's Department Store. When he asked her what she was going to do with her fashion degree, she said she was going home to Williamsport to get married! She was married to Charles J. Stockwell for 55 years, until his death in July 2001. She is survived by her three daughters -- Katherine S. Gilbert (Andrew), of Chevy Chase, Maryland; Ellen S. McGuire, and Mary S Zeitler (Gregory), both of Williamsport. She is also survived by five grandchildren -- Elizabeth McGuire Duggan (Timothy), of New York City, Michael S. Zeitler (Rebekkah), of Germantown, Maryland, Charles Adam Zeitler (Katie), of Alameda, California, Peter Ferrence Zeilter, of Greeley, Colorado, and Laura Katrina Gilbert, of Medford, Massachusetts, and her five great-grandchildren -- Clare and William Duggan, Zoe and Phoebe Zeitler, and Rayna Zeitler. Mary Lib was the owner and Chief Operating Officer of Neyhart's, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Neyhart's, a department store in downtown Williamsport, was founded by her parents, She was always an enthusiastic supporter of her hometown, and was especially involved in the downtown revitalization project. As a driving force in the creation of the Community Arts Center, she was the recipient of its first Vision Award. Additionally, Mary Lib was Chairman of the Board of the Williamsport Home, and a board member of the Lycoming County United Way, The Crippled Children's Society, Hope Enterprises, The Little League Scholarship Board, The Community Arts Center, and the first woman to be named to the Board of The Williamsport Foundation. A Past President of the Junior League of Williamsport, she was aslo a recipient of the Brotherhood Award. Mary Lib was a member of the Church of the Annunciation, The Ross Club, and The Williamsport Country Club, of which she was the longest dues paying member. Since 1979, Mary Lib and her husband resided at their home in Bonita Springs, Florida, for six months of the year. Mary Lib participated in the Naples Community Arts, and tutored children of migrant workers. An accomplished athlete for most of her life, she enjoyed tennis, swimming and golf. As a long-time supporter of Little League, she was especially delighted to throw out the first ball at a Little League World Series game. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to The Community Arts Council, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at Saint Joseph The Worker Church, 702 W. Fourth St., with the Rev. John Manno officiating. Friends and relatives will be received at the Allen & Redmond Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M., Monday. Interment will be at Wildwood Cemetery.