RANDOLPH, N.Y. - Mary Visker Searle, 92, of Route 394, Randolph and Englewood, Fla., passed away Saturday, (Nov. 10, 2012), surrounded by her family in Jamestown.
She was born Jan. 19, 1920, in Randolph, N.Y., the daughter of the late Richard and Loretta Clees Visker.
She was a 1938 graduate of Randolph Central School and was a 1942 graduate of the Gowanda State Hospital School of Nursing.
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Mary went on to work as a registered nurse for Gowanda State Hospital as a psychiatric nurse and later worked at Van Slyke Nursing Home in Randolph and was the school nurse for Randolph Elementary School.
She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Randolph, was a member and former president of the Episcopal Church Women and attended manydiocese women's conferences. She was also a member of the Randolph American Legion Auxiliary Unit 181 and Conewango Forks (Cardinal Hills) Golf Club.
She was a loving mother to not only her five children, but to all their friends and neighborhood chil-dren. She will be remembered most of all for her amazing ability to cook whatever her boys had hunted and opening her home to whomever ap-peared at the door and do-ing it with grace, candor and quick wit.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 70 years, Theodore A. Searle, whom she married Feb. 20, 1943, in Washington, D.C., on a weekend pass during World War II; three sons: Theodore A. "Todd" Searle and his wife, Kathy, of And-over, N.Y., Tyler D. Searle and his wife. Sheila and John J. "Jake" Searle and wife. Patty, all of Ran-dolph; two daughters: Julia S. LeGrant of Marlborough, Conn., and Jane S. Cain and husband, Tom, of Randolph; and a sister, Rachel Jorenby of Jamestown; 13 grandchildren: Tara Searle, Adam Searle, Roberta LeGrant, Andrew LeGrant, Gerrit Cain, Paul Cain, Tony Cain, Tyler Cain, William Searle, Benjamin Searle, Catherine Searle, Neil DeLaney and Chanell Miller.
She was preceded by her parents and siblings: William Visker, Tom Visker, Richard Visker and Jean Myers.
A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 20, 2012), in Grace Episcopal Church in Randolph, where a reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Inurnment will be in the Randolph Cemetery following her gift to the University of Buffalo Anatomical Gift Program for use of her body for research. Visitation will not be observed.
Arrangements are en-trusted to the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church St., Randolph, NY 14772.
To leave a condolence, log on to www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome. com.
Memorials may be sent to New Directions Youth & Family Services, Main Street, Randolph, NY 14772.
