Mary Elizabeth Rumberger

Mary Elizabeth Harrison Rumberger (1929-2024)

Mary Elizabeth Harrison Rumberger, 95, passed away Thursday evening, November 28, 2024 at her residence on Chart Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She was born May 4, 1929 in Devon, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Joseph Daniel and Flora May Brown Harrison, She was preceded in death by her husband of 15 years, Robert Cleland Rumberger, one son, Billy James Ratliff; and one grandchild, Billy Joseph Ratliff; two brothers, Nathanael Andrew Harrison and Samuel Paul Harrison; a half-brother, Norman William Harrison; and two sisters, Rhoda May Ruth Harrison and Evangeline Martha Harrison Coleman.

She was a member of the Grandview United Methodist Church, North Akron, Ohio. She cherished the time she could spend with her children and great-grandchildren.

Mary is survived by two sons, Joseph Daniel Ratliff (Kim) of New Kent Virginia, Roy Samuel Brown (Wendy) of Akron, Ohio and one daughter, Rebecca Lynn Ratliff Cate (Charles); 11 grandchildren, Teeya Brandt, Alicia Cate Youngberg (Trevor) and Carrie Cate Matsushita (Nobi), Alexis Brown Wyatt (Jimmy), Andrew Brown (Katelynn), Ashley Brown, Christopher Brown (Lakyn) and Beau Brown (Ian), Jacklyn Ratliff Biggs (Casey) and Billy Ratliff, Dylan Ratliff; 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Mary leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

A service for family and close friends will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Condolences can be sent to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221.

Mary Elizabeth Harrison was born May 4, 1929 in Devon, West Virginia. Her father was a section foreman at the Devon Norfolk and Western yard that could only be reached by train at the time. Devon was on the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River. A few decades earlier it had been part of the locale of the Hatfield-McCoy feud. Mary’s mother, Flora May Brown, was born in Smith County, Kansas near the location where the song Home on the Range was written. Mary’s father Joseph Daniel Harrison’s family was from south centra Virginia. Her parents met in Kansas City.

Mary’s father relocated after Devon to railroad section houses as the Norfolk and Western Railway directed him. During these younger years Mary’s parents instilled in her a profound religious respect. These moves took Mary south along Knox Creek to stations in Kentucky and Virginia-Woodman, Argo, Hurley, and Upper Elk Creek where her parents created and taught Sunday schools. Eventually, the family made their way to Dismal Creek near Patterson, Virginia, the last section house and the last place where the entire family lived together. Her brothers were Nathanael and Sam and sisters Rhoda and Evangeline.

Mary attended high school in nearby Grundy, Virginia. While working as a clerk in a five and dime store, she met Billy Jewell Ratliff. They married November 13, 1948. They made their home in Longbottom, near Grundy and Lum Hollow. Joe, Becky and Billy were born in the Grundy area where they lived until Billy Jewell sought better work in Clyde, Ohio just west of Bellevue.

Mary’s fourth child, Roy Samuel, born in Bellvue, moved to Cuyahoga Falls with Mary and her new husband, Bob Rumberger, and Bob’s son, Kenny,

Becky and her husband would visit the Rumberger’s often in the Falls with their children. Becky’s children came to love their grandmother greatly. They enjoyed many trips with their grandmother to places such as Niagara Falls, NY,, Devon, West Virginia, (Mary’s birthplace), the Knox Creek Valley, Grundy, the Breaks, and Roanoke and Red Oak, Virginia where Mary’s extended Harrison family lived including her half-brother, Norman William Harrison, In turn, Mary made several trips to Iowa to visit her daughter and grandchildren. Throughout her life, Mary adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary had the great pleasure of living most of her years close to her two sons Billy and Roy and their families in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. During those years she traveled with Grandpa Bob to visit Becky’s family in Iowa and Joe’s family in Virginia. During that time, she took many trips with special friends including an Alaska cruise, trips to the western U.S., and several trips to southeastern states to visit relatives.

She spent time in Florida where she and a friend lived in a 55+ community. As she grew older Mary favored spending winters in Florida, first in Palmetto near Tampa and later in Cape Coral in a house furnished by her son Roy. Here she was able to spend time with her daughter Becky and enjoy visits from her sons Joe, Billy, Roy, and their families. When health began failing her, she moved back with Roy’s help to assisted living in Cuyahoga Falls where she would be surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary’s extended family includes:

Joe and Kim, Dylan

Becky and Chuck, Teeya, Alicia, and Carrie

Teeya Jewell, Arien, Jozie

Jewell, June and Waylon

Alica and Trevor, Alexander and Archer

Carrie and Nobi, Ami and Hira

Billy and Patti, Jackie, Billy Joe (Cathy, Joe, Eric)

Jackie and Casey, Oscar, Molly

Billy Joe and Amber, Braden

Roy and Wendy, Alexis, Andrew, Ashley, Chris, Beau

Alexis and Jimmy, (Scott) Jillian, Avery, Quinten, Sammy

Andrew and Katelynn, Ilsa

Ahsley and David, Ava, Hallie

Christopher and Layken

Beau and Ian