Obituary of Mary L. McWhorter

Obituary for: Mary L. McWhorter Mary Louise Lund McWhorter was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on January 20, 1924 to Florence Grossback Lund and Cyrus Raymond Lund. She was a premature baby who weighted only 1.5 pounds at birth and was brought home from the hospital in a shoe box. She was not expected to live, but her mother added calories between feedings with a lump of sugar wrapped in cheesecloth which served as a pacifier. Before long, she graduated to sleeping in a dresser drawer. When Mary Lou finally stopped growing, she was a striking and smart young woman at over 5 foot 9 inches tall. She shared many stories growing up in Pennsylvania with her sister Patti. Mary Lou's life was drastically changed when, during a trip to South Florida to help provide aid at the hospital (when it was at the present-day Elks Lodge), Mary Lou fell in love with a local Clewiston boy. She went on to marry Charles "Tubby" Owens and have three children, Patricia "Pro", Carolyn, and Cyrus. For many years, Mary Lou worked at her mother-in-law's (Ruth Owens) retail store, 'The Toggery Shop'. She claimed to know many of Clewiston resident's body measurements when they walked in the door! Pro and Carolyn gave the couple five grandchildren before Tubby died of a heart attack in 1968 - Elizabeth, Darbie, James, Artis and Julie. Mary Lou married Charles L. McWhorter on July 3, 1970, and expanded the family with his three children - Diane, Ronnie and Connie. Pro gave Mary Lou two more grandchildren - Lara and Catrena, and son Cyrus added two grandchildren - Lauren and Matthew. After working at the Clewiston National Bank for several years, Mary Lou joined Charlie in selling life insurance at Gulf Life Insurance. Together they enjoyed golfing, and traveling the United States in their Winnebago. Mary Lou attended the Presbyterian Church in Clewiston, and enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, and traveling with her close friends. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her two husbands and her two daughters. In addition to Charlie's children and grandchildren, she is survived by son Cyrus, nine grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Mary Lou's funeral service was held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, August 13, 2012 at the Community Presbyterian Church with Rev. Tom Slager officiating. You may light a candle leave your condolences to the family at www.akin-davis.com Cremation Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home -Clewiston