Ruth Francena Dye Matheny

Ruth Francena Dye Matheny, of Doylestown, Pa., formerly ofColumbia, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at Doylestown Hospital. Shewas 87.

Born in Brookhaven, Ruth Francena was the daughter of themarriage between the late Edward Coney Greer and Ida Mae Dye.

Ruth Francena graduated from high school in Columbia. She workedfor the U.S. Treasury Department during World War II. She lovinglyraised her children in Baltimore County, Md., and worked as asecretary for many years at WMAR TV and Baltimore County Departmentof Aging, from where she retired at 75 years of age. She spent herretirement in Towson, Md., and Doylestown.

Mrs. Matheny was a devoted and loving mother with a strongspirit. She lived a life of grace, filling her home with music ofthe piano and lovely singing. She wrote a collection of poems. One,”Magnolia Hangs Heavy,” was about her Southern roots. She alsowrote numerous songs, including one for each of her children. Ruthwas an avid reader, appreciated lively music of years gone by andwas appreciative of all kindnesses. We believe she leaves us tomeet her family that has gone before her in the presence of aloving God.

Surviving are her children, Dianne Carofino and her husband,George, of Litchfield, Conn., James Matheny and his wife, Maggie,of Sparks, Md., and Ruth Ellen Matheny and her husband, AlexStickard, of Doylestown; her six grandchildren, Geoffrey, Jonathan,Bradley Carofino, Anne Hunt, Gregory Matheny and Malisa Matheny;her four great-grandchildren, Ana Hunt, George Hunt, MichaelCarofino and Allison Carofino. Also surviving are Ruth’s three halfsisters, Alice Greer, of Jackson, Juanita Summers, of Ridgeland,and Jean Greer, of Jackson.

A funeral service will be celebrated 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 17,2009, at Stringer Family Funeral Service, 26141 Highway 27 inCrystal Springs, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Intermentwill follow in County Line Baptist Church Cemetery.