Mary Catherine Boots, 1 August 1946 to 27 January 2015. Born into a missionary family on furlough in Canton, Ohio in 1946, Mary lived an extraordinary life and has left family, friends and students touched by her passion for life and compassion for people. Mary spent most of her magical childhood at the Friends Mission in Chhartarpur, India where leopards, lepers, tigers, cobras and the extreme poverty of the lower castes were formative of her later world view.
Diagnosed with early onset diabetes as a child, Mary spent a lifetime pushing aside her physical ailments to pursue her dreams as a teacher, speech & debate coach, principal, mother and wife. Ailments and physical limitations did not dampen Mary's joy of life. She shared that joy to inspire and motivate many students to strive toward being the best and most they could be. After college, Mary and her former husband Frederick Boots (deceased) took up the challenge to move to Atlanta, Georgia during the hot period of racial tension in the late 1960's where Mary taught in a poorer school district that was underserved by teachers. Her students paid tribute to her on graduation playing Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters, recognizing her impassioned teaching style and insistence to step beyond the racial divide.
In the 1970's and 1980's Mary taught high school English in Columbus (OH), Richmond (IN) and rural schools in southern Indiana. In the 1990s through early 2000s, Mary taught high school and community college courses across Ionia and Montcalm Counties in Michigan until she finally landed as the principal of the charter school, Threshold Academy, perhaps her most rewarding challenge to lift up children that many public schools were not equipped to handle. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her students. She greatly valued the many affirmations received from her students over the years including executives of companies, an author, an NFL player and many, many students who were simply inspired to make better their own situations. A common theme to all of Mary's career was to push students to rise higher than the commonly accepted limits of their environment.
Mary leaves behind a loving husband, Eddie Hill. Despite doctors telling her as a young woman she'd never have children due to her medical conditions, Mary beat the system by adopting two son who cherish her memory. On Tuesday 27 January, Mary passed on to greater glory and peace. Per her wishes, her ashes will be laid alongside her sister and parents at Alum Creek Friends Church in Marengo, Ohio on Saturday 7 February. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at lakefuneralhomes.com
Published in Ionia Sentinel-Standard on Feb. 5, 2015
Diagnosed with early onset diabetes as a child, Mary spent a lifetime pushing aside her physical ailments to pursue her dreams as a teacher, speech & debate coach, principal, mother and wife. Ailments and physical limitations did not dampen Mary's joy of life. She shared that joy to inspire and motivate many students to strive toward being the best and most they could be. After college, Mary and her former husband Frederick Boots (deceased) took up the challenge to move to Atlanta, Georgia during the hot period of racial tension in the late 1960's where Mary taught in a poorer school district that was underserved by teachers. Her students paid tribute to her on graduation playing Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters, recognizing her impassioned teaching style and insistence to step beyond the racial divide.
In the 1970's and 1980's Mary taught high school English in Columbus (OH), Richmond (IN) and rural schools in southern Indiana. In the 1990s through early 2000s, Mary taught high school and community college courses across Ionia and Montcalm Counties in Michigan until she finally landed as the principal of the charter school, Threshold Academy, perhaps her most rewarding challenge to lift up children that many public schools were not equipped to handle. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her students. She greatly valued the many affirmations received from her students over the years including executives of companies, an author, an NFL player and many, many students who were simply inspired to make better their own situations. A common theme to all of Mary's career was to push students to rise higher than the commonly accepted limits of their environment.
Mary leaves behind a loving husband, Eddie Hill. Despite doctors telling her as a young woman she'd never have children due to her medical conditions, Mary beat the system by adopting two son who cherish her memory. On Tuesday 27 January, Mary passed on to greater glory and peace. Per her wishes, her ashes will be laid alongside her sister and parents at Alum Creek Friends Church in Marengo, Ohio on Saturday 7 February. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at lakefuneralhomes.com
Published in Ionia Sentinel-Standard on Feb. 5, 2015
Mary Catherine Boots, 1 August 1946 to 27 January 2015. Born into a missionary family on furlough in Canton, Ohio in 1946, Mary lived an extraordinary life and has left family, friends and students touched by her passion for life and compassion for people. Mary spent most of her magical childhood at the Friends Mission in Chhartarpur, India where leopards, lepers, tigers, cobras and the extreme poverty of the lower castes were formative of her later world view.
Diagnosed with early onset diabetes as a child, Mary spent a lifetime pushing aside her physical ailments to pursue her dreams as a teacher, speech & debate coach, principal, mother and wife. Ailments and physical limitations did not dampen Mary's joy of life. She shared that joy to inspire and motivate many students to strive toward being the best and most they could be. After college, Mary and her former husband Frederick Boots (deceased) took up the challenge to move to Atlanta, Georgia during the hot period of racial tension in the late 1960's where Mary taught in a poorer school district that was underserved by teachers. Her students paid tribute to her on graduation playing Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters, recognizing her impassioned teaching style and insistence to step beyond the racial divide.
In the 1970's and 1980's Mary taught high school English in Columbus (OH), Richmond (IN) and rural schools in southern Indiana. In the 1990s through early 2000s, Mary taught high school and community college courses across Ionia and Montcalm Counties in Michigan until she finally landed as the principal of the charter school, Threshold Academy, perhaps her most rewarding challenge to lift up children that many public schools were not equipped to handle. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her students. She greatly valued the many affirmations received from her students over the years including executives of companies, an author, an NFL player and many, many students who were simply inspired to make better their own situations. A common theme to all of Mary's career was to push students to rise higher than the commonly accepted limits of their environment.
Mary leaves behind a loving husband, Eddie Hill. Despite doctors telling her as a young woman she'd never have children due to her medical conditions, Mary beat the system by adopting two son who cherish her memory. On Tuesday 27 January, Mary passed on to greater glory and peace. Per her wishes, her ashes will be laid alongside her sister and parents at Alum Creek Friends Church in Marengo, Ohio on Saturday 7 February. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at lakefuneralhomes.com
Published in Ionia Sentinel-Standard on Feb. 5, 2015
Diagnosed with early onset diabetes as a child, Mary spent a lifetime pushing aside her physical ailments to pursue her dreams as a teacher, speech & debate coach, principal, mother and wife. Ailments and physical limitations did not dampen Mary's joy of life. She shared that joy to inspire and motivate many students to strive toward being the best and most they could be. After college, Mary and her former husband Frederick Boots (deceased) took up the challenge to move to Atlanta, Georgia during the hot period of racial tension in the late 1960's where Mary taught in a poorer school district that was underserved by teachers. Her students paid tribute to her on graduation playing Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Waters, recognizing her impassioned teaching style and insistence to step beyond the racial divide.
In the 1970's and 1980's Mary taught high school English in Columbus (OH), Richmond (IN) and rural schools in southern Indiana. In the 1990s through early 2000s, Mary taught high school and community college courses across Ionia and Montcalm Counties in Michigan until she finally landed as the principal of the charter school, Threshold Academy, perhaps her most rewarding challenge to lift up children that many public schools were not equipped to handle. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her students. She greatly valued the many affirmations received from her students over the years including executives of companies, an author, an NFL player and many, many students who were simply inspired to make better their own situations. A common theme to all of Mary's career was to push students to rise higher than the commonly accepted limits of their environment.
Mary leaves behind a loving husband, Eddie Hill. Despite doctors telling her as a young woman she'd never have children due to her medical conditions, Mary beat the system by adopting two son who cherish her memory. On Tuesday 27 January, Mary passed on to greater glory and peace. Per her wishes, her ashes will be laid alongside her sister and parents at Alum Creek Friends Church in Marengo, Ohio on Saturday 7 February. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at lakefuneralhomes.com
Published in Ionia Sentinel-Standard on Feb. 5, 2015
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