Mae Holtry

Mae Ilene Holtry, 74, of Newburg, went to be with her Savior, Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at her home surrounded by her family. Her life verse over the last five months during her illness was Psalm 118:17 “I SHALL not die, but LIVE, and declare the works of the Lord“. She is now truly living.

Born Tuesday, December 27, 1949 in Waynesboro, PA she was the daughter of the late Harold and Verda (Wingert) Meyers.

Mae was a 1967 graduate of James Buchanan High School, Mercersburg PA. Her early married life to William Holtry took her to Fairbanks, AK. God used her fortitude and dedication there as they took up housekeeping in a cabin 30 mile west of Fairbanks; worked in a juvenile boy’s home and later in Fairbanks Hospital and assisted in the inception of Far North Missionary Chapel. God continued to use those qualities as they moved back to Pennsylvania and opened Blue Mountain Brethren in Christ church in May of 1981 and My Brother’s Keeper, a mission work serving the people of Romania, in 1991. She spent many of her years in bookkeeping roles for those ministries as well as a family equipment business, Holtry’s LLC.

Mae considered her most important role in life to be that of a mother, grandmother and homemaker. Her children knew her as a woman of intentional prayer, and credit their own walk with Jesus to that effort. Being a hostess was her gift; she loved having “special” recipes such as “pink fluff” that her grandchildren could not resist and she enjoyed finding unique gifts such as wooden marble rollers and interactive books. She was a natural at taking care of helpless creatures and over the years helped countless little bunnies, kittens, goats and even an owl survive. At first glance a serious person, there were moments, like a 2am photo shoot with an 8 foot snowman in the middle of Roxbury, that exhibited a very jovial mama.

She loved serving the Lord as she planned and led yearly Vacation Bible Schools, church programs and coordinated the nursery services at Roxbury Holiness Camp Meeting for 28 years. In recent years she was employed at Masland Associates, Carlisle, PA and as God led her back to Alaska at Far North Christian School and Open Arms Daycare, Fairbanks AK. In any role she served her heart always had a passion to cuddle the “little ones” and share the love of Jesus with children.

Mae is survived by her children, William D. II (wife Amy) Holtry, Luke D. (wife Rachel) Holtry both of Orrstown, PA and Rebecca J. (Holtry- husband Michael) Smith of Alexandria, PA. Seven grandchildren, Nathaniel (Kristin) Holtry, Joshua (Jordan) Holtry, of Shippensburg PA, and Caleb, Hadassah, Isaac, Hezekiah, and Faith Smith of Alexandria PA. Four great grandchildren, Sydney, Olivia, Alexander and Archer Holtry of Shippensburg PA. Additionally, she is survived by her husband of 12 years, Charles Mowery, and of his family by 10 step children, 30 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren, all of Alaska and one step daughter and grandson of Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by William Holtry, her first husband, and her brothers, Melvin and Galen Meyers.

A visitation with the family will be held Sunday, May 5th from 3 until 5pm and from 7 until 9pm and funeral service on Monday, May 6th at 2pm, all at Blue Mountain Brethren in Christ Church, 215 Tabor Rd Newburg PA. Burial will be at Roxbury Union Cemetery, Roxbury PA. A meal will be served following at Blue Mountain Church.

Flowers may be sent to Fogelsanger Bricker funeral home or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blue Mountain Church for future children’s ministry.

All of her family loved her intensely, and in reluctantly leaving her go, know that our earthly loss is her heavenly gain as she rejoices in the arms of Jesus. At a point she could only mouth the words, she sang with us her final chorus on this earth: “He Gave Me Beauty for Ashes”.

He gave me beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness;
That we might be
Trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
That he might be glorified.