Mary Ann (Blakeney) Abeska, of Rock Hall, died on January 1, 2019, at Compass Regional Hospice in Centreville. Mary Ann was born in Chestertown on May 21, 1953, to the late Norman William Blakeney, Sr. and the late Nancy Sweetman Blakeney Beck.
Mary Ann attended Chestertown (Maryland) Elementary School grades 1-6 and Chestertown High School grades 7-10. In 1969, she moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio when her stepfather, the late TSgt. Charles C. Beck of Chestertown, was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Mary Ann graduated in 1971 from Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio.
On September 11, 1973, Mary Ann enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She completed basic training at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas and Printer Systems technical training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. On February 20, 1974, she and a technical school classmate were chosen as the first ‘WAFs’ to receive FLEXSCOP operator training at the Naval NTTC School at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, for the six-week course to enable them to operate the FLEXSCOP computer system at a field site. In May 1974, Mary Ann reported to her first duty station with 6931st Security Group, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece. In January 1977, she transferred to 6950th Security Group at RAF Chicksands, England. These assignments were part of what was then known as the United States Air Force Security System (USAFSS), which was essentially the cryptographic intelligence branch of the Air Force. It is currently known as the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and is comprised primarily of airmen culled from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits (the top 1/2 of 1 percent). Mary Ann was honorably discharged on April 8, 1979, with the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant.
Mary Ann worked in the data processing department of Morgan Drive Away, Inc. in Elkhart, Indiana from 1979-1985. From 1985-1989, she was executive assistant at John M. Marshall’s, Inc. Jeweler in South Bend, Indiana. During that employment, she earned a gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America.
On May 19,1984, Mary Ann married Timothy J. Abeska at St. Monica Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Mary Ann and Tim resided in South Bend, Indiana for the next 33 years while Tim practiced law. When Tim retired, they moved to what had been their vacation home in Rock Hall.
From 2002 to 2013, Mary Ann had an online business called Coats4greys™, making coats for retired racing greyhounds as well as other dog breeds. During their marriage, Mary Ann and Tim were the “parents” of two black lab/mixes, two retired racing greyhounds, and later a border collie/mix. They also fostered several retired racing greyhounds. Mary Ann loved being a “dog mom.”
In addition to her husband, Tim, Mary Ann is survived by: her siblings, John “Tink” (Beverly) Blakeney of Chestertown, Margaret “Missy” (Joe) Cornett of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Norman (Shari) Blakeney of Chestertown; by nieces Heather (J.R) Ewing and Laura (Kevin) Royer, both of Easton, and Jennifer Blakeney of Chestertown; by nephews Joe Cornett, Jr. and Jesse Cornett, both of Flagstaff, Arizona; by a great-niece, Abbie Ewing; by three great nephews, Kirby Ewing, Hudson Royer, and Blake Royer; by a maternal aunt, Ann Rampmeyer of Smryna, Delaware; and by several cousins.
Tim wishes to specifically thank: Mary Ann’s awesome home caregivers, Dawn Piposzar and MacKenzie Mandes, who took excellent care of Mary Ann at home; the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Consistent with her wishes, Mary Ann’s remains will be cremated. A private internment will take place at St. Paul’s Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service will be held on March 9, 2019 at 11 am at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, located at 118 W. Cross Street in Galena, Maryland, followed by a luncheon at the Kitty Knight House.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or the Humane Society of Kent County, P.O. Box 32, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Mary Ann attended Chestertown (Maryland) Elementary School grades 1-6 and Chestertown High School grades 7-10. In 1969, she moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio when her stepfather, the late TSgt. Charles C. Beck of Chestertown, was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Mary Ann graduated in 1971 from Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio.
On September 11, 1973, Mary Ann enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She completed basic training at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas and Printer Systems technical training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. On February 20, 1974, she and a technical school classmate were chosen as the first ‘WAFs’ to receive FLEXSCOP operator training at the Naval NTTC School at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, for the six-week course to enable them to operate the FLEXSCOP computer system at a field site. In May 1974, Mary Ann reported to her first duty station with 6931st Security Group, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece. In January 1977, she transferred to 6950th Security Group at RAF Chicksands, England. These assignments were part of what was then known as the United States Air Force Security System (USAFSS), which was essentially the cryptographic intelligence branch of the Air Force. It is currently known as the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and is comprised primarily of airmen culled from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits (the top 1/2 of 1 percent). Mary Ann was honorably discharged on April 8, 1979, with the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant.
Mary Ann worked in the data processing department of Morgan Drive Away, Inc. in Elkhart, Indiana from 1979-1985. From 1985-1989, she was executive assistant at John M. Marshall’s, Inc. Jeweler in South Bend, Indiana. During that employment, she earned a gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America.
On May 19,1984, Mary Ann married Timothy J. Abeska at St. Monica Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Mary Ann and Tim resided in South Bend, Indiana for the next 33 years while Tim practiced law. When Tim retired, they moved to what had been their vacation home in Rock Hall.
From 2002 to 2013, Mary Ann had an online business called Coats4greys™, making coats for retired racing greyhounds as well as other dog breeds. During their marriage, Mary Ann and Tim were the “parents” of two black lab/mixes, two retired racing greyhounds, and later a border collie/mix. They also fostered several retired racing greyhounds. Mary Ann loved being a “dog mom.”
In addition to her husband, Tim, Mary Ann is survived by: her siblings, John “Tink” (Beverly) Blakeney of Chestertown, Margaret “Missy” (Joe) Cornett of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Norman (Shari) Blakeney of Chestertown; by nieces Heather (J.R) Ewing and Laura (Kevin) Royer, both of Easton, and Jennifer Blakeney of Chestertown; by nephews Joe Cornett, Jr. and Jesse Cornett, both of Flagstaff, Arizona; by a great-niece, Abbie Ewing; by three great nephews, Kirby Ewing, Hudson Royer, and Blake Royer; by a maternal aunt, Ann Rampmeyer of Smryna, Delaware; and by several cousins.
Tim wishes to specifically thank: Mary Ann’s awesome home caregivers, Dawn Piposzar and MacKenzie Mandes, who took excellent care of Mary Ann at home; the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Consistent with her wishes, Mary Ann’s remains will be cremated. A private internment will take place at St. Paul’s Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service will be held on March 9, 2019 at 11 am at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, located at 118 W. Cross Street in Galena, Maryland, followed by a luncheon at the Kitty Knight House.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or the Humane Society of Kent County, P.O. Box 32, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Mary Ann (Blakeney) Abeska, of Rock Hall, died on January 1, 2019, at Compass Regional Hospice in Centreville. Mary Ann was born in Chestertown on May 21, 1953, to the late Norman William Blakeney, Sr. and the late Nancy Sweetman Blakeney Beck.
Mary Ann attended Chestertown (Maryland) Elementary School grades 1-6 and Chestertown High School grades 7-10. In 1969, she moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio when her stepfather, the late TSgt. Charles C. Beck of Chestertown, was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Mary Ann graduated in 1971 from Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio.
On September 11, 1973, Mary Ann enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She completed basic training at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas and Printer Systems technical training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. On February 20, 1974, she and a technical school classmate were chosen as the first ‘WAFs’ to receive FLEXSCOP operator training at the Naval NTTC School at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, for the six-week course to enable them to operate the FLEXSCOP computer system at a field site. In May 1974, Mary Ann reported to her first duty station with 6931st Security Group, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece. In January 1977, she transferred to 6950th Security Group at RAF Chicksands, England. These assignments were part of what was then known as the United States Air Force Security System (USAFSS), which was essentially the cryptographic intelligence branch of the Air Force. It is currently known as the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and is comprised primarily of airmen culled from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits (the top 1/2 of 1 percent). Mary Ann was honorably discharged on April 8, 1979, with the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant.
Mary Ann worked in the data processing department of Morgan Drive Away, Inc. in Elkhart, Indiana from 1979-1985. From 1985-1989, she was executive assistant at John M. Marshall’s, Inc. Jeweler in South Bend, Indiana. During that employment, she earned a gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America.
On May 19,1984, Mary Ann married Timothy J. Abeska at St. Monica Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Mary Ann and Tim resided in South Bend, Indiana for the next 33 years while Tim practiced law. When Tim retired, they moved to what had been their vacation home in Rock Hall.
From 2002 to 2013, Mary Ann had an online business called Coats4greys™, making coats for retired racing greyhounds as well as other dog breeds. During their marriage, Mary Ann and Tim were the “parents” of two black lab/mixes, two retired racing greyhounds, and later a border collie/mix. They also fostered several retired racing greyhounds. Mary Ann loved being a “dog mom.”
In addition to her husband, Tim, Mary Ann is survived by: her siblings, John “Tink” (Beverly) Blakeney of Chestertown, Margaret “Missy” (Joe) Cornett of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Norman (Shari) Blakeney of Chestertown; by nieces Heather (J.R) Ewing and Laura (Kevin) Royer, both of Easton, and Jennifer Blakeney of Chestertown; by nephews Joe Cornett, Jr. and Jesse Cornett, both of Flagstaff, Arizona; by a great-niece, Abbie Ewing; by three great nephews, Kirby Ewing, Hudson Royer, and Blake Royer; by a maternal aunt, Ann Rampmeyer of Smryna, Delaware; and by several cousins.
Tim wishes to specifically thank: Mary Ann’s awesome home caregivers, Dawn Piposzar and MacKenzie Mandes, who took excellent care of Mary Ann at home; the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Consistent with her wishes, Mary Ann’s remains will be cremated. A private internment will take place at St. Paul’s Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service will be held on March 9, 2019 at 11 am at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, located at 118 W. Cross Street in Galena, Maryland, followed by a luncheon at the Kitty Knight House.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or the Humane Society of Kent County, P.O. Box 32, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Mary Ann attended Chestertown (Maryland) Elementary School grades 1-6 and Chestertown High School grades 7-10. In 1969, she moved with her family to Dayton, Ohio when her stepfather, the late TSgt. Charles C. Beck of Chestertown, was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Mary Ann graduated in 1971 from Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio.
On September 11, 1973, Mary Ann enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She completed basic training at Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, Texas and Printer Systems technical training at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. On February 20, 1974, she and a technical school classmate were chosen as the first ‘WAFs’ to receive FLEXSCOP operator training at the Naval NTTC School at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, for the six-week course to enable them to operate the FLEXSCOP computer system at a field site. In May 1974, Mary Ann reported to her first duty station with 6931st Security Group, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece. In January 1977, she transferred to 6950th Security Group at RAF Chicksands, England. These assignments were part of what was then known as the United States Air Force Security System (USAFSS), which was essentially the cryptographic intelligence branch of the Air Force. It is currently known as the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and is comprised primarily of airmen culled from the cream of the Air Force's enlisted recruits (the top 1/2 of 1 percent). Mary Ann was honorably discharged on April 8, 1979, with the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant.
Mary Ann worked in the data processing department of Morgan Drive Away, Inc. in Elkhart, Indiana from 1979-1985. From 1985-1989, she was executive assistant at John M. Marshall’s, Inc. Jeweler in South Bend, Indiana. During that employment, she earned a gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America.
On May 19,1984, Mary Ann married Timothy J. Abeska at St. Monica Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Mary Ann and Tim resided in South Bend, Indiana for the next 33 years while Tim practiced law. When Tim retired, they moved to what had been their vacation home in Rock Hall.
From 2002 to 2013, Mary Ann had an online business called Coats4greys™, making coats for retired racing greyhounds as well as other dog breeds. During their marriage, Mary Ann and Tim were the “parents” of two black lab/mixes, two retired racing greyhounds, and later a border collie/mix. They also fostered several retired racing greyhounds. Mary Ann loved being a “dog mom.”
In addition to her husband, Tim, Mary Ann is survived by: her siblings, John “Tink” (Beverly) Blakeney of Chestertown, Margaret “Missy” (Joe) Cornett of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Norman (Shari) Blakeney of Chestertown; by nieces Heather (J.R) Ewing and Laura (Kevin) Royer, both of Easton, and Jennifer Blakeney of Chestertown; by nephews Joe Cornett, Jr. and Jesse Cornett, both of Flagstaff, Arizona; by a great-niece, Abbie Ewing; by three great nephews, Kirby Ewing, Hudson Royer, and Blake Royer; by a maternal aunt, Ann Rampmeyer of Smryna, Delaware; and by several cousins.
Tim wishes to specifically thank: Mary Ann’s awesome home caregivers, Dawn Piposzar and MacKenzie Mandes, who took excellent care of Mary Ann at home; the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the ALS Team at the VA Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Consistent with her wishes, Mary Ann’s remains will be cremated. A private internment will take place at St. Paul’s Cemetery at a later date. A memorial service will be held on March 9, 2019 at 11 am at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, located at 118 W. Cross Street in Galena, Maryland, followed by a luncheon at the Kitty Knight House.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or the Humane Society of Kent County, P.O. Box 32, Chestertown, MD 21620.
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