Mary Gootee

Mary Irene Gootee, 89, of Golden Hill, Maryland passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at Chesapeake Woods Center after a brief illness.

Born March 7, 1926 in Andrews, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Birtie McGlaughlin Hughes. Irene attended the local schools in Crapo. On August 24, 1944 she married William Leonard Gootee, Sr. Together they enjoyed nearly 65 years of marriage before his passing May 21, 2009.

As a young woman, Irene worked in local canning factories. As a newly-wed she and her husband worked in the fields of Taylors Island picking tomatoes side by side. She was a waitress at Gootee’s Lunch Room in Golden Hill for many years. Leonard and Irene worked as apartment managers for Joseph Belfiore and later Sugar Ray Leonard in Silver Springs. She picked seafood for Irving Cannon and later crabs for Pauls’ Pride until her retirement to care for her husband. Ms Irene was a devoted wife and mother. Her family meant everything to her. A soft spoken caring person with a sweet disposition and warm smile made everyone comfortable and her, a pleasure to be around. She was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Golden Hill and attended faithfully. She will be greatly missed by family and her community.

Ms. Irene is survived by her three children William L. Gootee, Jr. of Golden Hill, Robert Larry Gootee and wife Kathy of Cambridge and Linda C. Gootee Phillips and husband Jackie of Golden Hill; three grandchildren Bob Gootee and wife Dawn, Shawn Wampler and husband Greg, Robin Dukes and husband Brian; six great grandchildren; brother Joseph Hughes; sister-in-law Mildred Shorter and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, Ms. Irene is preceded in death by brothers Herbert “Hub” Hughes, Sr. and Irving Jones.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 27, beginning 1:00 p.m. at Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A. 308 High St., Cambridge, Maryland, with Rev. Gary Crouch and Rev. A. Delmer Willey Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bob Gootee, Brian Dukes, Greg Wampler, Aaron Paul, Nick Gootee, Cody Bland and Daniel Shorter. Honorary pallbearers will be Warren Jones, Herbert Hughes, Jr. and Gary Hughes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Ms. Irene can be made to St. Johns United Methodist Church, c/o Doris Lewis, 3347 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, MD 21622.

To share memories or send online condolences please visit www.newcombcollins.com

Visitation

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ,Friday, March 27, 2015
Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A.
308 High Street Cambridge, MD 21613

Funeral Service

1:00 p.m. ,Friday, March 27, 2015
Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A.
308 High Street Cambridge, MD, Dorchester 21613