NEW ORLEANS, La., — Mary Eileen Whitney Asher passed away peacefully at the age of 99 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 26, 2020. She was a resident of St. Margaret’s at Mercy in New Orleans.

There will be no services, but instead a private gathering of family and friends to honor her memory at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery on July 6, 2020.

Mary is preceded in death by: her parents, Orville and Hazel (Alcorn) Whitney; her husband, Dill Asher; her son, Roger Asher; and her brothers, Robert and Gene Whitney.

She is survived by: her nieces, Julie Whitney Wainscoat (John) of Kings Beach, California, and Jan Whitney of Prescott, Arizona; her nephew, Robert Whitney (Kathy) of Star, Idaho; her grandnieces, Sarah Munoz (Ben) of Spanish Springs, Nevada, Aspen and Sage Whitney of Star, Idaho; and her grandnephews, Pete McGlothlin of Mesa, Arizona, Doug McGlothlin (Debbie) of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Brian Wainscoat of Monterey, California.

Mary was born on September 28, 1920 in Bridgewater, South Dakota, though she grew up in Huron, South Dakota. After graduating from Huron High School, she attended Northwestern College of Commerce, graduated from Army Air Forces Radio Instructors’ School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, entered service as a Spar (U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve) and taught Radio at Coast Guard Training Station in Atlantic City, New Jersey during WWII.

She married Dill Asher on March 14, 1945. They became proud parents of their son, Roger, on November 30, 1947.

For 63 years, she was a resident of New Orleans, where she was an avid bridge player, running a large game for several years. She was fiercely competitive, whether she was playing cards, Trivial Pursuit, or Scrabble. Her sense of humor, raucous laugh, and unfailing memory will be remembered by all who knew her.

When time had taken her sight and her hearing and osteoporosis took her mobility, she still carried on without complaint. When she lost the love of her life, her son Roger, she bore up unbelievably well, though it had broken her heart. She may have been small in stature, but she had a big personality and an indomitable spirit.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff members at St. Margaret’s for caring for her and loving her for the years she was part of their family, and extends special thanks to faithful friends Erin Deloney and family of Covington, Eleanor Onstott and family of New Orleans, and Laura Barre and family of Kenner, for their unfailing love and support throughout her many years in New Orleans.

Donations can be made to State Library of Louisiana Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped, TBBL 4th Floor, 701 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5345 in Mary’s name.

The family invites you to share your thoughts, fond memories, and condolences online at  HYPERLINK “http://www.lakelawnmetairie.com” www.lakelawnmetairie.com

Paid Obituary