Obituary of Mary Frances Dawson

Mary Frances Cunningham Dawson, 58, of Rivesville, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022 at the St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, P.A. She was born August 6, 1963 in Fairmont, WV a daughter of the late Charles G. and Agnes E. Narog Cunningham. She is survived by her loving husband, of 17 years, Daniel S. Dawson. Mary had a very successful career spanning 40 years. For the last 38 years, she worked for Amentum Technical Services (formerly AECOM, URS PS, EG&G). She loved working, and during those years she came up through the ranks beginning as a word processor, spending time as a Human Resources Specialist, and finally moved into various managerial roles, ending her career as a Project Director, Regional Manager. She loved and respected her employees, always doing everything she could to encourage and assist with their professional growth and development. In recent years, during any of her own struggles and medical issues, she always made time to check in with her employees and co-workers, and spent many hours working from her hospital bed to make sure her projects were running as they should be and her employees and customers were provided with the support they needed. She was an incredible leader who will be greatly missed. Anyone who had the opportunity to work with her for her, or came in contact with her, are better for it. Mary was a graduate of Rivesville High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Fairmont State College, and her masters’ degree in human resources from Wheeling Jesuit College. Mary adored her three grandchildren and treasured any time she could spend with them. She was a “Dance Mom” for Riley and enjoyed the travel of competitions. She loved helping Kiley with her Anthrocon costume preparations. Kingston was her devoted companion, ever at her side. Mary enjoyed traveling and her annual trips to CoCo Beach, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Emerald Isle, NC. She often said “the beach was her happy place”. She was an avid shopper, always enjoying the “treasures” she would find. In addition to her husband, Mary is survived by her son, Joshua A. Ford, her grandchildren, Leah Riley Hardesty, Kiley M. Ford, and Kingston A. Ford, her sister, Margaret Bartholow, her nephew, Charles Allen Bartholow, her great- nephew, Glen Allen Bartholow, all of Rivesville. She is also survived by er her sisters-in-law, Debra Smallwood of Arizona, and Jeannie Baker of Ohio, and her brothers-in-law, David Dawson of North Carolina, and John Dawson of Sissonville, WV. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Roger Allen Bartholow. Memorial donations to Baxter Fire Department, 2741 Paw Paw Creek Rd, Baxter, WV 26560. The family has entrusted the arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV. Family and friends are invited to visit on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 3PM until 8PM, and on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 10AM until 11AM. The funeral will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 11AM with Pastor Roy Weese officiating. Interment will follow at the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover, WV. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.