Mary Ella Roth

Surrounded by her family, Mary Ella Roth of Kingsport died on the morning of October 15, 2007, at Holston Valley Medical Center, after a four-year battle with cancer. She was 70.

The daughter of George J. and Helen C. Bernath, Mary Ella was born on October 31, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, where she grew up. She began playing the piano at age five, beginning a lifelong love of music. She helped nurse her father through an extended illness until his death in 1951. At Notre Dame College, she studied English for two years. In 1957 she and Robert married and started a family. In 1967 they moved to Mansfield, Ohio; in 1979 they moved to Kingsport, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past July.

Throughout most of her adult life, Mary Ella was known as a much beloved piano teacher. She first started teaching in earnest after her mother passed away in 1972, and instructed more than 50 students during her years in Mansfield. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from East Tennessee State University in 1982. In Kingsport, her class of students had grown to over 300 by 2004, when she had to stop teaching because of her battle with cancer.

Mary Ella earned certifications from the Music Teachers National Association and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. In 2003 the Appalachian Music Teachers officially recognized her as ?Teacher of the Year.?

An avid knitter and crotcheter, Mary Ella completed a beautiful afghan for each of her nine grandchildren, letting each choose the colors and pattern. She also knitted sweaters for each of her sons and daughters-in-law. Five years ago, she took up quilting, after years of serving her family as an expert tailor. She shared her enthusiasm and creative energy with her children and grandchildren by taking time to teach them her various skills.

Her family fondly remembers her for many other things as well: her wonderful Hungarian cooking and her many hands-on demonstrations of the same, her enjoyment of the garden, her generous service in church, and most of all her love and appreciation of each family member.

Mary Ella is survived by her husband, Robert C. Roth, and her four sons and nine grandchildren. Her oldest son, John Roth, lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Mary Ruth and their son, Christopher. Her second son, James Roth, lives in Novato, California, with his wife, Molly, and their two children, Elizabeth and Timothy. Michael Roth, her third son, lives in Naperville, Illinois, with his wife, Mary, and their four children, Andrew, Natalie, Katherine, and Deborah. Her youngest son, Kevin Roth, lives in Thompson Station, Tennessee with his wife, Patricia, and their two children, Jennifer and Daniel.

Viewing will be at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2517 John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport, on Friday, October 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. A prayer service will follow. Funeral services will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church on Saturday, October 20, at 11:00 am; the burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery at 12:15 pm.

The family suggests that those wishing to remember Mary Ella with a gift consider sending a contribution to the Christine LaGuardia Philips Cancer Center, Attn: Kathryn Visneski, P.O. Box 238, Kingsport, TN 37662 or to St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2517 John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport, TN 37660 or to a favorite charity.