Mabel Smouse

Mabel Elizabeth (Shaffer) Smouse, 101, of Oakland died on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at her home. Born on July 25, 1912 in Oakland, she was the daughter of the late William Joseph and Daisy Margaret (Pifer) Shaffer. She attended Oakland High School and was a life-long member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. Mabel was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, a past member of the McVeigh Club, Golden Chain and Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Over the course of her life, she held many jobs, primarily in the service/hospitality industry. She worked at the Bluebird Inn, Manhattan Hotel, William James Hotel, Pickwick Inn, Green Palm Room, Cornish Manor, Edge O' the Lake, Allegheny Room, Fireside and Pizza Hut. Mabel's customers, co-workers and employers appreciated her friendliness, attention to detail and strong work ethic. In 2001, Mabel was awarded the Maryland Association of Community 4Action Agencies Hall of Fame award for outstanding contributions and commitment to the community and citizens of Garrett County and dedicated service to Garrett County Community Action. She was a life-long volunteer at the Mary Browning Center and, over the years, had volunteered for the Nearly New Shop, American Legion Auxiliary and the Catholic Church Bingo. In addition to spending time with her family and friends, she enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, bird watching and reading. She is survived by a son, James R. Flanigan and wife Sandy of Oakland; grandchildren, Phil Rook of Oakland, DiAnne Brown and husband Jeff of Sacramento, CA, Cheri Vieria and husband Joe of Duluth, GA, Lisa Rook of Oakland, Jimmy Flanigan, Angela Flanigan, and Alex Flanigan and wife Amy, all of Oakland; great grandchildren, Skyler Brown and Sierra Brown of Sacramento, CA, Joshua Vieria of Duluth, GA, DJ Flanigan, Kulen Flanigan, Brooklynn Flanigan and Keele Flanigan, all of Oakland; a brother, Joe Shaffer, who resides in North Port, FL; and a special niece, Beverly Ann Griffin of Florence, SC. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, James W. Flanigan and Ralph W. Smouse; a daughter, Beverly (Flanigan) Rook; and two sisters, Marguerite Beck and Helen Blocher. Friends will be received at the Burdock-Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Sunday, September 22nd from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 23rd at 10 AM in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Oakland with Rev. Fr. Donald Parson as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, 104 E. Center St., Oakland, MD 21550, St. Peter's Catholic Church, 208 S. 4th St., Oakland, MD 21550 or the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 43, Oakland, MD 21550.

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