Mary Irene Caynor (Armstrong) Black, age 101, passed to eternal life on October 21, 2024, at her home in Wooster.

Mary was born at the Mill Village lumber camp on September 10, 1923, in Ellamore (Barbour County), West Virginia, to Donice (Dawson) and Walter Caynor, and lived most of her early life on a farm outside Buckhannon.

She was the oldest of seven siblings and began working as a teen to help support her family.   Mary met her first husband, Warren B. “Red” Armstrong while she was employed at an ice cream shop in West Virginia where he was working in the oilfields nearby. They married on September 26, 1949, and later relocated to Wooster where they established W. B. Armstrong Drilling and raised their three children in the Triway School District.  Mary was an instrumental part of the administration of the business, helping to make the oil and gas operation one of the largest east of the Mississippi during the 1960s and early ‘70s.  She continued as an oil and gas producer until the age of 94.  Following the death of Red in 1976, Mary married Jerome Robert “Bob” Black on May 7, 1982.  They enjoyed 40 wonderful years which included some travel and devoted care for each other until Bob passed on July 17, 2022.

Mary was known as a woman with an overflowing concern for her family, neighbors, and those she met in any capacity. She had a generous heart, was unshakably fair, had wisdom beyond her education, a love for staying busy, and she was a great country-style cook.  Mary was a member of Wooster United Methodist Church and always said she was ready for when the “Good Lord takes me.”

In addition to her husbands, Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Thurman Earl, Marvin, Clifford, and Leo, as well a sister, Ruby West.  She is survived by her sister Vernie Lou Caynor Shockley of Newark, OH.  She will be deeply missed by her three children Helen (Dan) Dusschee of Dallas, OR; Phyllis (Glenn) Brodie of Bluffton, SC; and Warren (Ruthe) Armstrong Jr. of Fresno, CA. She is also survived by her three stepchildren, R. J. (Marty) Black and Rob (Lisa) Black both of Wooster, and Sherry (Peter Zajaczkowski) Black of Greenville, SC.

Her 12 grandchildren include Warren Bakewell Armstrong III, Oliver Armstrong, Dustin (Katie) Dusschee, McKenzie (Ross) Cribbs, Courtney Dusschee, Matthew (Jessica) Brodie, Stephen (Brandy) Brodie, Travis Brodie, Claire Zajaczkowski, Jared Black, Alex Black, and Taylor Black.  In addition, she has 15 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Debra Fast, Ohio Hospice, and her “Team Mary” caregivers who provided extraordinary love, care, and companionship.  Deep gratitude is also extended to Chuck Bates for his decades of devoted service.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St., Wooster with the organ prelude and an opportunity to pay respects beginning at 11:30 a.m.  The service will follow at 12:00 noon. Interment will be at Wooster Cemetery immediately after the funeral followed by a reception to celebrate Mary’s life at the Hilton Garden Inn, 959 Dover Road, Wooster.

McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Wooster Cemetery Association, 983 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com