Mabel McBride Tawney, 94, Gallipolis, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2012, at Holzer Senior Care, Gallipolis. She was born May 16, 1918, in Bidwell, Ohio, daughter of the late Carlton McBride and Lottie White McBride Wright.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Agnes Jones and Lula Sheline; and one brother, Willis “Mickey” McBride. Her husband of 63 years, Max Tawney, preceded her in death March 20, 2003. She was also preceded by a grandson, Jimmy Scott.

She is survived by three daughters, Betsy (Jack) Crank, Henderson, West Virginia, Becky (Alan) Scott, and Nancy and a son, David, all of Gallipolis. She is survived by seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Mabel graduated from Bidwell High School and was a graduate of Rio Grande College. She taught one year at Bidwell Elementary school, where she met Max who was taking pictures of students, got married and helped him with his photography business. She worked retouching the negatives and giving color to the black and white portraits by hand coloring them.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and taught the Ladies Progressive Sunday School class for several years. She was a member of Grace Guild Sunday School. She loved to sing and play the organ.

She was a member of Eastern Star and White Shrine as well as an avid sports fan. She played basketball at Rio Grande College and later played church softball. She was known for her baking of the best cherry pies.

A memorial service will be conducted at 12 p.m.Wednesday December 7, 2012, in the Grace United Methodist Church, Gallipolis with Revs. Alfred Holley and Bill Thomas officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, Gallipolis is honored to handle the arrangements for the Tawney Family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to the: Grace United Methodist Memorial Fund, 600 Second Ave., Gallipolis, OH 45631.

Condolences may be sent to www.mccoymoore.com.