Mavis Jean (Hardy) Spotts, age 85, of Waterford – On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, Mavis finished the last chapter in her book of life. She smiled as the sun shone through the window and thanked God for this glorious day as the birds flew overhead on the most beautiful Valentine’s Day she’d seen since her husband passed. As she sat reminiscing over the many chapters, flipping through one last time, she thought of her childhood. She was born March 27, 1938, in Dyess, Arkansas to the late Rev. Chester & Geneva Hardy and was sister to the late Sonny Hardy.

She turns to the part where her family moves to Detroit, Michigan, where she watched her father build and pastor the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and smiled as she remembered all the shenanigans that went on with her friend Barbara and all the mischief they enjoyed – she was the preacher’s daughter after all.

She recalled the day when her journey of true love began as she locked eyes with a handsome truck driver while working as a waitress in a diner. One date at the drive-in movies sitting in his Big Rig was all it took.

Mavis recounted the day she became his wife, September 13, 1958, and how her life changed in the welcoming of her four children, Darlene, Vail, Tina, and Trude.

The next chapter takes her to 1969 when the decision for a better life for the family was made to relocate to a farm in Waterford, PA. She enjoyed all aspects of being the farmer’s wife. She loved watching all her children’s friends running in and out of the house. All that entered her home left as part of her family, embedded in her heart.

Her family then grew as her children married and added even more love to her home. That love grew exponentially as they gave her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren: Darlene & Jim McCracken with 7 children, 34 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; Vail & Sandy Spotts with 2 children; Tina & Jeffrey Metzler with 2 children and 1 grandchild; and Trude & Robert Blount with 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

She thought of all those she held close in her heart – Jeremy & Valjeane Kinnear, Brian & Laura O’Bara, Stacy & Jim Watts, Andre Hardy, and all of those that she loved and was loved by.

Then she found comfort in the reunion that was to come with those who went before her: husband Fred, daughter Trude, daughter-in-law Sandy, brother-in-law Ronnie, sister-in-law Janice, and so many brothers and sisters in Christ.

She slowly closed the last page of her book and held it close to her chest, looked up to the outstretched arms of Jesus, and with a tear in her eye said, “Wow – that was a good book!” and Jesus replied, “Yes it was Mavis, now it’s time to go home.” The End.

Always remember to love one another as Christ loved us. A special thank you to the hospice angels at Interim HealthCare.

Visiting hours will be at Van Matre Funeral Home, Waterford on Saturday, February 18th from 11:00 until time of the funeral service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Washington Valley Cemetery.

Memorials will be collected by the family.