Ara Ellen Woolley, 95, of Rawson died November 4, 2014 at 5:35 a.m. at Bluffton Hospital. Ara was born November 17, 1918 in McGuffey to the late Charles and Annie Wilson Patterson. On June 27, 1937 she married Roy L. Woolley and he preceded her in death on April 5, 2000.
Ara was a homemaker and worked at Lathem's gas station for 30 years. She also sold Avon and other items. She was an accomplished seamstress and made majorette outfits for baton corps. Ara loved to can vegetables, make jelly and pies which earned her the name, Grandma Pie. She also made embroidered pillow cases for people all over the county. She was a 27-year member of TOPPS and the Bluffton Senior Citizens where she went on many trips. Ara was a 12-year breast cancer survivor.
Surviving are three children, Loretta Jolliff of Rawson, Darlene Pierce of McComb, Michael (Diana) Woolley of Findlay, 60 grand, great grand and great great grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, Mary Woolley of Findlay, a brother, Wilber (Mary) Patterson of Findlay and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, William Woolley, two grandsons, Jerry "Jake" Jolliff and William "Bud" Woolley Jr. two sons-in-law, Jerry Jolliff and Robert Pierce, five sisters, Wilma Downing, Alverda Dunson, Jesse Patterson, Helen Carpenter, Anna Patterson and six brothers, Robert, Charles H., Elmer, John, Paul and Charles M. Patterson
Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Rev. Kevin Mohr will officiate. Burial will be in Benton Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
