Mary "Betty" Carney

Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Carney 85 of LaPlata, MD passed away on Monday December 12, 2022.

Betty was born on September 8, 1937 to the late Harry and Irene Wood. She is proceeded in death by her husband Jon Carney, her brother Harry Jr. (Bunky) Wood and his children Renee Reiter and Mike Wood.

She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Gearhart Pinto; her brother, William (Billy) Wood; her nieces Karen Fenner, Tammy Wood, Patty Brien, Diane Dye and their children.

Betty graduated from La Plata High School where she lettered in cheerleading, softball and basketball. She was crowned Queen Nicotina at Charles County Fair in 1955. She attended the University of Maryland earning her degree in both Home Economics and Art. She taught school at Crossland High School, took a break to start a family. She returned to teaching and taught at Milton Sommers & Piccowaxen Middle Schools, and finally she taught art at Lackey High School before her retirement.

Betty was very creative and good at just about everything. She was a talented artist and a natural born teacher. Earlier in life: she was in the Garden Club, the Art Guild, volunteered at Christ Church of La Plata and a 4H Leader where she taught many different disciplines of art, crafts, sewing, flower arranging, ceramics, cooking, baking etc. She got into desktop publishing and graphic design after getting her first Apple Computer. She wrote a book of lesson plans for new teachers that she produced and sold herself. She did part time design work for Bic Company for fun and extra money.

Later in life she taught art at the Senior Center and volunteered with the Charles County Carousel Group, coordinating artists to paint the carousel horses, and fundraising and was also a member of Mattawoman Creek Arts Center. She had an African Grey Parrot and was known for her love of poodles, of which she had 4 of them throughout her life.

She opened an art studio in her house, she named “Corner Studio”. With a group of her artist friends she worked with Charles County Arts Alliance to hold classes there, and she held an Open Studio every Wednesday that was as much a community as it was a creative environment. Throughout all of these endeavors, she made many cherished friends.

She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.

A gravesite burial is planned for January 20, 2023 at 2 pm, at Mount Rest in La Plata.

A reception will be held at her house after the ceremony, all are invited.

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