Obituary of Nancy Caverly Prutsman

Nancy C. Matylas-Prutsman, of Troy, PA, passed away on June 29, 2014. Her passing was peaceful and without pain. Nancy was born on September 7, 1937 in Cuba, NY, the youngest of five sisters born to Eva Louise Pierce and William Carl Matylas. She attended Cuba Public High School and was graduated from Avon Park High School, Avon Park, FL. She attended the Davis Institute of Medical Technology in Miami, FL; Milton College, Milton, WI, and was graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. She completed graduate work at Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, FL and received a Reading Specialist Certification from Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA. She taught art education in Emory, GA schools and elementary education in the Broward County School system in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She chose to be an at home wife and mother and found satisfaction with that choice. She was very knowledgeable about flowers and herbs and had a successful mail order business in special culinary herbs. Well known for her flower gardens, she won numerous awards with her herbs and flowers. She served on the Troy Library Board and numerous church committees. During her college years she sang in college and university choral groups and continued her musical interests by becoming proficient with the guitar and singing in holiday cantatas. For many years she was a literacy volunteer. Nancy, (Wisnewandoga), was an active member of the Diahoga Paths Community of Native Americans, an affiliation which was especially meaningful for her. Survived by her husband of 53 years, Thomas D. Prutsman, of Troy, PA; 2 children, Eric D. Prutsman (Kimberly) of Tallahassee, FL, and Rebecca C. Wilber (Mark) of Columbia Cross Roads, PA. grandchildren; Michael, Jordan, and Steven Prutsman, Andrew, Mattea, Isaac, Maryah, Mishala and Sanna Wilber; sisters, Evelyn Shoots of Henrietta, NY and Lois Gilbert of Mobile, AL; and 12 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sisters, Marilyn Paull (Phillip) of Ft. Atkinson, WI, and Eileen Bartell (Robert) of San Antonio, TX. A memorial service for Nancy will be held at the Austinville Union Church, Austinville, PA on August 9th, 2014 starting at 10:00 A.M., conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Marple. A social gathering will follow the service. Those wishing to do so may remember Nancy by contributing to any of the following organizations: World Vision, P O Box 70224, Tacoma, WA 98481-0224; Family Life Network, P O Box 506, Bath, NY 14810; The American Cancer Society, East Central Division, P O Box 3125, Williamsport, PA 17701-0125; The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P O Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106; or to the Nancy C. Matylas-Prutsman Scholarship Fund, Mansfield Foundation, Mansfield University, Attention: Mindy Engel, Mansfield, PA 16933. Buckheit Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., 637 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA is assisting the family. www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com