Mary Lee Wallick

Mary Lee O’Neil Wallick age 76, of Dover, Ohio died Tuesday, September 4, 2012 in Cleveland Clinic at Cleveland, Ohio following a period of declining health.

A daughter of the late John H. and Mary A. (Campo) Reese, Mary Lee was born at Dover, Ohio on December 6, 1935. As a young child, she assisted her parents in operating their business the former “Mary’s” Riverside Inn & Hotel at Dover.

Mary Lee obtained her primary education from Our Lady of the Elms at Akron, Ohio and later attended Trenton, New Jersey’s Villa Victoria Academy. Throughout her lifetime, she worked for Buehler’s Food Market at Dover, the former Greek Pizza Shop, Dover Hardware, and for Gene L. Wallick & Sons Scrap Metal. Additionally, Mary Lee enjoyed working alongside her husband, the late Gene L. Wallick, Sr. in his business ventures which included not only the scrap metal company but Wallick Horse Farm and 77 Sand & Gravel.

During her free time, she enjoyed the company of family and friends as they ventured out on shopping trips. Likewise, she always looked forward to trying the food of a newly opened restaurant. Her other activities included, amateur trap shooting, bowling, playing Bingo and being a member of the Dover Moose # 539. Her outgoing personality usually rivaled that of the variety of hair colors she chose over the years and enjoying finding unique hats and clothing to match her color of choice at the time. Mary Lee also had a great passion for animals and loved being with the pacer and trotter race horses she and Gene owned throughout the years.

Thankful for her additional time on earth, Mary Lee was always grateful to have been given a second chance at life following a heart transplant which took place at the Cleveland Clinic on November 5, 1998.

Among the many activities that kept Mary Lee occupied, she found time to serve as a Director on the Tuscarawas County Fair Board for 22 years. During this time she was responsible for billboard advertising, the mug auction, harness racing, and the ambulance and gate workers.

She is survived by her children, Tamara M. (Rick) Patacca and Douglas A. O’Neil; a brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Arlene Reese, Sr. all of Dover; step children, Vickie (Otto) Polilli, Diane (Tyrone) Beem, Wendy Wallick Miller and her companion, Pete Norman, Gene L. “Buddy” (Ann) Wallick, Jr., Rita (Rick) Watson, Steve (Brenda) Wallick and their families.

Numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews complete the family. Other survivors include long-time friends, Faye Mast, Virginia “Ginny” Geib, and Dorothy Church, as well as her hairstylist, whom she referred to as “the one and only hairstylist”, Becky Bardall.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lee was preceded in death by her first husband, Tom O’ Neil; second husband, Gene L. Wallick, Sr.; a son, John Michael O’Neil, a half-brother, John Dewitt Rees as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family will receive guests on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where a Christian Wake Service will begin at 7:00 PM. An additional hour of visitation will be held in the Dover Funeral Center on Saturday from 9:15 – 10:15 AM. Father Matt Hoover will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, September, 8, 2012 at 10:30 AM in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Following services, the family wishes to invite guests to join them in the Hospitality Room of the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where a meal and fellowship will be shared.

Those wishing to do so may send the family personal condolences or light a candle in Mary Lee’s memory by visiting her permanent memorial located on the funeral home’s website.

Memorial contributions in Mary Lee’s name may be directed to the Tuscarawas County Humane Society, 6895 Dover Zoar Rd NE Dover, OH 44622.