Mary W. Crosset passed away very peacefully on June 1, 2024. Mary was born on August 23, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Evanston High School (Illinois) and graduated from Mt Holyoke College (Massachusetts). She attended Purdue University Graduate School in Early Childhood Education and earned a Masters in Linguistics from the University of Cincinnati.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Mildred Wagner and by her devoted husband, Robert (Bob) J. Crosset, Jr. Mary and Bob were married in 1952 and had a wonderful happy marriage for 63 years.
In her career, she brought joy to thousands of children and adults as an educator and an innkeeper. Mary was the director of the Hyde Park Methodist Preschool for 20 years (1968-88). The preschool specialized in innovative learning through play. In 1989, Mary and Bob founded The Murphin Ridge Inn, an award-winning country inn, in Adams County, Ohio. They sold the successful inn (which continues to this day) and moved back to Cincinnati in 1997.
In her 70’s, Mary took up painting and produced many beautiful portraits of her grandchildren. In 2017, Mary received the Ohio Heritage Award for founding the inn and for being an eco-tourism pioneer. She worshiped and served as an Elder at Knox Presbyterian Church. Her warm and loving personality graced all the people she encountered along her life’s journey. Mary’s storytelling is legendary and her high intellect and curiosity were the hallmarks of her conversations.
Mary is survived by her four children, Ann (Anders) Crosset-Hove, John (Lisa) Crosset, Jim Crosset, and Todd (Anne Richmond) Crosset; nine grandchildren also survive her, Kelly (Jared) Beerman, Anders (Ellisa) Hove Jr., Elliott (Cecilie) Hove, Eden (Colin) Crosset, Rose Crosset, Kyle (Tara) Richmond-Crosset, Liela (Tim) Crosset, Aaron Richmond-Crosset and Ted Crosset. She is also survived by her niece, Barb Hoffmeyer.
Many thanks to her long-time care giver, Bill Nolan and to Semesio “Sam” Thomas and Kelly Thompson, her primary caregivers this past year.
The memorial service will be Saturday June 29 at 11 am at Knox Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.
Donations in Mary’s memory can be sent to the Art Academy of Cincinnati or to the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati.
