Mary Ann Bentley Reynolds

Mary Ann Bentley Reynolds Mary Ann Bentley Reynolds, 66, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 18, 2017 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Mary Ann was born on October 30, 1950 in Roanoke, Virginia to F. J. Bentley and Janie Bentley Kerfoot. She married her life long love, Samuel Reynolds, on October 23, 1982, enjoying 35 years of life together. Mary Ann attended Roanoke Catholic High School and Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, graduating with honors in 1973 with a B.A. in Art Education. She completed additional studies in painting, drawing, computer graphics, children's literature, and mathematics. Mary Ann's passion as an artist touched the lives of thousands of students, teaching art in the Clarke County and Roanoke City Public Schools for 36 years, retiring in 2009. Creating objects of beauty and exhibiting her art work at numerous venues, brought Mary Ann great joy. She and her husband Sam founded Dragon Tooth Crafts after her retirement, and she sold oil paintings, photography, exquisitely painted slates, gourds, saws and commissioned pieces. She found pleasure in swimming, playing poker, exploring nature with her husband, and writing poetry for family and friends for special occasions. In addition to her husband, Mary Ann is survived by a brother, Michael Bentley (Susan), two sisters, Jane Lambert (Gary), and Judy Whiting; nieces & nephews Gary Blevins, Ann Simmers, Stacy Fisher, Mike Bradley, Alicia Baxter, Holly Turner, Sarah Bentley Allred, Alexander Bentley, and Matthew Bentley;sister in laws Jean Bradley (Ralph) and Mary Ann Blevins; step- daughter, Samantha Crews, and numerous step grandchildren, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and her beloved pets, Sparkey and Flash. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, March 21st, 1:00 pm at Salem Methodist Church, on Rt 42 outside of New Castle, VA with the Reverend Susan Bentley officiating; the burial will be private. The family will receive visitors for a reception at 3:00 pm that day, at St. James Episcopal Church, 4515 Delray Street, NW, Roanoke, VA. Arrangements made by Paitsel Funeral Home in New Castle, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Road, Roanoke,VA 24018. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." From an Irish headstone

Mary Ann Bentley Reynolds

October 30, 1950 - March 18, 2017