Mary Shutts Bentley passed away peacefully at age one hundred on Friday, September 21, 2018. Mary was born in Lancaster, PA to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shutts and raised along with her four sisters in Wayne, PA in a home located next door to The Valley Forge Military Academy. Mary attended the local public schools before attending Penn State University. Subsequently, she learned secretarial skills at Pierce Business College in Philadelphia, allowing her to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad and then become the secretary to the General Manager of the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. She fondly remembered her days at the Bellevue when it served as the headquarters for the Republican National Convention. She often saw Wendell Wilkie and was once asked to take dictation from Col. Theodore Roosevelt (R) as he spoke out in stark opposition to his cousin, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (D). She married Charles W. Bentley in 1942 and shortly thereafter moved to Middlebury, where her husband practiced dentistry, and they raised their two daughters, Barbara and Peggy. Mary enjoyed her time in Middlebury volunteering at Porter Hospital as a Grey Lady and serving on the board of The Ilsley Library. (In those days, Board members usually read the books before purchasing them!) Mary was a lifelong Democrat and remembered the days when she was one of just four Democrats in the town of Middlebury. She also enjoyed her summers on Lake Dunmore where she loved to entertain family and friends. Shortly after turning 50, Mary moved back to her hometown of Wayne, PA where she was secretary to the Superintendent of Schools and later secretary for the Radnor Township, where she took notes at all of the public meetings. She also delivered Meals on Wheels. She loved both jobs and all the people she came to know in Wayne. At age 90, Mary moved back to Middlebury to be near her two daughters. She was the first resident of The Lodge (now The Residence) at Otter Creek, where she spent ten wonderful years. At The Residence, Mary was an enthusiastic bridge player and avid reader. She also volunteered at the Round Robin thrift shop. When berry season arrived in Vermont, Mary was one of the first to be out picking strawberries, blueberries and sour cherries. Her daughter, Peggy, would climb the tree and shake the sour cherries out of it for Mary to pick up. It was a special time of the year for her. Cooking was also a love until she gave it up at age 98.Throughout her life, Mary also loved all things sports related. While living in Pennsylvania, she followed the Phillies and also golfer Patty Sheehan, who grew up in Middlebury. Back in Vermont, She avidly followed Tom Brady and the Patriots as well as the Boston Red Sox. She enjoyed good health her entire life and remained physically active into her late nineties. Mary was predeceased by both her parents, her husband and two of her sisters, Betty Casselberry and Kate Hiester as well as her son in law, Whitney Blodgett, Jr. Mary is survived by her daughter, Peggy Cox and her partner, Larry Quesnel of Salisbury, VT and her daughter Barbara Blodgett of Middlebury, VT, her sister Annamay Austin of Melbourne Beach, FL, her sister, Nancy Calhoun of Wyomissing, PA, her grandson, Rusty Cox of Middlebury, VT, and 13 nieces and nephews. A celebration of Marys life will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at The Residence at Otter Creek at 2:30 pm. Contributions in her memory may be made to: Elderly Services at 112 Exchange St. in Middlebury. Mary so enjoyed the classes she took there and was impressed with how wonderful they were to all the seniors who sought their services. Arrangements under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Service. Online condolences at www.Sandersonfuneralservice.com SERVICES Memorial Service Thursday, October 11, 2018 2:30 PM Residence at Otter Creek 350 Lodge Rd Middlebury, VT 05753