Christy

Margaret E. "Maggie" Christy, 67, died at 7:58 a.m. Monday at her home in Mercer after a courageous one-year battle with cancer.

Born in Sharon, Aug. 8, 1940, she was the daughter of William George and G. Opal Gaugh Lurtz.

She was a graduate of the Wilmar School of Beauty, Sharon, and began a career in cosmetology at the former Cloud 9 Hair Salon, Grove City.

She married Gale E. Christy on March 26, 1966. In 1973, she began a 30-year career in food service by working for her husband at Dad's Restaurant in Grove City. In 1975, they bought the Brownie Tavern in Mercer and opened Spanky's Station Restaurant and Bar, now known as Benjamin's Restaurant. After her husband died Aug. 28, 1985, she continued to operate the restaurant until December 1986.

Mrs. Christy, known and admired for her cooking, catering abilities and food presentations, then was the catering director at Westminster College for 12 years and later become the catering supervisor at Grove City College. She next was a sales associate at the J.C. Penney store in the Shenango Valley Mall, while continuing her catering business.

In 2002, she retired to raise her granddaughters, Aliyah and Abigail.

She was a member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon and helped in numerous activities from committees to the kitchen.

Surviving are four daughters, Melinda Steigerwald of Grove City, Marda Heuman of Cary, N.C., Marjorie L. Christy of Erie and Shannon Christy of Mercer; two sisters, Clara Kathryn Lyons of Valencia and Dorothy Louise Wilson of Mercer; two brothers, James W. Lurtz and John M. Lurtz of Median, Ohio; and seven grandchildren. Also surviving is her best friend of 36 years and caregiver, Cindy Kennedy.

<B>CHRISTY </B>— Friends of Margaret E. "Maggie" Christy, who died Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Cunningham Funeral Home</B>, 144 South Pitt St., Mercer. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Bethany Presbyterian Church, Mercer, with church pastor, the Rev. Jim Leuenberger, and her brother, Elder John M. Lurtz, of Weymouth Community Church, Median, Ohio, officiating. Burial will follow at the Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City.Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 494, New Castle, PA 16001 or to the Sharon Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 2320 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148.