Mary Roney Pate, 85, died Feb. 7, of lung cancer. Born on Oct. 1, 1927 in New Orleans, LA, Mary was raised in Louisville, KY. She worked as a telephone operator to attend the University of Louisville , where she met her husband, William A. Pate, whom she married in 1949. The family moved to Annapolis when Mr. Pate accepted a position with the MD Department of Economic Development. For many years, Mrs. Pate was a substitute teacher at Annapolis Senior High School. She was involved in SciTech, a program to encourage students to pursue a career in the Science fields. Later, she obtained her Realtors license and last worked for Long and Foster in Annapolis. Following the death of Mr. Pate in 1979, Mrs. Pate taught bridge lessons and volunteered at the Red House in Annapolis. She celebrated thirty years of sobriety in 2008. She had many friends in AA. Mrs. Pate was interested in history and learning and traveling. She also became a scholar on the Civil War, attending many seminars and roundtables. She moved to Fort Myers, FL, in 1986, but continued to visit Annapolis every summer for years. She is survived by four children, Sabra M Pate of Fort Myers, FL, Julia M. Coffin of Davidsonville, A. Roney Pate of Glen Allen VA, and Martha P. Turner of Annapolis; six grandchildren, Lindy C. Roberts, Morgan T. Coffin, Brendan Pate, Evan Pate, Sterling McCarthy, and William R. Turner; and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Fort Myers Mortuary Services. Donations may be made to Hospice of America. A memorial is being planned. Published in The Capital on February 10, 2012