Oneonta – Mary E. (Betty) Southern went to be with her husband on September 7, 2020.

She was born Mary Elizabeth Zimmerman on December 2, 1930 to William and Beatrice (Whitson) Zimmerman in Luzerne, PA.

She worked in a cigar factory as a young woman for several years with her sister.

She married Gary H. Southern on August 4, 1951. They moved to Oneonta.  She worked at Diana's Restaurant for several year.  She enjoyed doing things with her husband hunting, fishing, stock car racing and later flying in their airplane and sailing in their sailboat.  After the girls were born, they enjoyed camping up and down the eastern seaboard.  She was a homemaker.  Her grandchildren, were her greatest joy.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Sherry Southern of Morris, Sandra (Roger) Hotaling of Davenport, and Suzette (Oleh) Genza of Clayton, NC; grandchildren, Ann Marie Hoag, Michael Hernandez, Roger Escobar, Sara Lottermann and Ashley Bunn; great-grandchildren, Monica, Robert, Hunter, Ava, Chase, Angel, Nevaeh, Jasmine, Ryan, Natasha and Kayla; great-great grandchildren, Aaron and Adrianna; her brother, John (Lou) Zimmerman; sisters-in-law, Helen Zimmerman, Donna Zimmerman, and Nancy Hogan; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gary; a grandchild, Theresa Hernandez; sisters, Beatrice, Laura and Doris; brothers, William, Robert, Harry, and Walter.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to the Funeral Service at Noon, on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY. Deborah Holstead Sager will officiate.  Current restrictions, please wear a face cover, maintain social distancing and be prepared to possibly wait to enter building.  A private burial will take place at Oneonta Plains Cemetery.

Donation may be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com