Mary Frances Gosnell

Mary Frances Gosnell, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026. She was 88.

Born in Frederick, Maryland in 1937 to Irene and J. Albert Hardy, Mary Frances grew up on a farm in the Long Corner area and attended Lisbon School, graduating in 1955. She joined Farmers and Mechanics (F&M) National Bank as a File Clerk and rose to Vice President, becoming the first woman branch manager as part of her 40+ year career there.

If you wanted to get something done, just ask Mary Frances. Her contributions to her community are too numerous to list here. Mary Frances grew up attending Howard Chapel United Methodist Church where she served as Sunday School Teacher, Choir Director, and Pianist. Mary Frances was instrumental in leading the Damascus Lions Club, where she served for 34 years in varying capacities including serving two terms as Club President and in dozens of leadership and committee roles. Among her most meaningful contributions, she helped establish the Club’s scholarship program and led its holiday giving program, providing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and gifts to hundreds of local families. Her service earned 10+ club, district, and international honors, culminating in the International President’s Award, one of Lions International’s highest honors recognizing exceptional service to the organization and its mission.

After navigating her own hearing loss in midlife, Mary Frances also chartered the Frederick Hearing Loss Association to raise awareness and help others navigate hearing loss. She participated in research with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins in support of hearing advancements. In addition, she served on the Board of Directors for the Howard Chapel Cemetery, worked as an Election Judge, and self-organized and hosted the annual Class of 1955 Lisbon School Reunion.

An avid gardener, pickler, jelly-maker, cook and baker, no one in her midst would go hungry or without a family to join for a holiday dinner. All were welcome at her table. Mary Frances made a life of hard work and meaningful action to make her community better. She enriched the lives of anyone who crossed her path.

Mary Frances was deeply committed to her family. She is survived by her daughter Tamya Jo Dugan (Matthew R. Dugan), her sisters Barbara Jean Dixon (Carlton L. Dixon) and Patricia A. Williams, her grandchildren Katherine E. Dugan (Michael Meliniotis) and their children Callen and Elin, M. Bradley Dugan (Lauren Dugan) and their children Brynn and Kinley, and Brett M. Dugan (Sarah F. Dugan) and their children Connor and Aspen, her nephews Michael C. Dixon, Neal A. Manalo and nieces D. Michele Peterson, Jennifer L. Wilson, as well as many other family members and several friends she called family. She is preceded by her husband H. Kenneth Gosnell, her mother Irene P. Hardy and her father J. Albert Hardy.

Please join her family, friends, and community for a visitation at Damascus United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 13th from 2 to 4pm and 5 to 7pm. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the Damascus Lions Club for the Mary Frances Gosnell Memorial Fund, online or via check made payable to Damascus Lions Club, P.O. Box 267, Damascus, MD 20872

Her life is a reminder that small kindnesses and hard work ripple outward — may we each carry that forward.

Arrangements made by: Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory, Sykesville, MD online condolences to www.burrier-queen.com