Mary Lou Johnson Shawver Guittar

Mary Lou Guittar, 89 of Williamstown, passed into the loving arms of Jesus December 9, 2024, surrounded by family, at Ohio Valley Health Care. She was born September 14, 1935, to the late Edgar W. and Mary Lillian Emerick Johnson.

Mary Lou was a 1953 graduate of Williamstown High School. She participated on the Clarion Staff, was Treasurer of the Commercial Club and was a Class Cheerleader in 1953. She was a lifelong fan of the Williamstown Yellowjackets. In Elementary school, she had played basketball and was actually the tallest girl on the team one year.

She was a caregiver most of her life, starting in high school with caring for her mother. She raised four children, entering the workforce as a nurse’s aide when her children were all in school. Shortly thereafter, in her mid 30’s, she started her LPN studies and upon attaining her degree she worked at the Christian Anchorage Nursing Home and for many years at Selby General Hospital.

She supported her children and grandchildren through all their endeavors in school, athletics, competitions, and volunteer organizations. Mary Lou was very vocal in her support and was known to occasionally, when her enthusiasm and excitement overcame her, lightly pound on anyone sitting around her whether she knew them or not. If she didn’t agree with a call, she sometimes felt the need to vocalize her disapproval. Always proud of her grandchildren and their accomplishments, she extended her support to their friends and teammates. Many of them still remember the big hugs she gave after games and events, no matter the outcome.

As the youngest of seven children, she always told people that she was made with “spare parts.” At four feet nine and a half inches (the one-half inch was important to her) she was always willing to get down on the floor and play with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children Robin Baylous, Rodney Shawver (Marianella), and Roger Shawver (Julie); her grandchildren Rodney Lee Shawver (Stephanie), Staci Redford (Scott), Lindsey Boso (Brandon) and Cassandra Baylous (Chris); and great grandchildren Julianna, Scottlyn, Olivia, and Jake Redford; Blake and Lexie Boso; and Camille and Cooper Shawver; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Gary Shawver in 1980, her second husband Gerald Guittar in 2007, and her oldest son Ronzel in March 2024. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Austin Shawver and son-in-law, J. Darrell Baylous; and her six siblings Norma Jean Robinson, Edgar Johnson Jr., Buehl, Glenn, Dale, and K. Buryl Johnson.

The family would like to thank the caregivers provided to her by West Virginia Central Aging during the time she was able to stay at home as her dementia progressed. And to Ohio Valley Health Care for their love and support during the last two years.

Funeral services will be held on Friday (Dec. 13) at 11:00 am at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with burial following in Riverview Cemetery. Family will greet friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.Lankfordfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the First Baptist Church of Williamstown, the Williamstown Volunteer Fire Department, or a charity of your choice.