Mary Louise Humiston, 89, of California, MD, formerly of Easton, MD, died October 16, 2011 in Leonardtown, MD. Born on December 3, 1921 in Cleveland, OH, she was the daughter of the late Harry Edwin and Carrie Gladys (Hanson) Stewart.

She was the loving wife of Homer A. Humiston, whom she married on June 28, 1943 in Lakewood, OH.

Mrs. Humiston is survived by her husband and her children; Dinah Ferrance of Roanoke, VA, and Sarah Welsh of Camden-Wyoming, DE, as well a sister Lillian Thomas of Harrisonburg, VA. She also has three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother Edwin Stewart.

Mrs. Humiston graduated in 1939 from Lakewood High School, Lakewood, OH. She went on to graduate from the Saint Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio in 1943, and subsequently, to earn a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing at Catholic University, Washington, DC in June 1947 and a Master of Science Degree in Nursing at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in August of 1968.

Mrs. Humiston's professional career included working as a nurse at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC, the Baltimore County Health Department, the Anne Arundel County Health Department in Maryland and as an Instructor of Nursing at the Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD. She was a lifetime member of The Cleveland General and Saint Luke's Nurses Alumni Association, and a long term participant in the Nurses' Health Study, which is among the largest and longest running investigations of factors influencing women's health.

During her daughters' youth, Mrs. Humiston served as a Girl Scout Leader for many years. After retirement she enjoyed serving as a volunteer docent for St. Michaels Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. She also enjoyed sewing and gardening in her spare time.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 3:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Friend's of the Nurse's Health Study, Channing Laboratory / Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, #350, Boston, MA 02115-5804, The American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236-5938, or the National Kidney Foundation, 1107 Kenilworth Drive, Towson, MD 21204-2186.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A, Leonardtown, MD.