Jul 10, 2022

Amy McKay Core passed away Saturday, June 18, 2022, in UPMC Passavant-McCandless Hospital, after a short illness, at 101 years of age. Born April 22, 1921, a daughter of Hugh and Marie Gelbach McKay, she was a direct descendant of Christian Buhl who pioneered her hometown of Zelienople in 1802.

She married Daniel Heiner Core, Jr. May 13, 1944, in a wartime wedding. They celebrated 60 years together before his death in 2004.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Lucille McKay Geddis; and a granddaughter, Rachel A. Core.

She is survived by two sons, Gordon McKay Core (Lois) of Washington, and Philip Kennedy Core of Forest Hills; a daughter, Amy Jane Core French (L. Russell) of Orlando, Fla.; a granddaughter, Sarah E. Core of Mt. Lebanon; nieces, Christine Geddis Miller (Craig) of Oakland, Gail Geddis Foote (James) of Lake Barrington, Ill., Susan Geddis Davidson (Robert) of Bethel Park, Dr. Amy E. Geddis of Seattle, Wash., Margaret E. Core of Mt. Lebanon, Katherine Core Mitchell of Cincinnati, Ohio; and many grandnieces and nephews.

An avid writer, Amy completed a life work at the age of 100, publishing Zelie Girl, her book of memoirs. She wrote about growing up in Western Pennsylvania during the Depression, marrying her college sweetheart, and traveling the world with him while raising their family in the mid-20th century. A prolific painter, she held a one-woman art show in 2008. Her collected works, the Amy M. Core Collection, have been preserved in the Chatham University Archives.

Amy was valedictorian of the Zelienople High School Class of 1939 and in 1943 graduated from Chatham University with a B.A. in English.

She was employed at Marshall Field and at the Red Cross in Chicago while her husband served in the Army there and then at Johns-Manville in Zelienople during his deployment in the Pacific.

A devoted gardener, Amy was a national president of the Herb Society of America and former chairwoman of its Western Pennsylvania Unit. In 2005, she received the Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor for outstanding contributions to the national organization. While living in Nassau, Bahamas in the 1960s, she was a charter member and the first president of the International Garden Club. She lectured on herbs in the Pittsburgh area and later in Duluth, Minn., where she and her husband lived for 25 years. She also taught classes to seniors at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the College of St. Scholastica.

While residing in Mt. Lebanon, she served her alma mater, Chatham, on its Alumni Board and then the board of trustees. She was also a professional staff member and volunteer of the Pittsburgh YWCA.

Returning to Zelienople to live at Passavant Retirement Community, she was on the board of the Zelienople Historical Society and served as a tour docent. She entertained friends and neighbors on the organ and accordion wherever she lived. Amy’s love of art and history led to docent, volunteer and board positions at many museums and historical societies.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania. A memorial gathering will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 13, in the Abundant Life Center of the Passavant Retirement Community, 105 Burgess Drive, Zelienople.

Memorial gifts may be made, in her memory, to Chatham University Archives or to the Zelienople Historical Society.

To learn more about her life and book, visit www.zeliegirl.com.