Mavis J. (Newhart) Roat

Mavis J. (Newhart) Roat, age 95, of Williamsport and formerly of Danville, died peacefully at her home on Sunday March 24, 2024 after being in failing health.

Born on March 1, 1928 in Ashley, Luzerne County, she was the daughter of the late Stanley L. and Catherine A. (Younker) Newhart. She resided in Weatherly, Carbon County, until moving to Danville in 1965. She was a 1946 graduate of Weatherly High School and a 1949 graduate of the former Hazleton State Hospital School of Nursing.

Mavis was employed as a registered nurse and a psychiatric nursing supervisor at Danville State Hospital for 30 years, retiring in May of 1988. Following the death of her beloved husband, Frank W. “Bill” Roat on December 15, 1981, she continued to operate the Frank W. Roat Funeral Home in Danville until July 1995 when it was purchased by a long-time associate, Dean W. Kriner.

She was a member for over 50 years of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Danville.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew C. Kayhanfar, on April 28, 2020.

Mavis is survived by two daughters, Cheryl A. Kayhanfar, with whom she resided in Williamsport, and Cynthia Hornberger, of Berwick; four grandchildren: Andrew Kayhanfar, and his wife Traci, of Plattsmouth, NE, Christian Kayhanfar, and his wife Marcia, of Parrish, FL, William Hornberger, of Tharptown, and Erica, wife of Jacob Piatt, of Berwick; and five great-grandsons.

A viewing will be held on Saturday April 6, 2024 from 10-11 a.m. at the Roat-Kriner Funeral Home, 1133 Bloom Rd., Danville. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. in Union Cemetery, Weatherly, with Rev. Sharon Frye, pastor of Grace United Church of Christ, Weatherly, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in her memory to the Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 37 Weatherly, PA 18255.