Mary Onnis Waid

ASHEVILLE – Mary Onnis Waid, age 90, of Asheville, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Greens of Weaverville. She was born on May 26, 1935, and grew up in Alabama towns as the fortunate daughter of a Methodist minister and wife, the late Onnis George and Mary Berthelle Smith Waid. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Wanda Waid Powell.

Mary graduated from the University of Alabama in 1957 with a major in sociology and a minor in vocal music. She then did graduate work at three universities (LSU, State University of New York in Oswego, NY, and the University of Colorado), focusing on social work, sociology, and education.

Her professional work was as a child welfare worker, sociology instructor in college and as a Naval officer before her marriage to Robert Allen Simon. They had two children, Cynthia and Glenn, and lived in Silver Spring, MD. With the children almost grown, she and Robert parted ways and she took a job as a research analyst for the Department of Health and Human Services in Baltimore, MD. After nineteen years there, she retired and moved to Jackson, WY where her son lived. Her daughter’s family soon also moved there, so the initial family was reunited. After twenty wonderful years in Jackson, she and Glenn moved to Asheville, NC.

Mary loved to travel. She put her foot down in all fifty states and twenty-six countries. She had written her goals for retirement as follows: “Try to give understanding and peace to others. Continually try to maintain a valid, meaningful and hopeful life. Live life with deep appreciation, excitement and purpose. Always push only in the ‘right’ direction. Do my best with whatever happens. In every way, be thankful for my truly wonderful and very blessed life.”

In addition to her children, Cynthia Jane Smith and Glenn Waid Simon, she is also survived by her granddaughters, Caitlin Jane O’Shei and Eleanor Elizabeth O’Shei.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving the Waid family. Condolences may be offered to the family under her obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.