Ann H. Menton, nurse, golfer, gardener

Ann Hughes Menton, a former nurse at Mercy Medical Center who was active in Howard County golfing and gardening circles, died of lung disease Sunday at Howard County General Hospital.

The Ellicott City resident was 78.

Born in Washington and raised on Loch Raven Boulevard in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Joseph “Woods” Hughes and his wife, Katharine Cullen. Her parents owned the Kitty Hughes hat shop and the Irish House in Ocean City, as well as Woody’s Irish Pub on Clay Street in downtown Baltimore.

She was a 1957 graduate of Mount St. Agnes High School in Mount Washington and graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. She nursed at the hospital.

After settling in Ellicott City, where her husband had a dental practice, she played golf at the Turf Valley Country Club and was an active member of the Maryland Women’s Golf Association.

She was a founder of the Howard County Garden Club and also belonged to the Howard County Historical Society. She was a board member of the Forest Hill Swim Club.

Mrs. Menton lived for many years on Manordale Lane in Ellicott City.

“She loved to entertain and was the consummate hostess,” said her daughter, Maureen Doetzer of Raleigh, N.C. “She was a caretaker to many persons,” her daughter added. “She was constantly visiting people in the hospital and coming to their homes to visit them.”

A Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday at the chapel at St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church, 28 Melvin Ave., Catonsville.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include two sons, Robert Menton and Dr. Thomas Menton, both of Ellicott City; another daughter, Cully Veal of Atlanta, Ga.; and 13 grandchildren. Her marriage to Dr. Raymond D. Menton Jr. ended in divorce, but they remained close friends and were neighbors at the Millers Grant Retirement Community.