Mary Frances Morrow

Mary Myers Morrow, known to family as Mary Frances, went to be with Jesus on Good Friday morning. She was born on October 16, 1945 in Franklin NC to the late Lillie “Pie” and James Charles Myers. She married the love of her life, Jim Morrow, in 1968, and together they shared 45 years of marriage and raised three children in Fairview, NC. After Jim’s death in 2013, Mary lived in Delaware with her son and his family. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was also preceded in death by her older brother, Charles.

Mary was a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. Mary taught elementary students in the classroom and as a reading specialist for 30+ years, primarily at Claxton Elementary. She was an active member of Grassy Branch Baptist Church in Asheville NC, where she enjoyed many years volunteering as an AWANA teacher, nursery caregiver, and served on the sanctuary flower committee. When Jim was diagnosed with cancer, Mary and Jim together became active participants and leaders of their Asheville Relay for Life Team. Mary was a devoted wife and caregiver for Jim during his battle with cancer.

Mary loved family vacations at the beach and treating her grandchildren with tokens of her love. She was an avid gardener, and spent many hours weeding her day lilies and irises, and working in the family vegetable garden. She was a connoisseur of green beans, and saved seed each year for her favorite variety, greasy cut-shorts. Mary loved making pretty things for family and friends, and over the years tried her hand at cross stitch, knitting, polymer clay, beading and more. She loved new experiences, new technology, new places and meeting new people, and was quick to connect and share whether you were another teacher at a national conference, or a vendor at her local farmer’s market. And, Mary was feisty – she loved fiercely competitive family card games, spirited conversations and independently breaking the mold for what you might expect from a woman of her time and place.

She is survived by her son, Stephen and his wife, Angela of Middletown, Delaware; her daughters, Heather of Portland, Oregon and Holli of Iva, SC; her five grandchildren – Andrew, Ethan, Rose, Will and Asa. Also surviving are her brother, Johnny Myers of Franklin and her many nieces and nephews.

There will be a private memorial in Franklin and family graveside service in Fairview.

The family requests memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society – Relay for Life or Meals on Wheels.