Mary Watson Corpening Duckworth

Mary Watson Corpening Duckworth, 88, died Monday, August 24, 2009, at Givens Health Care Center where she had been a resident since January of this year. The daughter of Dr. O. J. Corpening and Alice Surles Corpening, she was born on January 21, 1921 in Granite Falls, NC, one of twelve children. She graduated from Mars Hill College in 1940 where she met her future husband, William Thomas Duckworth, Jr. She graduated from Duke University in 1942 with a BA degree in English. On June 16th, 1942 she and Bill were married at the First Baptist Church in Granite Falls, NC with a reception at her family home and garden. She and Bill lived in Columbia, SC from 1942-1946 while Bill served in the US Army and Mary worked for the Columbia Record soliciting advertising and assisting the Childrens' Welfare Committee. She and Bill moved to Asheville, NC after the war was over in 1946 . She and Betty Lynch Williams Rawls founded the Wishy-Washy, a coin-op laundromat in Asheville on Charlotte Street in 1948. She and Bill built a home at 32 Maywood Road in 1950 where they lived together for 55 years. The inspiration for their home came from a special trip to New England where they acquired antiques and developed the design for their red shingled Cape Cod home and gardens. Mary Watson was active in the Junior League, the Children's Welfare League, the Buncombe County Womens' Democratic Society, the Preservation Society of Asheville, the Town and Country Garden Club and the First Baptist Church for many years. She loved playing bridge, hiking, dancing, and always enjoyed and appreciated lively political or educational curricula debates. In 1957 Mary Watson designed an original childrens' activity calendar for which she sold the patent rights to Hallmark Corporation in New York. She and Bill enjoyed many wonderful trips together, her personal favorite being a cruise through the Greek islands. She obtained her real estate license and enjoyed the process of learning new skills at all stages of life. Mary and Bill also built a home at Lake Tahoma, NC and enjoyed many happy years there fishing and boating. Noted for her delicious Southern cooking and hospitality, she and Bill often entertained family and friends. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, rosy complexion and healthy lifestyle were a joy for all. Her perpetual optimism, lovely smile and gentle nature grounded in clear common sense constantly guided and inspired her family. She and Bill moved to Givens Estates in 2005 where they have been living together in Oxford Commons. They celebrated 67 loving years of a remarkable marriage this past June and are affectionately called Grand-Bill and Grand-Mary by their family. Mary Watson is survived by her husband, William T. Duckworth, Jr. and her daughter, Lynne Revell Duckworth Breed, her son-in-law, Richard Phillips Breed III, four grandchildren: Lindsay Revell Breed, Ashley Beardsell Breed, Mary Stuart Walton Breed and Richard Phillips Breed IV , all of Marblehead , MA., her brother, Dr. Thomas Nye Corpening of Houston, TX, two sister-in-laws: Mrs. Avis Corpening of Granite Falls, NC and Mrs. Jean Corpening of Salisbury, NC along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Pulliam Chapel at Givens Estates on Friday, August 28th at 11:00 am followed by a reception in the adjoining room. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801; or Givens Estates, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803; or Mars Hill College, P.O.Box 6677, Mars Hill, NC 28754. "Nobody could dance the Charleston like Grand-Mary!"