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Obituary
Author: Mike
Mrs. Mary P. Boyer
Posted Date: October 29, 2011
(June 19, 1942 - October 27, 2011)
Leave A Condolence
Mary Poole Boyer ended her courageous struggle with lung cancer on Thursday, October 27, 2011. She was 69. Her husband and family, fellow church members, and many friends in the High Country and far beyond mourn her loss. Gardener and Spanish teacher, Mary's love of nature's diversity, children, and social justice was measured in countless acts of caring for the land, kindness to people, and service to the community.
Born on June 19, 1942, Mary grew up in Hendersonville, NC as the younger child of Erma and Hamon Poole. She earned a sociology degree in 1964 at UNC-Greensboro. That same year she joined the Peace Corps in Honduras and worked with a child nutrition program and other community development projects. After stints with Peace Corps recruiting in Washington and the Head Start program in New York City, she married Jeff Boyer, with similar Peace Corps experience, in Portland, OR in 1969. They have returned several times to Honduras. Mary, Jeff and their children Josh and Chelcy came to Boone from Chapel Hill in 1983 when he began teaching at Appalachian State. Making their home in Creston, Ashe County, Mary became well known for her raspberry and flower gardens. After working with Watauga County's Hunger Coalition, she taught Spanish in Ashe County public schools for 15 years. More recently she was active with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. As the English teacher and "master gardener" for a circle of Hispanic mothers and their children, Mary met with them weekly at the Watauga County Agricultural Center. She also taught an advanced international group of English learners at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where she frequently taught Sunday school.
In addition to Jeff, Josh and Chelcy, Mary is survived by her brother Joe and his wife Becky in Hendersonville; by Josh's wife Jennifer and their children Alex, 10, and Molly, 6, in Raleigh; and by Chelcy's husband Fred Stutzman and their children Freddie, 2, and Jack, 4 months, in Pittsburgh.
Funeral, burial services, and reception will begin at 1p.m. on Saturday, November 5, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Boone.
Memorial donations may be made to the Watauga County Hunger Coalition, PO Box 1837, Boone, NC 28607; Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, PO Box 67, Boone, NC 28607 or to Doctors without Borders, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, Maryland.
Online condolences may be sent to the Boyer family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Boyer family.
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