Gauley Bridge, WV – Mary Helen Morris, 83, of Gauley Bridge, WV died peacefully at Montgomery General Elderly Care surrounded by her family on November 13, 2015 after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. She was a daughter and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mary Helen was born on December 22, 1931 in Webster Springs, WV. She was the daughter of the late Minter D. Cogar and Gay Cogar. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Donald L. Morris; her sister, Tiny Jean Massie and sisters-in-law Peggy Cogar and Freda Cogar; her brothers, Gerald Cogar, Darrell Cogar and Harold Cogar; brothers-in-law, William Massie, James Vance, Rev. Don Walker and William Morris; Infant Granddaughter Morris and her Great-Grandson Alexander Thomas Mitchell.
Mary Helen strongly believed in her Christian values and her strong professional work ethics. She graduated from Nicholas County High School in 1944. She joined the Gauley Bridge Baptist Church in 1949 where she was a very active member teaching Sunday School, serving as Assistant Treasurer and serving as the Vacation Bible School Coordinator for many years. Mary Helen’s first job was at Valley Bell Ice Cream. She began her teaching career in a “one room school house” located on Little Sycamore Creek. She started taking classes at Morris Harvey College in 1949 and graduated in 1962 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and later went on to finish her Masters Plus 30. She taught at Jodie Elementary from 1955-1957 and then began teaching at Gauley Bridge Elementary in September 1957. In 1984 she became the Principle of Gauley Bridge Elementary and Middle School later retiring in 1989. She continued to work as a substitute teacher and would volunteer to read to the students at the Elementary School. She truly loved teaching and loved all of her students and faculty.
Mary Helen is survived by two sisters; Marie Walker of Ripley, WV and Jo Ann Vance of Sanford, NC; one sister-in-law Norma Morris of Ashland, KY; her children Edgar (Rebecca) Morris of Gauley Bridge, WV; Robert (Dee Ann) Morris of Fountain Inn, SC , James (Tamera) Morris of Conway, SC, Mary (Robert) Scott of Gauley Bridge, WV; grandchildren; Eddie (Nicole) Morris, Jennifer (Nathan) Mitchell, Elizabeth (Nathan) Ball, Ashley (John) Sagona, Bradley Morris, Matthew Morris, Logan Scott, and fiancé Eriel Holstine, great-grandchildren: Hillary Claire Mitchell, Nicholas Cooper Ball, Mary Maclaine Ball, Jacob Sagona, Claire Sagona, Maylee Morris, and many nieces and nephews.
Mary Helen’s family would like to thank Gladys Kauff, Debbie Elswick, Montgomery General Elderly Care and Dr. Sammi Atassi for the exceptional care they provided for our mother during the last 4 years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Gauley Bridge Baptist Church or to Montgomery General Elderly Care.
Mary Helen’s, Visitation was held Monday November 16, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Pennington Funeral Home, Gauley Bridge, WV. Services were held 1:00 PM at Pennington Funeral Home with the Minister Jason Skaggs officiating. Burial followed in Montgomery Memorial Park, London, WV.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneral@hotmail.com
Pennington Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Morris Family.
