Mary Bruce Harville

Mary Bruce Harville, 91, passed away July 7 at “The Rosewood Ft. Oglethorpe”, Georgia. Mary was raised in the Witt Community and was a long-term resident of Hamblen County, Tennessee.  Mary was a secretary from the time she graduated high school and first worked for Wallace Hardware where she met and then married her late husband, Arthur “Speedy” Harville.  She spent most of her career with Morristown City Schools and was the last secretary to serve at both Rose Elementary and Roberts Elementary before retiring from John Hay Elementary.  Her family fondly referred to her as “Betty Crocker” as she fed family and friends during social gatherings and times of need. She was talented in needlework and as a seamstress having outfitted several generations with heirloom keepsakes.  

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Harville; parents Ona Thomason Bruce and Homer L. Bruce; brother Robert “Bobby” Bruce; and sister Peggy Bruce Eiseman.  She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Griffith (Buzzy), Hartwell, GA and Becky Welch, Chickamauga, GA; sisters Jean Masengill (Felty), Greeneville, TN and Sara Jones, Morristown, TN.  She also leaves 4 grandchildren Mandy Harper (Mac), Bo Griffith, Sara Bacon (Pryor), and Leslie Logan (Chris), and great-grandchildren, Ty, Griff, Thomason, and Ila Cate.  She was also close to many nieces, nephews and other extended family and those who knew her well will appreciate knowing that she is survived by her beloved “Gigi”.

Mary became a devoted member of Hillcrest Baptist Church (Morristown) in 1965. She taught Sunday School many years before becoming a member of the “Mrs. DeArmond Class” as it was fondly known. As she entered her 80’s she would proudly joke of being in “the last Sunday school class” led by Mrs. Jennifer Jones.

A private graveside service at Hamblen Memory Gardens will be planned for a later date. An online register book and tribute wall is available at https://www.allenfuneralhome.us/obituary/Mary-Harville. The family would be honored if memorials were made to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 410 S Liberty Hill Rd, Morristown, TN 37813, in honor of her long-time membership.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to those at Rosewood Memory Care and Tapestry Hospice who lovingly cared for Mary over the past year and especially during the pandemic. 

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