Jonnie Maree Curé

Jonnie Maree Abboud Cure (1941-2026) lived a full, interesting life, but the most important things about her could never be captured in a list of accomplishments. She taught Spanish at Bethel Elementary, taught real estate at Cross Country School of Real Estate School, and taught her clients all about the local real estate market at Apple Realty and Southern Exposure Realty.

Jonnie was extraordinarily kind. She had a softness about her, a deep compassion for people, and a remarkable capacity for forgiveness. She was loyal, generous, open-minded, and fiercely devoted to the people she loved.

And Jonnie loved fiercely.

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved her sisters, her mother, and her father. She loved her family through all of its complications, disagreements, and imperfections. Her love wasn't loud or demanding. It was quiet and steady—the kind of love that simply remained.

She was also really, really funny. Jonnie had a wonderful sense of humor and a way of seeing life's absurdity. Some of our best memories of her are the ones that still make us laugh.

Jonnie was incredibly intelligent and endlessly curious. She read. She thought. She questioned. She loved politics and cared deeply about this country. She encouraged her children to think critically, read, question, and form their own opinions—even when those opinions disagreed with hers.

She was enormously creative and an incredible problem solver. She could see things differently, figure them out, and find a way forward. Teaching was coded in her DNA. She was a natural teacher of all things: a schoolteacher, a language teacher, a real estate teacher and broker, a business owner, and an investor. But titles never really explained Jonnie. Her intelligence, independence, curiosity, and creativity did.

If Jonnie sold you real estate, you probably remember her smarts and her sense of humor. If she taught you real estate, you probably passed your test. And if Jonnie gave you advice, there was a pretty good chance you came out all right on the other side.

Jonnie loved helping people, and throughout her life she inspired more people than she probably ever realized. She had a way of encouraging people to believe in themselves, to think differently, and to see possibilities they might not have seen on their own. She was generous with her time, knowledge, and encouragement, and she genuinely enjoyed seeing others succeed.

And she loved these mountains.

Jonnie dreamed of living in the mountains of Western North Carolina for decades before finally making them her home. There was something about this place that belonged to her long before she belonged to it.

Jonnie was interesting. Truly interesting. She had ideas, opinions, and stories. She had a rebellious streak and an open mind. She could be thoughtful and serious one minute and absolutely hilarious the next.

But of all the things she was—teacher, broker, businesswoman, investor, reader, thinker, problem solver, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister—we will remember most the way she loved.

Quietly. Softly. Forgivingly. Loyally.

And fiercely.

If you knew Jonnie, you knew you had met someone interesting.

If she loved you, you knew you had been given something very special.

Celebration of Life RSVP @:

https://evite.me/NJSSVshna5

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Maple Leaf Adult Respite by following the QR code or link provided.

Our family is deeply grateful for your support.

Jonnie’s special-needs daughter has participated in Maple Leaf Adult Respite for many years, and our family feels incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful, caring program available to the residents of Haywood County.

https://gofund.me/e53e1566b

Please, we would all love your stories and pictures.

She touched so many. Please share here at Garrett's how she touched your life. Thank you so much.