Mary Neely Ellis Luper

Mary was born August 26, 1961 in Greensboro, daughter of the late Mary Lura Kincaid Ellis and James Shelton Ellis.

She is survived by her loving husband, Anthony (Tony) M. Luper, son Norman Luper (Elizabeth); grandsons, Sam, Calvin, and sister, Ann Ellis White (Jim).

She was pre-deceased by both parents, her sister Lura Ellis Newcome, and brother James Shelton Ellis, Jr. Also surviving are her nieces, nephews, Will, Russ, Maggie, Emily, aunt Berma Jean, and cousins Caroline, Katie, Darrin, and Steve.

Mary was born in Greensboro and grew up living on a farm in Summerfield where she had a passion for horses. She graduated from Page High School and the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also attended Sotheby’s Works of Art program in London. She was married in 1989 and became a stepmother to Norman Luper who was 5 years old.

She worked in advertising sales for Style magazine and the Greensboro News and Record and then became an elementary school teacher to have more time with her son.

Mary was an elementary school teacher and won Teacher of the Year in 2002 for Guilford County Schools. She also attained her National Board of Education certification. Mary was remembered for involving students with their community, for example she hosted a community yard sale for 9/11 when her students wanted to find a way to help. They donated over $5,000 to the New York City Fire Department. When teaching at Colfax she learned that at the time Colfax had one of the lowest levels of racial and ethnic diversity in Guilford County so she took her students to the Naturalization Ceremony at the Guilford County Courthouse where they could meet and learn more about people from all over the world becoming American citizens. She got her students involved in attending a nursing home to help the elderly as well.

She was known as the Crazy Dog Lady at school and remembered for her lessons on the Iditarod Dog Sled Race in Alaska where she helped her students find a fun way to learn geology, weather statistics, math challenges, reading, and most importantly that no matter how hard the challenge is you can do anything you set your mind to.

Mary enjoyed an active lifestyle of dog sports and sheep farming with her precious husband, Tony. She also enjoyed crafts.

When diagnosed with ALS Mary decided to make it her passion rather than her disease, especially since losing her grandmother, mother, and brother to the disease. Hence she became the first ALS patient to become a member of the Board of Directors for the ALS Association NC Chapter, attended National Advocacy Day 3 times, made numerous talks and presentations, became a graduate of the Clinical Research Learning Institute making her a research ambassador, as well as taking part in multiple clinical trials to help find a cure for ALS. She organized the ALSapalooza Music Festival where all proceeds went to the ALS Association NC Chapter. She was awarded Hero of the Year in 2018 by the national ALS Association.

Mary was known as a humble, positive, giving person filled with love and dedication to her family and friends and also filled with a crazy sense of humor.

Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association, Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter, 4 N. Blount St, Suite 200 Raleigh NC 27601

Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.loflinfh.com.

Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty is honored to serve the Luper Family