Mary Burrus

Mary was born on December 26, 1939, in Chapel Hill, NC, to John and Mary Duncan. She was the youngest of 10 children (Crudup, Venable, Lib, Lewis, James, Margie, Betty Sue, Cecil, and Leonard). She graduated from Chapel Hill High School.

She met Jim Burrus while working at the audio visual department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and they married June 3, 1962, the same weekend that Jim graduated from UNC and received his commission in the Air Force.

After 20 years of Air Force service (and 14 moves), they moved to Cary, NC, to return to their home state and be near family. She also began a government career of her own, working 22 years at the Environmental Protection Agency in the Research Triangle Park.

Mary was an avid Carolina fan, enjoyed going to area bluegrass festivals, and loved decorating for the holidays, especially Christmas.

Mary and Jim recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Jim; son James and granddaughter Maria; daughter Amy Cruickshank and son-in-law Bryan; sisters-in-law (Ruth Duncan, Joyce Duncan, and Mary Anne Duncan) and many nieces and nephews and other extended family.

Mary was a charter member of Woodhaven Baptist Church in Cary, NC.

She also volunteered at WakeMed Cary Hospital, where she would later receive a lot of her own healthcare.

Memorial contributions can be made in Mary’s name to the WakeMed Foundation, 3000 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27610. www.wakemed.org/giving/donate-now

The family will receive friends on Monday, October 10, 2022, from 4 pm to 6 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 1 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC, followed by interment at North Chapel Hill Baptist Church, 7707 NC 86N, Chapel Hill, NC, at 3:30 pm.