Mary Peareson Greig

As the red and gold autumn leaves softly fell from the trees surrounding her home in the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, Mary Louise Peareson Grover Greig, peacefully and gracefully departed this life on Thursday, the 9th of November 2023.

Mary was born in Houston, Texas on the 16th of August 1926, to Hallie Kelley Peareson and Philip Edward Peareson. She grew up in Richmond, Texas, a small town near Houston where generations of her family had lived. After graduating from Richmond High School, she attended Hockaday Junior College in Dallas and the University of Texas in Austin where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She graduated in 1946 and in July of that year she married Robert Spencer Grover of Los Angeles, California and they moved to Los Angeles to begin their life together. Bob was the president of Apex Steel Corporation and Mary was very involved in volunteer activities, Lighthouse for the Blind, and Searchlighters, an auxiliary of the Orthopedic Hospital and the Junior League.

Two daughters were born to them, Carol Louise in 1947 and Christine Kelley in 1949. It was an exciting life for them in Los Angeles, raising two daughters, enjoying days at the Bel Air Bay Club in Santa Monica, family weekends at their home in Palm Springs, trips with the Young President Organization and meeting dignitaries and celebrities when Bob was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Sadly Bob died in 1963.

Mary remained in Los Angeles until 1965 when she married Ben Wayne Greig, a wonderful man from Austin, Texas whom she had dated while at the University of Texas. Together they built a happy, loving and always fun life that would include living in Austin for two-and-a-half years where they enjoyed renewing college friendships, in Atlanta, Georgia for five years and Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 15 years, where Ben continued his work and Mary continued her volunteer activities, and where new and lasting friendships were made.

While living in Fort Lauderdale, they bought a beautiful little home tucked away in the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina where they would spend half of each year after Ben retired and they had moved to Houston. That very sweet home was the site of many family gatherings and celebrations. Mary and Ben most enjoyed time spent with their combined family of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and with friends all over the country.

They loved traveling together, especially to Hawaii, Santa Fe, France, Italy, New Zealand and Australia where more friendships were made and enjoyed.

They were happily married for almost 40 years until Ben passed away in 2005. Mary continued living in Houston and Highlands and in 2009 bought a beautiful condominium in the town of Highlands. The joys were many in her years in Highlands, frequent visits of three generations of her family who all wanted to be with their “Mimi,” the incredible natural beauty that surrounded her, the enduring and precious company of her many Highland friends and in her later years, the loving care of the most wonderful group of compassionate caregivers. Hers was a long and beautiful life!

She was a lifelong Episcopalian, and her deep faith guided her life especially as she experienced the grief in losing her two husbands and her daughter. That faith shaped and deepened her love for all those around her and her gratitude for all her life’s blessings.

The tributes to Mary from her family tell a deeper story of just who she was. “Mimi was a bright light for everyone with her infectious smile and endless positivity and optimism.” “She left an imprint on so many people’s lives.” “She commanded the attention of the room because so many were captivated and delighted by her radiant presence and loving demeanor.” “Mimi was a light in the world, a true lady who loved her family and others so well.” “She was a true spiritual seeker and a lover of God, in service to a loving heart.” “I have so many wonderful memories of Mimi that have enriched my life.” “By all accounts Mimi was a class act, always elegantly dressed, always loving and caring.” “I will always remember her for her kindness, acceptance, generosity and the extra effort she made to make everyone feel special.” “She loved so deeply and authentically.”

One of Mary and Ben’s favorite songs was “Perhaps Love” written and performed by their friend, John Denver. It was apparent all along that Mary knew that perhaps love was the reason, the purpose, the meaning and the joy of living one’s life. You did that so well, Mom, Mimi, Mary!

To know Mary Greig was to love her. She was beautiful, both inside and outside, a true Southern lady who embodied authentic charm, an elegant sense of style as well as genuine warmth and love. She was a wonderful wife, mother, a grateful friend, a loving supportive grandmother and a completely delighted great-grandmother. She was our family’s matriarch, light and love that shown over us all and inspired us.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Robert Grover and Ben Greig; beloved daughter, Christine Estes; cherished parents, Hallie and Phillip Peareson; much loved sister, Kelley Moore; and Kelley’s two sons, Hilmar Moore, Jr. and Philip Moore.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Carol Taaffe and her husband, Peter; son-in-law, Robbie Estes; nephew, Jack Moore and his wife Mary; and Ben’s children, Brian Greig and his wife Jane, Betsy Greig, Bruce Greig and his wife Lisa, and Ginna Hall. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Peter Kelley Taaffe and his wife Diane, Ryan Taaffe and his wife Dina, Brett Taaffe and his wife Elizabeth, Luke Estes, Will Estes and his wife Mele, Andrew Estes and his wife Priscilla, Travis Greig and his wife Brett, Grace Pulido and her husband Raul, Devon Greig Rothfuss and her husband Erik, Claire Hall and Hanna Hall de Arzu and her husband Roberto Arzu.

Mary’s great-grandchildren, Philip Taaffe, Robert Taaffe, Mary Taaffe, Michael Taaffe, Wesley Taaffe, Hallie Taaffe, Andrew Taaffe, William Taaffe, Thomas Taaffe, Isabelle Taaffe, Eleanor Taaffe, Isabella Estes, Sienna Estes, Celia Estes, Kaiea Estes, Christine Estes, Scotty Estes, Maggie Estes, Conner Pulido, Owen Pulido, Thea Greig, Lottie Greig, Leo de Arzu and Matias de Arzu also survive her.

Mary’s family would like to thank all the incredibly wonderful people who made Mary’s life so comfortable and happy. In Houston, they include Dorothy Shorter, Renee Flenner, Cyndee Flores and Frank Peterek. In Highlands her “wonderful helpers” as she liked to call them include her kind and loving team of caregivers, Lou Rogers, Christina Joiner, Tina Kehoe, Kim Ledford, Kimberley Ferrell, Cheryl Huskins and Genise Humphrey, her doctor Dr. Patti Wheeler, Tina Rogers, Mary Rounds, Cedar Chan, Cindy Oliver and her team at the Four Seasons Hospice.

The family gathered for a private interment for Mary in Richmond, Texas at the Peareson Family plot in the 1825 Morton Cemetery.

A memorial service celebrating Mary’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 7th of December, at the Church of the Incarnation in Highlands, North Carolina, 520 Main Street.

Immediately following, all are invited t greet the family during a reception in the church’s nearby Jones Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in Mary’s memory be directed to The Highlands Emergency Council, 71 Poplar St, Highlands, NC, 28741; to The Highlands Community Child Development Center, PO Box 648, Highlands, NC, 28741; or to the Hudson Library Highlands, at Fontana Regional Library, 33 Fryemont St., Bryson City, NC, 28713.

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