Mary Finch Tippett

Mary Tippett passed away peacefully on October 7, 2025. Mary was born in Raleigh on August 8, 1930, only child of Alma Fisher Finch and Waylon D. Finch. Her childhood was spent in Zebulon, NC where she graduated from Wakelon High School and then 4 years later from Greensboro College. Her twenty-seven year teaching career was in Roanoke Rapids, Greensboro and Charlotte. She retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg school system in 1994 where she was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Her husband, Homer Monson, passed away in 1990 and in 2000 after living in Charlotte for 40 years she moved to Raleigh. In 2014 she married her high school sweetheart, Rex Tippett, and they made their home in Raleigh until his death in 2019. She was an active member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church as long as her health permitted. She was especially proud of her four children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Among her bragging rights were three sons and a grandson who were all Eagle Scouts and a daughter who was a third generation teacher. She was predeceased by her mother and father, her first husband and father of her children, M.H. Monson as well as her second husband Rex Tippett and her precious dog Mike. She is survived by her four children: Marlo Willis, Finch Monson (Caroline), Gene Monson (Sara), John Monson (Susan); Six grandchildren: Waylon Willis (Margaret), Rodger Willis, Elizabeth Raggi (Joe), Emily Monson, Jack Monson and Reagan Monson and two great grandchildren; Walker Willis and Arthur Raggi. Funeral service will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025 at Edenton Street United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM with interment at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday October 14. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Zebulon United Methodist Church, 121 W. Gannon Ave, Zebulon, NC 27597.