She was born in New Jersey on March 27, 1943. She married Gary N. Mock, her high school sweetheart and was a mother of three sons; Kevin Gary Mock (wife Frances, sons Jackson and Quince), Darin England Mock (wife Shannon, children Stephen and Martha Anne), and Brian James Mock (children Grady, Roman, and Peri). She is also survived by her sister, Carolyn Elizabeth “Carolib” Baughman (husband Jim).
An educator with a Bachelor of Music Education from the College of Wooster, she taught band and chorus for 27 years in public schools. Her last 20 years were as band director at Apex Middle School, building the band almost from scratch to an accomplished ensemble with Superior ratings (the highest) at competitions for 16 years. She also taught music education courses at Clemson University, UNC-CH, and Meredith College and taught oboe privately for over 45 years. With a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from Converse College, she played oboe professionally and for fun until age 80 including many years in the Second Wind Quintet. She loved conducting at Glenaire for ten years and would direct any choir that would let her.
As a member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church, she was an Elder, a member of the Sanctuary Choir, bell choir, founder and director of the brass choir for 25 years, pianist, Sunday School teacher, and general music stand mover. She volunteered to sing and play oboe for Transitions Life Care (hospice) patients for 12 years.
Her athletic endeavors began by making the All-Star field hockey team in high school and included excelling at tennis in the Senior Olympics, whitewater canoeing, driving every manner of boats with precision, and water skiing every summer from the age of 5 to age 80.
A woman of many talents, she could operate a backhoe, cook, bake, sew, knit, braid rugs, refinish furniture, re-cane chairs, paint, garden, and keep meticulous family records. She often took matters into her own hands, including getting a CDL to drive the activity bus for the Apex Middle School band.
Her summers were spent on an island on the Delaware River (Thomas Island) where her family first camped over 100 years ago. Accessible only by boat, the family cabin was a retreat filled with endless projects, Hellgrammiting (catching a clawed centipede for fishing) and her dominating competitive games of Scrabble, Spades, Bridge, and Pinochle. When the day was done, her favorite pastime was to sit on the front bank with Gary and watch the sun set on the river.
She was a force of nature and the winds at Lake Gaston, Thomas Island, and Raleigh will surely be quieter without her.
A Witness to the Resurrection service will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh, NC 27608, on Thursday, May 9th. Special music will begin at 1:30 PM. The service will begin at 2 PM, with a visitation to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.
DONS
Transitions LifeCare250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
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