Mary Robert Crumley Horner

HORNER, Mary Robert Crumley, age 85 of Knoxville Tennessee, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on August 18th surrounded by her loving family including her husband, Reverend William (Bill) Horner, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was born on November 30, 1925 in Greeneville Tennessee. During her blessed marriage of 66 years, she loved generously, cared deeply, and spoke kindly to others during their ministry together in Tennessee and Florida.

Mary was an example to all who knew her and was a gracious and elegant lady. She was an accomplished seamstress making everything from her husband’s ties and matching hankies to her children’s fashionable clothes. She was an amazing hostess who prepared lavish meals and entertained for her family, friends the ministry staff. She had a gifted touch in home décor, and created a house into a Home, and most importantly, a “Christ Centered” Home that was felt by all who entered. In Bristol Tennessee, Mary was also acknowledged as “Woman of the Year” in 1959.

She proceeded in death by her parents, Willis and Lee Crumley, and her two brothers, Roy and Gene Crumley. She survived by her husband, Reverend Bill Horner, three daughters: Cynthia Jones, son-in-law David, Jackie Early, son-in-law Sam, and Jewel Henry, and one son, Bill Horner Jr., daughter-in-law LaDonna, seven grandchildren: Chad, Tonya, Shane, Corey, Alyssa, Natalie, and Whitney, and six great grandchildren: Austin, Ashlee, Dylan, Kaden, Gavin and Gavin.

Services will be performed by Pastor Bruce Galyon and Rev.Carl Oaks on August 21st at 4:00pm at Central United Methodist located at 201 East Third Avenue in Knoxville where Rev. Bill Horner was previously pastor .Family will receive friends from 2:00 – 4:00pm at Central prior to the funeral service. Private service will be at the Veteran’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Central United Methodist Church in her memory. Mary will always be loved and missed by her family and will remain in their hearts forever. Arrangements by Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 2300 W. Adair Dr. Condolences may be offered at www.lynnhurstchapel.com

BIOGRAPHY

TWO LIVES WELL-SERVED: A TRUE LOVE STORY

Written by David Jones & Tonya Blackwell

(A Father & Daughter Team)

The story of “Two Lives Well-Served: A True Love Story” begins with Bill being born in Bristol, Tennessee, and Mary being born in Greenville, Tennessee. Bill was the son of a Methodist minister in Blountville, Tennessee. After Bill graduated from high school in 1944, he immediately joined the United States Marine Corp to serve his Country. He was sent to Paris Island in South Carolina for bootcamp, and to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for combat training. Unsure of his future with the war effort still going, Bill and Mary decided to wed, beginning a true love story that has lasted for 65 years. Mary went back home while Bill was sent to Camp Pendleton, and later transferred to San Francisco to serve in a Marine Guard Attachment until August of 1946.

When Bill returned to civilian life in Tennessee, he found work in sales for a dental lab that was owned by his cousin. His new job entailed much travel and time away from his wife, Mary. He was not sure what else he might find, but one thing for sure, he was not going to be a minster like his Dad. Reverend Bill tells the story how the Lord called him to serve. Bill stated, “One night I stayed up all night and kept trying to fall asleep but could not. Around 4 o’clock the next morning, I awoke my startled wife, and said ‘What would you say if I went into the ministry?’ Mary answered, “I will go wherever you go!” At that moment, a decision for two lives to serve the Lord together began.

Bill enrolled in Emory & Henry College in Virginia for two years. He attended East Tennessee University in Johnson City. He then went to Vanderbilt University, and served the church at Loves Chapel in Nashville. Bill also continued his education at Duke University, Emory University and Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. By 1956, Bill was ordained in the First Centenary Methodist Church. He began a ministry which included serving churches in Tennessee located in: Johnson City, Unicoi, Nashville, Dunlap, Chattanooga, Loudon, Knoxville, and Kingsport. He also served churches in Emory and Behams, Virginia. Bill was appointed District Superintendant for the Cleveland District of Tennessee in 1982. He was responsible for eighty-five (85) churches in the District. Bill retired in 1992 moving for six months of the year to Winter Haven, Florida. As God would have it, Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church was only blocks away from his new residence. Bill again entered service for another nine years for Beymer. He still is requested to assist the church when he is in Florida.

During the years of service to the church, Mary also had an active role. Her ministry included visits to those who could not attend church because of health reasons. She also provided meals and gifts to encourage those less fortunate. She was so active that one of the churches wanted to make her a staff member, but she did have a family to rear and other household duties. She did receive a hundred dollars a month from the church for gasoline expenses since she had so many visits. Bill remembers when he was the Pastor for Central United Methodist Church in Knoxville that he invited twenty-five (25) minters to a “Minister’s We Care Mission”. Mary of course had to do something for the ministers since they could not accept an honorarium for their time at the conference. Mary sewed for each minister a neck tie and matching hanky with a label “Made especially for you by Mary Horner”. Mary also had the “Christmas Dinners” for the staffs and their families as part of her church duties. She was the perfect hostess, preparing the table settings with the finest table linens, while serving the most sumptuous meals with several home cooked cakes and pies for deserts. She often made her families’ clothes and her own. He stated that one of the ministers at a Holston Conference said “Bill, you have a reputation of having the prettiest preacher’s wife in the conference”. Bill stated he was always so proud of Mary.

One does not have to talk very long with Bill Horner for him to start discussing how proud he is also of his family. Bill and Mary’s children include three daughters: Cindy, Jackie, and Jewell; and one son, Bill. While serving as Superintendant in Cleveland, Tennessee for the United Methodist Church in 1983, Bill found the nearest thing he could on Christmas Eve to write a poem about his wonderful family. That thing was a brown paper bag where he penned the following poem he read to his children on Christmas Day:

THE LOVE OF LIFE

To be the husband of a wife;

You gain what you call “the Love of Life”

To live and love, and grow into one;

You know that your days can be full of fun.

You share the good – you share the bad;

Even tho some of it seems so sad.

But then this too has a way;

Of blending you together every day.

To be partners with children dear;

It makes you draw close – ever so near.

Together we nurture and watch them grow;

Until one day they too become adults, you know.

So it is great to have a wife;

To share all the joys and loves of life;

To know there can never be another;

As you grow to be closer than even a brother.

When I think of my children four;

It makes for love all the more.

A Blonde, two brunettes and a fair-headed boy,

My all the fun and the joy.

We laugh and joke and play;

All thru the night and into the day.

With three daughters and a son,

You just can’t count all the fun.

Then there are those other times

When we talk and pray along serious lines;

We look at all that’s included in life;

And find that there is not a lot strife.

To be the Father of such a fine four;

It makes you proud, all the more.

Just to say to someone near;

That’s my son and daughters dear.

Bill and Mary pray for their four children every day, and talk with them by telephone often. Their oldest daughter lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her Husband, David, and works as Director for Metro Atlanta Youth for Christ, assisting youth at risk and teen parents in the inner city. Cindy has two children, Tonya and Shane. Jackie lives in Knoxville with her husband, Sam, and is a third grade teacher. Jackie has one son, Chad. Jewel lives in Athens, Tennessee and has worked in the Optical business. Jewel has two children, Corey and Alyssa. Bill lives Clermont, Florida, with his Wife, La Donna, and has his own company, Golf Specialties. Bill has two children, Whitney and Natalie. Bill and Mary also have six great grandchildren: Ashlee, Austin, Dylan, Gavin, Gavin, and Kaden.

Bill and Mary have had wonderful lives. They have had “Two Lives Well-Served” in their years of church ministry. They have also had a “True Love Story” of over 65 years of dedication and love to each other.

They have lived lives to be honored.

NATALIE'S POEM

My Grandmother, My Angel

A beautiful angel is all that is here.

Saying O’ lord please leave me here.

Not ready to leave but has to go.

A husband and children

Grandchildren and friends

A meaningful life that suddenly ends.

An angel is what she is meant to be.

Now think of all that she can see.

Watching over her family night and day.

Saying I Love You in her own special way.

In the night we sleep.

And in the day we can’t help but cry.

While she is watching us all from her star in the sky.