Mary Elaine (Hargis) Pryse of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully on July 25, 2026 surrounded by loving family. Mary was born June 22, 1927 in Cleveland, Tennessee, the daughter of Louis and Nona Hargis. She graduated from Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia.
In 1949 she married the love of her life, Dr. Thomas D. Pryse, a beloved and accomplished orthodontist in Knoxville. They were married nearly 71 years before Tom passed away in 2020; their love story set the standard for what marriage should look like. Mary and Tom had three children (Tandy, Thomas, Jr, and Tegwyn), eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren of whom they were very proud.
Mary loved cheering on her children, grandchildren and greats at their various activities, especially horse shows. She also enjoyed traveling the world with Tom through the International College of Dentists. One of her favorite activities was sitting on her farmhouse porch with Tom at toddy time looking for John’s Mountain in the distance.
She was a regular at bridge club, garden club, and a member of St John’s Episcopal Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.
“Nano,” as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren, had a true servant’s heart and spent her time caring for her many loved ones. She was strong, smart, loving, sassy, generous, and really funny. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Nona Hargis; her sister, Joyce Hargis Hudson Carter; her husband, Thomas D. Pryse; and her son, Thomas D. Pryse, Jr.
She is survived by her loving daughters Tandy Lacy (Richard), Tegwyn Pryse; grandchildren Mary Helen Posch (Timothy), John Thomas Lacy, Jake Lacy (Emily), Thomas "Trey" D. Pryse, III, Tyson Pryse, Jessica Frazier (Rusty), Danielle Pryse, Elizabeth Carver; great-grandchildren Maggie Miller (Peyton), Dylan Posch, Mari Blair Lacy, Hunter Kate Lacy, Hattie Lacy, Forrest Lacy, Mary Isabel Frazier, Annie Frazier, Boston Boggess, Piper Boggess, Blaze Boggess, Lucy Fowler, Cooper Carver; and many nieces and nephews that she loved as her own.
Receiving of Family and Friends will be held at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm. A funeral service will follow at 4:00 pm. with livestream available at https://Berry-Highland-Memorial.livecontrol.tv/a1c44377.
Graveside Services will be held at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery at Whispering Waters Pavilion on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 11:00 am.
