Mary Rhyne was born in Iredell County on November 1, 1943 to the late Karl Anderson Lackey and Helen Rhyne Clarke Lackey. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Frank Anderson Lackey, her sister-in-law, Shirley Martin, her brother-in-law, George Martin, and her nephew’s wife, Karen Martin.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Lee Bustle whom she married on May 27th, 1965. They recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. She is also survived by her beloved daughter, Helen Elizabeth Moseley (husband, John), and her cherished grandson Jerry Daniel Moseley. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Carolyn Lackey; her niece Mary Lynn Bullins (John); her nephew, Rev. Dr. Andy Lackey (India); niece, Lisa Miller (Kenny); nephew, Randy Martin; and five great nephews: Brian (Paige) Bullins, Kyle Bullins, Drew, Devin, and Christian Lackey.
Mary Rhyne graduated from Celeste Henkel High School with the Class of 1961. She was the Salutatorian of her graduating class, President of the Student Body and President of the Beta Club during her senior year, and she played Varsity Basketball for 4 years. Her senior superlative was “Most Likely to Succeed” and she took this very seriously throughout her life and career.
She graduated with a B.S. degree from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1964. She did her student teaching at the Davie Avenue School under the supervision of the late Margaret Alexander and was named as an Honor Student Teacher. She received her Master’s Degree in Education from Appalachian in 1965 and wrote the only Master’s thesis accepted at Appalachian during that term.
She taught for 27 years at Northview Elementary School and four years at Celeste Henkel Elementary School. After her first retirement, she taught 6th grade at Statesville Montessori School for six years until she officially retired a second time in 2004. She also served as an assistant principal at Northview and Celeste Henkel for several years. She was named as Teacher of the Year at Northview three times and as Statesville City Schools Teacher of the Year three times. She was also named Teacher of the Year at Celeste Henkel Elementary School and at Statesville Montessori School. In 1995, she was named a Ben Craig Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Iredell County.
She served twice as the president of the Statesville City Schools North Carolina Educators Association. In addition, she served as president of the Statesville City Association of Classroom Teachers.
She served two terms as P.T.O. President at Celeste Henkel Elementary School; she was president of the West Middle P.T.O., and served as the first president of the Parents Involved in Education (P.I.E.) group at West Iredell High School. She also served as Band Boosters President at West Iredell High School. At Northview and Celeste Henkel Schools, she was an organizer and advisor for multiple Student Council groups. She also served as Beta Club advisor at Statesville Montessori School.
In addition she was a member and former President of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary teacher’s sorority. She achieved her recognition for achieving 50 years of membership in ADK in 2023.
She served as President of the Statesville Kiwanianne Club and was an active volunteer with this group for many years.
After her retirement, she spent many years picking up litter along roadways in her community. She adopted Stamey Farm Road, but also cleaned other roads in the area. In 2011, the West Iredell Ruritan Club honored her with their Community Service Award for her work cleaning up roadsides.
She was a lifelong member of Shiloh Presbyterian Church where she had served as a deacon, elder, and as Clerk of Session. She served as a pianist and organist at her church for over 36 years, and she taught youth and adult Sunday School classes for many years in addition to being a youth group advisor for seven years. Plus, she spent more than 25 years mowing church grounds, painting, maintaining flower beds and cleaning the church.
Her greatest joy was her grandson Jerry Daniel Moseley and he visited with her everyday. She especially enjoyed it when she had chances to babysit him. She also enjoyed assisting her husband and daughter with their numerous school and community activities, taking care of her wonderful cats and dogs, and creating and growing numerous flower and vegetable gardens. She loved to read and she kept books, newspapers, and magazines close at all times for enjoyment.
The Bustle and Moseley families would like to thank the caregivers at The Greens of Maple Leaf Rehabilitation Center, Mary’s doctors, nurses, and physical therapists, and all of the beloved friends and families that have cared for her and visited her during these last two years.
The family will receive friends on Monday, October 12 from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at Shiloh Presbyterian Church, 552 East Lewis Ferry Rd., in Statesville. The funeral service will directly follow the receiving at 1:00 pm in the Shiloh sanctuary, with burial to follow at Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Andy Lackey will lead the funeral service. Pallbearers will be John Bullins, Trent Cloaninger, Sidney Crawford, David Guy, Randy Martin, Kenny Miller, and Mark Thomas.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Norman Beatty, Jerry Benfield, Bobby Fields, Ed Guy, Danny Huffman, and Johnny Nelson. Bunch Johnson Funeral Home will serve the family.
Flowers are welcome and memorials may be sent to Shiloh Presbyterian Church, ℅ 810 Island Ford Rd., Statesville, NC 28625, or to the Gamma Alpha Chapter of ADK Future Teacher Scholarship Fund, ℅ Treasurer Mindy Ledbetter, 553 Bear Creek Church Rd. Mocksville, NC 27028.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
