Mary Mauney CONOVER Mary Louise Little Mauney died on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a resident for many years. A descendant of the earliest Catawba County settlers, she was born on Aug. 1, 1914 in Conover, the daughter of Edgar Vance Little and Mattie Isenhower Little. She attended Concordia College High School in Conover and graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory in 1935. She began her teaching career in Maiden where she met her husband, Frank Smyre Mauney. Mrs. Mauney taught in the Maiden and Conover schools before resigning to stay at home to raise her daughters. She later returned to the classroom at Startown Elementary and retired after having taught in the Catawba County schools for 21 years. Teaching was her passion, and she was an active member of the Catawba County Retired Teachers Association and the North Carolina Association of Educators for many years. Mrs. Mauney was a lifelong member of Concordia Lutheran Church where she had a strong commitment to service and leadership in numerous capacities over the years. She enjoyed participating in many social and civic organizations in Conover, having been a charter member of both the Conover Service League and the Bas Bleu Club as well as a co-founder of the Conover Library. She volunteered her time as a Girl Scout leader and director in the Catawba Valley Girl Scout Association, as a Red Cross volunteer at Catawba Valley Medical Center, and as her class agent for the Alumni Association at Lenoir-Rhyne. She had a great love of local and North Carolina history and was a former director of the Catawba County Historical Association and a former director of the Captain Daniel Little, Esq. Clan. She held offices for many years in the Ransom-Sherrill Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Hickory Tavern Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was the fourth generation of her family to own and operate a farm in the Oxford area of Catawba County. Mrs. Mauney was a gracious lady who was devoted to her family, her community, and her church. Her deep and steadfast faith supported her throughout her lifetime. She had an avid interest in history and politics and enjoyed reading, gardening, needlework, collecting antiques, playing bridge, and entertaining friends in her home. The times she spent with her two grandchildren were some of her most special. She loved attending alumni gatherings and sporting events at Lenoir-Rhyne, and she was a loyal fan of her favorite Carolina Tar Heels. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Frank; their four-year-old daughter, Mary Little Mauney; her sister, Margaret Little Setzer and her brother, Dr. Howard Q.L. Little.

A service in celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover. Pastor Mark Schudde and Vicar Tom Roma will officiate. A graveside service will follow at Conover Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the church from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m. The family wishes to thank the staff at Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation for their loving care, kindness, support and friendship. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Concordia Lutheran Church, 216 Fifth Avenue SE, Conover, NC 28613
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Mrs. Mauney taught 5th and 6th grade at Startown Elementary School for years. She also served as an assistant principal for some of that time.