Mrs. Mary Lou Corey Farris

Mary Lou Corey Farris of Charleston died July 22, 2010, at the Hubbard Hospice House. She was “the boss� until the end and she did it her way and in her own time. She was born on April Fool’s Day, the eldest of three daughters of George and Bahia Corey, at their home on Ross Street. But she was nobody’s fool. A former English teacher, she was a long-time guidance counselor at John Adams Junior High School where she guided and counseled thousands of youth until she retired in the fall of 2003. Preceded in death by her husband Joe H. Farris, her son David Farris, her parents, and her sister and brother-in-law Louise and Mario Palumbo, she is survived by her daughter Christy Farris Morris and grandchildren G.W. and Corey Morris of Charleston; her son Dr. Joe Farris II and his wife, Sheila and grandchildren Paula, Joey and Scott Farris of Charleston; her son Corey Farris of Morgantown; her sister Josephine Corey of Charleston; her nephews Chris and Corey Palumbo and their families; her nephews Joe, Johnny and Emile Farris and their families; and numerous other loved ones. She was educated in the local Charleston public school system before graduating from Charleston High School. After marrying and having four children, when the youngest entered school, she resumed her education, earning first an AB from Morris Harvey College then her master’s in Counseling and Guidance from West Virginia University. Her lifelong love of learning inspired her to continue her education by taking courses from the West Virginia Graduate College, Marshall University and West Virginia State College, and becoming accredited by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Before her declining health took its toll, she was a member of the Kanawha County Counselors Association, Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honorary, Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary, and a citizen member of the West Virginia Legislative Committee on Juvenile Law. Until her death, she was a card carrying member of the WVU Alumni Association and an eternal fan of her West Virginia University Mountaineers. Special thanks are offered to those who’ve provided quiet comfort and peaceful companionship in these difficult times including Lorna Cavender, Sonjia Furrow, the Rev. Jim Lewis, Linda Cooper, Paul Skyles, Jan and Ed Gilbert and the phenomenal staff and volunteers of the Hubbard Hospice House. The family also wishes to thank the many medical folks who accompanied her on her various medical adventures including most recently primary care Dr. Al Pfister, cardiologists Dr. Bill Carter and Dr. Sarah Nease, oncologist Dr. Jim Frame, gastroenterologist Dr. Joel Levian, ophthalmologists Dr. Mike Nunley and Dr. Michael Varley and surgeon Dr. Jay Lohan. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Hubbard Hospice House in care of 1001 Kennawa Drive, Charleston, WV 25311-1824; Manna Meal at 1105 Quarrier Street, Charleston, West Virginia 25301, or to WV Health Right in care of 1520 Washington Street East, Charleston, WV 25311. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm Monday July 26th 2010, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1105 Quarrier Street, Charleston, WV, with the Rev. Ann Lovejoy Johnson and the Rev. Jim Lewis, officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, 4301 MacCorkle Avenue South Charleston, WV. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2-5pm at Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, 513 Tennessee Avenue, Charleston, WV. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bartlettburdettecox.com. Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, Charleston is in charge of the arrangements.