Mary V. Burns Flack

Mary Virginia Burns Flack, 101, died Sunday, September 18, 2011 in Tacoma, Washington at the Lutheran Retirement Home. Born April 11, 1910 in Dawson, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Harvey and Margaret Shawver Burns. She attended schools in Greenbrier County and graduated from Smoot High School in 1929 as valedictorian. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert William Flack,� by six sisters, Ina Warren, Ida Ailstock, Faye Adams, Bonnie Walkup, Lora Ellis and Addie Hundley and by two brothers, Lacy Harvey Burns and Leslie Burns. She is survived by one brother, John (Gerry) Burns of Irons, Michigan. She is also survived by her three daughters, Betty Jean Blake and husband Max E. Blake of Huntington, WV, Nora Ann Bowman and husband Lafayette H. Bowman of Sunset Beach, NC and Linda Karen McKeller and husband Michael C. McKeller of Fircrest, WA. She was the proud and loving grandmother of eight grandchildren, Max E. Blake II, W. Scott Blake, Leigh Ann Creasy, Robert R. Bowman, Ellen Lynn Hincher, Brian H. Morgan, Katherine Denton Jones and Thomas Hugh Horton. She had sixteen great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. She holds a special place in the hearts of all her family including many nieces and nephews who have been close to her through the years. Mary and her husband moved to Oak Hill in 1941 where she resided until 2007 when she went to live with her daughter, Ann, in North Carolina. In 2009, she moved to Washington State to live with her daughter, Linda. She was an active member of the Oak Hill United Methodist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, President of the Women's Society of Christian Service, a circle leader, a member of the 3F's Fellowship group and the Rebecca Bible Class. She was also active in community work, including the Civic League, Garden Club and Girl Scouts. She was a gifted seamstress and quilter. She loved working in her yard and reading books. Mary lived a long and full life dedicated to loving her God and her family. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, steadfast friend and devoted child of God. She has left a legacy for all of us who will love and miss her. Funeral services will be conducted by Doctor Julian Aldridge, Matthews, NC, at the Oak Hill United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 2:00pm, with visitation at the church an hour before the services. Burial will follow at High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill. Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com Arrangements are being handled by Tyree Funeral Home.