Mary Ellen Downs Corley

Mary is predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Gladys Downs; her husband, Gerald Corley and her brother, Joseph Downs, Jr. She leaves behind four children who love and adore her, Debbie Gula (David), Richard Scoggins, Jeanie Williams (Al) and Susan Statler. She loved and spoiled her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Michelle Ledford (Steve), Megan Statler, Ryan Statler (Sarah), Seth Williams, Tanner Ledford, Tristan Ledford and Edmund Statler.

Mary was born in Bodcaw, Arkansas, on May 23, 1931, and was raised in Hope, Arkansas. She attended Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. After getting married, she lived in Texarkana, Baton Rouge, and Odessa,Texas before settling in Minden, Louisiana, where she attended college and earned her degree in elementary education, all while raising four children.

In 1974, she moved to Irmo, South Carolina, where she lived for 46 years. While in Irmo, she worked for the South Carolina Department of Education and taught second grade at Little Mountain Elementary School until her retirement in 1992. Those busy and happy years were spent as a reading specialist as well as a second grade teacher. She spent her time helping hundreds of children become better and more confident readers, receiving awards and accolades from parents and her profession.

Mary devoted her retirement years to her family. She was famous for her elaborate family gatherings at Christmas that the entire family anticipated with great joy. She loved to travel and visit family when she could and doted on everyone young or old.

We will love her and miss her immeasurably knowing she is in God’s loving arms until we are united with her again.

The family asks, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in her honor to the Midlands Reading Consortium via the United Way. This link

https://www.uway.org/our-causes/education/midlands-reading-consortium will give you more information about the MRC or visit this link https://www.uway.org/donate to go directly to the donation page. To ensure that your donation is directed to the MRC in her honor, please type the text - IMO Mary Corley - in the box labeled “Recognition Name.”

Service and interment will be held in Hope, Arkansas, at a later date. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.