Mary Alice Rockett Crump

Mary Alice Rockett Crump, age 97, of Conover, passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. Mary was born on Saturday, October 18, 1924 to the late Marshall Aubrey Rockett, Sr. and Bertie Alice Hunsucker Rockett.

Mary grew up in Conover two blocks from town with her five siblings. After graduating from Newton Conover High School in 1942, she set out for Washington DC to live with her Aunt Maude and find a job. She worked at United Nations Relief Agency and Peoples Drug where she met her future husband, George G. Muse of Carthage, NC. They were married in June of 1944 and after the birth of their daughter, Marsha; they moved to Alexandria, VA where their son Tom was born. At the age of 29, Mary was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent 13 months in treatment at Black Mountain Sanatorium near Asheville. After her full recovery, the family of four moved back to Conover and built a home on land once owned by her great grandmother. She also returned to her childhood church, Trinity Evangelical and Reformed. Shortly after, in 1955, she was persuaded by a church committee to work as church secretary part time. She reluctantly accepted, thinking it would be short term, but it became a part of her life for the next 35 years. As her full time occupation, she was able to put her son, Tom through college at Appalachian as a single mom. A few years later, Mary met and married Newton native, Monroe Gabriel, who passed away in 1984.

The year 1990 was full of celebration as Mary retired from Trinity and then married Ulysses “Duke” Crump in September. Life began anew as the couple embraced small town life, family, friends, and travel. Duke passed away in 2006.

Mary will be remembered for her patience, endurance and strength. She persevered through lean years and loss. She had a great enduring love for her family, both close and extended.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands; son, Thomas Edward Muse; son in law, Stephen Davis; brothers, Marshall A. Rockett, Jr., Harold L. Rockett, Thomas M. Rockett, George F. Rockett Sr., and her nephew, George F. Rockett, Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory are daughter, Marsha M. Davis of Raleigh; daughter in law, Lisa Fallon of Stuart, FL; sister, Joan Rockett Saine of Conover; sister in law, Revond Rockett of North Wilkesboro; granddaughters, Elizabeth Muse Street and husband, Andy of Charleston, SC and Laura Muse Adams and husband, Al of Apex, NC. Great grandchildren, Sydney Street Cuffee (Elijah), Joshua, Emma, and Nathanial Street, Sawyer, Holden and Weston Adams. Duke’s children, Terry and Jackie Crump of Hildebran and family, and Alan Crump and wife, Marina of San Diego, CA, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to cousins Dwight and Ruth Rockett, and niece Julia Grubbs for their loving acts of kindness over many years; and to the caring staff at Catawba Valley Living at Rock Barn, her home for the last three years.

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 2:00 to 2:45 at Trinity Reformed UCC.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Trinity Reformed UCC with Reverend Peggy Stout officiating. Burial will follow the service at Conover City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Trinity Reformed UCC, 217 2nd Avenue NE, Conover.

The Crump family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover, NC.