Mary Naomi (Greason) Cunning

Mary N. (Greason) Cunning, 95, of Columbia, Mo. and a retired former Poplar Bluff schoolteacher died Monday, Jan 23, 2012 at South Hampton Place, in Columbia, Missouri.
Mrs. Cunning was born July 16, 1916 in Wynne, Ark. She received her B. S. in Education from Arkansas State University and later received a Masters Degree in Education. Mrs. Cunning taught for 43 years, the last 30 in the Poplar Bluff Public School System. She received the Teacher of the Month and the Teacher of the year Award in 1982. Her family was Charter Members of First Presbyterian Church in Poplar Bluff where she was a member, serving as an Elder and Trustee and a member of Presbyterian Women. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Fine Arts Club, as well as the Porcelain Art Guild in Baton Rouge, La.
On Feb. 14, 1941 she married Donald Stanton Cunning in Little Rock, Ark. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1946.
Survivors include her daughter, Carol C. Rhoades and her husband John of Columbia, Mo.; two grandchildren: Lisa Carol Rhoades and her husband David Nygard and their children, Bonnie L. Nygard and Charles S. Nygard of Staten Island, NY and J. David Rhoades II and his wife Theresa and their sons, Greyson C. Rhoades and Dawson L. Rhoades of Novato, Ca.; a niece, Teri Greason Howell of Nebraska; and two nephews, John H. Greason III of Georgia, and James Greason of Florida.
Her parents, John H. and Bonnie (Broshears) Greason and brother, John Greason, Jr. and his wife Margaret also preceded Mrs. Cunning in death.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service and burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff with Pastor Debra Tracy officiating. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Mo. with The Rev. Richard J. Ramsey officiating and The Rev. Kathie Jackson assisting. A reception will follow.