Mary Elizabeth Sory

Mary Elizabeth "Lib" Sory, 98, a native of Cedar Hill and longtime resident of Lantana, FL, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2012 in West Palm Beach, FL following a brief illness. Graveside services and inurnment of ashes will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 11 o'clock am at Elmwood Cemetery. Miss Sory, known to all as "Lib" was born April 30, 1913 in Cedar Hill, Tennessee. She was the youngest of six children of Dr. Bailey Brown Sory and Annie Long Sory. Following graduation from Cedar Hill High School, Lib earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and art from Middle Tennessee State College for Teachers in Murfreesboro in 1935. She began her teaching career in the Cedar Hill schools, and in 1943 earned a master's degree in physical education and guidance from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville. She moved to Florida in 1943 to accept a position as girls' physical education teacher at Lake Worth High School, a position she held until 1959. Lib then became a guidance counselor at Lake Worth Junior High School, and retired from that position in 1974, having served the Lake Worth School district for 31 years. Lib's retirement years were richly filled with travel, spending time with her large family and many friends, enjoying sports events, playing cards and especially backgammon, a game in which she fearlessly and expertly excelled. She enjoyed keeping up with her former students and attending Lake Worth High School reunions and alumni events. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers: Dr. Bailey Brown Sory, Dr. James Robert Sory, and Dr. Curtis Holt Sory; two sisters: Margaret Sory Waggoner and Anne Sory Brown; and her niece Susan Sory Baltz. Lib is survived by nine nieces and nephews: Anne Sory Keresey and Bailey (Caroline) Sory of Palm Beach, FL, Anne Waggoner Nunamaker of College Park, MD., Robert (Barbara) Sory of Palm Beach Gardens, FL Martha (Murray) Sory Hatcher of Nashville,TN and Jupiter, FL, JoAnn (Jesse) Sory Leggett of Victoria,TX., Kathryn Sory Jenkins of Jacksonville, FL, Liza (Gary) Sory McKenzie of West Palm Beach, FL, and Virginia Sory Brown of Ann Arbor, MI and West Palm Beach, FL. She is survived by 18 great nieces and nephews, numerous great-greatnieces and nephews, and one great-great-great- niece. She also leaves a host of friends to cherish her memory, especially her dear friend of 50 years, Jane Vowell of Singer Island. The family also wishes to acknowledge and thank Lib's loving and devoted caregivers of the past few years, Sharon Ehlers and Julye Pierre- Louis. A memorial gathering and celebration of Lib's life was held on April 30th, 2012 in Lake Worth, FL. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Lake Worth School Dollars for Scholars Foundation, P.O. Box 1166, Lake Worth, FL. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of local arrangements. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME- 509 WALNUT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, TN (615) 384-1000

Mary Elizabeth Sory

April 30, 1913 - April 6, 2012