Mary Anne Moore Burney

Mary Anne Moore Burney (Anne), 82, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family members, at the Levine Dickson Hospice House, Huntersville, NC. She was born on June 12, 1932 in Wilkinsburg, Pa. to the late Lawrence Carlton and Willie Prince Moore. Anne attended Penn State before transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill where she received a BA in education in 1954 and became a third grade teacher. She met a charming jazz piano player named Jack and married him in 1956. They raised their daughter and son in Charlotte (where Anne pursued her lifelong passions for nature and astronomy at the Charlotte Nature Museum and working with the Girl Scouts) before retiring to Davidson in 1985 to care for Anne's parents. Anne and Jack eventually moved into the house on the Hill that Anne's father had designed and built in 1967 on a wooded 11 acre lot. There they spent many contented days sitting in front of the fire or on the screened porch with their beloved sheltie, listening to jazz, visiting with their many friends, and hosting wonderful family Thanksgivings. After Jack passed away in 2004, Anne continued to live on the Hill with family, friends and wildlife (including deer, rabbits and a friendly black snake) for company. Anne was a loving wife and mother and a warm, supportive friend. Listening was her art form. Even when she was in the hospital, nurses and attendants felt practically related to her by the time she left! But, her greatest joy was when her 3 grandsons, Carson, Connor and Logan, visited the Hill. They would read stories, Make s'mores, play in the field and just be silly. Her niece and nephew brought their children to see Anne and neighborhood kids knew she would always have special treats for them. Anne sang them this lullaby: "Now, run along home and jump into bed. Say your prayers and cover your head. They very same thing I'll say unto you...you dream of me, and I'll dream of you." Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Carlton and Willie Prince Moore and by her husband Grady Jackson Burney, Jr. (Jack). She is survived by daughter Susan Anne Burney and husband Tim Ellis of Raleigh, NC, son Michael Jackson Burney and wife Lisa Burney of Columbia, SC, grandsons Carson, Connor and Logan Burney of South Carolina, brother Lawrence Carlton Moore, Jr. and sister-in-law Dutton Moore of Durham, nephew Lawrence Carlton Moore III and wife Jennifer Moore of Charlotte and children Laurie Ellen and Alison, niece Karen Goldstein and husband Jeremy Goldstein of Durham, NC and children Lila, Naomi and Vera. A celebration of life will be held at Davidson United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 17th, 3pm, Senior Pastor Jody Seymour presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack Burney Community Service Award fund in care of the Town of Davidson, Box 579, Davidson, NC 28036 or Hospice & Palliative Care of Lake Norman, 705 Griffith Street, Suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036 The family would like to thank Anne's long-time personal physician, Dr. Ronnie Beamon, for his care that was always significantly above and beyond expectations, his attentiveness and his genuine friendship to Anne through many health challenges. In more recent days, the family thanks Meredith Green-Hunter and the 24-hour care team she assembled. The family is also greatly appreciative for Anne's dear friends for their ongoing love and support. The amount of caring, calls, visits, food, flowers and prayers has been overwhelming. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service Huntersville, NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com