Grovene Russell

"Wonderful Mother"

Waynesville, Grovene Morrow Clark Russell, 91, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

Grovene was born October 19, 1926 to parents Grover Cleveland and Bonnie Morrow Clark. She was the wife of the late William Edwin Russell for 61 years and raised three children.

Other family members preceding her in death were her grandparents, John and Mattie Morrow and Dallas and Rachel Ferguson Clark; son, Edwin Clark Russell; and two brothers, Davis Rowe Clark and William Dallas Clark, whom she raised; an infant sister, Mattie Rachel Clark.

Grovene was educated in the Haywood County Schools and was a graduate of Waynesville Township High School class of 1942, where she played french horn in the first marching band. She was a graduate of Mars Hill College and earned a B.S. in Education from Western Carolina College. She was a much loved elementary school teacher for thirty-seven years.

Grovene attended Waynesville First Baptist Church and was previously active in Home Demonstration Club, an exemplary member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, American Duplicate Bridge Club, and several card groups over the years. She was a trustee for Haywood Community College, a UNC Tarheels fan, an avid reader, and a Friend of the Library.

Being of a kind and easy-going nature, (never in a hurry) her friends tagged her "Pokey" from an early age.

Surviving family members are her daughter, Vicki Russell Gordon, and son-in-law, Mike Gordon; grandchildren, Caroline Ottinger (John), Camden Nelson (Kent), Erin and William Russell; Scott (Katherine), Ken (Laura) Gordon and Kelly Arthur (Daniel); great-grandchildren, Madeline, Olivia and Mariel Ottinger; Kizer, Kentley, Kavender Grace and Kolt Nelson; Lindsay, Kennedy, Riley and Zoe Gordon; Trace, Zack and Brinkley Arthur; special nieces and a nephew, Jennifer, Kasey and William Clark and Pamela C. McDougal.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Robert Prince officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church. At other times the family will be at the home of Mike and Vicki Gordon, 52 Deer Glade Lane, Waynesville.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786 or to Friends of the Haywood County Public Library, Inc., 678 South Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Mrs. Russell has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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