Carolyn Anne Ferris

Mrs. Carolyn Anne Ferris, "Kay" to her friends, 73, of Mount Airy, NC, and Stuart, FL, passed away at her home on Saturday, May 7, 2011, following a long battle with ALS. Kay was born June 14, 1937, in Moundsville, WV, to the late Edgar Lawson and Frieda Gazelle Crow Roberts. She was an exceptional teacher, a loyal friend, a tireless volunteer, a talented homemaker, a loving wife, motivating mother, and an adoring grandmother. She graduated from West Liberty University with a degree in education and worked as a teacher in Ohio until after she was married. After raising her family, she worked for Electronic Data Systems ("EDS") in Dallas and Houston, Texas. She was extremely active in various community clubs and organizations during the years she lived in Mount Airy, including the Surry County Craft Guild, Garden Club, and Book Club. One of her greatest enjoyments was being a member of the Surry Arts Council, where she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 2003, and continued being active as long as her health permitted. Many incredible friends supported and encouraged Kay and joined her in several ALS fundraising walks in Houston, TX, and Winston-Salem, where her "team" repeatedly placed among the top three fundraisers for ALS research. Kay is survived by her devoted husband of 50 years, Robert Ray "Bob" Ferris of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Stacey Lynn and Michael O'Hara of Portland, OR, and Beth Anne and Stephan Palinginis of Piura, Peru; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Lawson and Christy Ferris of Houston, TX; a sister, Jean Bailey of Orlando, FL; a sister-in-law, Doris Roberts of Mobile, AL; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Diane Ferris of Pittsburgh, PA, and Dave and Christina Ferris of Somerset, PA; and seven grandchildren, Regan and William O'Hara, Sebastien, Nicholas, and Christopher Palinginis, Katie and Elizabeth Ferris. In addition to her parents, Kay was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Hull; and a brother, Edgar Roberts. The family would like to express their deep and abiding appreciation to all her many amazing friends for the love and encouragement they shared during her illness, and to her caring, dedicated, personal nurses who provided around the clock care, Gina McKinney, Susan Barnhart, Rebecca Michaels, Elva Stephens, Amanda Young, and Theresa Boyd; the doctors and specialists at Duke University ALS Clinic, Director Dr. Richard Bedlack and staff; Wake Forest Baptist ALS Clinic, Director Dr. James Caress and staff; Hospice RN Jessica Watson and Dr. Karen Cross; and especially Kay's family doctors and close friends, Dr. Borden Hooks and Dr. Jan Kriska. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home, 206 West Pine Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030. There will be visitation with the family at 1:00 pm and the memorial service will be at 2:00 pm by the Rev. Bill Pilcher. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to the Surry Arts Council, P.O. Box 141, Mount Airy, NC 27030; or Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.