Greenville, SC- Mary Ellen Duncan passed peaceably in her sleep December 31 at the age of 95. Memorial services will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, on Saturday, January 2 at 11:00 am with family visitation at the church from 10:00 am. She was the middle daughter of Charles Marable Ware and Edna Kathleen Seyle. She is survived by her four children, Judy Carol Baxley (Charles) of Lugoff, SC, Tom Marvin Duncan (Kim) of Magee, MS, Larry Charles Duncan (Nikki) of Simpsonville, and Peggy Ann Duncan of Greenville; four grandchildren, Bonnie Caroline Chambers (Geoff) of Lugoff, SC, Brittany Leigh Duncan of Columbia, SC, Emily Camille Swafford (Josh Faulkner) of Lyman, SC, and Heath Davidson Duncan of Hattiesburg, MS; and three great-grandchildren, Isaac Charles Swafford of Lyman, SC, Eva Camille Faulkner of Lyman, SC, and Sage Skye Chambers of Lugoff, SC. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Marvin Orvel “Corky” Duncan; two sisters Edna Kathleen “Peggy” Elrod and Dorothy Jane “Dot” Gwinn; and grand-son Burke Miller Wise Baxley. A graduate of Westville High School in 1936, and Agnes Scott College in 1940, she got a master’s degree at Furman. She returned to Westville High School to teach girl’s PE, but with the outbreak of WWII, assumed coaching positions of the boy’s football and basketball teams. Polly married her high school sweetheart during WWII and followed Corky to Hondo, TX where he was responsible for the physical training of navigators in training. They ended up staying in Texas for over 20 years. She coached the Hondo HS drill team before entering a career in motherhood. Polly was baptized at Second Presbyterian Church and rejoined when she moved back to Greenville. She taught 7th grade English at Tanglewood for over 22 years. After retiring from teaching in 1987 she became active in Landrum Quilters, two book clubs, a bridge club, a canasta club, and an embroidery guild. She was already involved in her church circle and the Dellwood Community Club. For the quilt club, she served as its President, Chairman of Quilt Show, and Chairman of Ronald McDonald House Quilts. The plaque over her sewing machine said “She who dies with the most fabric wins.” Although she strived earnestly to use all the fabric she bought, she won. Memorials can be made to Camp Spearhead (Spearhead Legacy Group) or Special Olympics. Best Mother ever. When her husband died at age 41, she moved her 4 young children back to Greenville, South Carolina where her mother and the rest of her family still lived. She raised 4 children on a teacher’s salary teaching 7th grade English at Tanglewood. After retiring from teaching at 67 in 1987 she became active in Landrum Quilters, two book clubs, a bridge club, a canasta club, and embroidery guild. She was already involved in her church circle and the Dellwood Community Club. For the quilt club, she served as its President, Chairman of Quilt Show, and Chairman of Ronald McDonald House Quilts. She made innumerable quilts. The plaque over her sewing machine read “She who dies with the most fabric wins.” Although she strived earnestly to use all the fabric she bought, she won. Polly spent 57 years caring for a special needs child becoming very involved with the Greenville Association for the Retarded. After raising 4 children, she still had the energy to enjoy and love five grandchildren taking them to the mountains and camping at the beach and sewing beautiful outfits. She always kept her mind sharp with books and challenging the contestants on Jeopardy and working crossword puzzles. She enjoyed sports and was a fervent Tar Heel and Braves fan (she developed a fervent allegiance to the Tar Heels when she and her husband were living in Chapel Hill while he got his master’s degree). She loved her family and was able to spend her last Christmas with her entire family surrounding her, her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by all her family.