Cora Joslyn Mereness 1919 - 2012 Cora Joslyn Mereness, 92, of Morehead City, NC, died peacefully at the home of her daughter, Anne Joslyn Mereness Strupp of Rutherfordton, NC, on Sunday the 19th of February, in the company of her loving family. An informal memorial service will be held Feb.23 at 2:00 in Rutherfordton Presbyterian Church, where her daughter and son-in-law are members. A service of remembrance and celebration of her life is planned for 11:00 March 31 at her home church, First Presbyterian of Morehead City, NC, with interment at Bay View Cemetery, on the banks of Calico Creek. Born in Vanceboro, NC in 1919, Cora's family moved in 1922 to Morehead City, where her father had been called in his career as an educator. Her parents were always a source of pride and inspiration to her: Harvey Langill Joslyn, the well-loved Principal, then Superintendent of Carteret County Schools for four decades, and Anne Neal Joslyn, who lovingly taught music to those same generations of children, and served for 24 years as the organist and director of music at First Presbyterian. In Morehead high school, Cora played varsity women's basketball and graduated with the Class of 1936. She was a beautiful young woman, who participated in local pageants, and led the annual Coastal Festival and Water Parade for several years in the bow of the State Flagship, and once on an aquaplane. Sixty years later, at the age of 85, she gleefully went parasailing in the sky above her beloved Bogue Sound. Cora was blessed with an independent and adventurous spirit. She enjoyed traveling, and began her ventures while working as auditor for the B&M (Beaufort & Morehead) Railroad during World War II, using her rail pass to discover America. In that same era she twice chaired a county War Bond Committee, raising funds for a B-29 Superfortress bomber. She also leant moral support to the troops at the local USO dance hall, where she once won a jitterbug contest with a young officer. She continued to contribute to veterans' associations throughout her life. In 1946 Cora married William E. Mereness, a newly retired Major of the U.S. Marines, who had served in the Pacific throughout the war. He embarked on a career in publishing in New York City, eventually transferring to multiple states with his growing family. Cora's loving husband Bill died in 1997, having celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a few months earlier. Cora was a faithful and active member of Presbyterian Churches, wherever her husband's professional career took them - Morehead City NC, Indianapolis IN, Palatine (Chicago) IL, Summit NJ, Raleigh NC, Madison (Nashville) TN; then back again to Raleigh and finally home to Morehead. She served as Deacon and as Ruling Elder in several congregations, sang in many choirs, served as President of the Women of the Church at St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, and on the board of missions at First Presbyterian of Morehead City. She was the last surviving Charter member of the Morehead church, which held its early services in her family's living room in 1929. Prior to retiring and moving back to Morehead City, Cora and Bill lived for twenty years in Raleigh, where they made many lasting friendships. Cora worked for several years there in the offices of Rex Hospital, and was a 37-year survivor of life-threatening cancers - an inspiration to all who knew of her struggle. In retirement, they both volunteered at Carteret General Hospital for many years, and were active in various community civic organizations, including Rotary, D.A.R., and numerous antiques and bridge clubs. Cora also cheerfully volunteered for several years at her much-loved History Place museum in Morehead. She was a gracious hostess and friend to many who will fondly remember her warm and outgoing personality. Cora had a great love of music and family history, and instilled that love in her children. She was a devoted wife, mother of 3, grandmother of 7, and great-grandmother of 5 whom she dearly loved. Family reunions on Emerald Isle were a special part of her life. She had a positive and lively spirit, and will be remembered for her sparkle and spunk, her ready wit, and her beautiful smile. In addition to her husband of 50 years, Bill Mereness, Cora was predeceased by her father H.L Joslyn. Sr., her mother Anne Neal Clark Joslyn, and her brothers Harvey Joslyn, Jr. and Oscar Joslyn, all of Morehead City, and her sister Amy Joslyn MacDougall of York, PA. Cora made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Brian Strupp, in Rutherfordton, NC in the summer of 2011. In addition to Anne and Brian, her remaining family includes son Joseph E. Mereness and wife Hazel "Sam" of Morehead City, and daughter Lindi Clark Mereness of Hotchkiss, CO. Her 7 adoring grandchildren are Benjamin Strupp of Atlanta, GA, Basil Webb of Hotchkiss, CO, Will Brooks of Manteo, NC, Joslyn Strupp Allen of Boston, MA, Crystal Star Landes of Long Beach, CA, Jonas Landes of Denver, CO, and Joslyn Mereness of Wilmington, NC. Cora's 5 precious great-grandchildren are Bella and Alex Strupp of Atlanta, Willow and Lilac Web of Hotchkiss, and Hallie Allen of Boston. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews to whom "Aunt Cora" was a treasure. Her family will always cherish memories of her motherly strength, and her affectionate playfulness. We have lost the comfort of her presence here with us, but her spirit will remain in our hearts forever. We extend special thanks to the compassionate caregivers of Hospice of Rutherford County. The family respectfully asks that remembrances and memorials, if desired, be made in her name to First Presbyterian Church of Morehead City [1604 Arendell St.], or to The History Place museum [1008 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557], or to any Veterans' organization.