Mary Grove Obituary

Mary Louise Naylor Grove

December 4, 1929 -

September 29, 2025

Mary Louise Naylor Grove, age 95, died on September 29, 2025, at her home in Johnson City, TN, secure in Christ's promise of resurrection. With her were her daughters, her son by marriage, and her best friend and constant companion, her little dog Lucky.

Mary Lou was born December 4, 1929, in Johnstown, PA, the second of two daughters of Ernald and Ethel Naylor. Raised in Johnstown, she then attended Bethany College (WV) with her high school sweetheart, William Boyd Grove. Following graduation, they married and moved to New Jersey where he attended theological school and she worked as librarian on a bookmobile until the birth of their first child. William became a United Methodist pastor and bishop, and they served together in ministry and traveled the world together. They were married for 72 years until his death in 2023 and were parents of two daughters.

Although quiet by nature, Mary Lou was very much her own person. She had quick wit and strong progressive political opinions that often surprised those who didn't know her well. She had a special affinity for small children, always preferring to sit at the children's table at holiday dinners. She was a natural artist, loved color, and found ways to create beauty in any setting through music, painting, sewing and needlework, flower arranging, and many other creative expressions. As the daughter of a gifted horn teacher and player, she grew up in a house filled with music, and music and color grounded her throughout her life.

The Groves spent many happy years of ministry in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Vermont, but it was in West Virginia that Mary Lou found her true home and it was there that they settled in retirement until moving to Tennessee in 2017 to be near family. Gradually, over many years, she lost nearly all vision and much of her hearing, making communication difficult. Despite these every day struggles, she continued to try to be engaged with the world until the very end.

For over 70 years she maintained relationships with friends and family around the world, sending handwritten letters, cards, and handmade gifts for as long as she could. The recipients numbered in the hundreds, because when she made a friend it was for life. She added but never subtracted. Her mission was for people to know they were loved. In homes and offices around the world are simple heart-shaped knitted pillows she made from memory when she could no longer see to read a pattern or examine the stitches.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Jane Naylor. Survivors include her daughter and son (by marriage) Susan and Douglas Grove-DeJarnett and daughter Rebecca Grove Janczewski; and grandchildren Hannah Grove-DeJarnett and fiancé Bob Sellappan, Ryan (by marriage) and Gretchen Frankenberry, Alex (by marriage) and Carissa Park, Daniel Janczewski, and Sarah Janczewski. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Julia and Thatcher Frankenberry and Audrey and Henry Park.

The Grove family wishes to express profound thanks to Dr. Michael Snyder; Parish Nurse Emily Ham; and the staffs of SOFHA, Franklin Woods Community Hospital, and Amedysis Hospice for their compassionate care. Special thanks also to the residents and staff of Colonial Hill Retirement Center, who became family to Mary Lou. Finally, thank you to Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, Johnson City, and Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston, WV, for unending love and support throughout this journey.

Services will be held 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 25 at Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, WV. Those wishing to make a memorial gift might consider The William Boyd and Mary Lou Grove Trust at the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia or Save the Children.

Condolences may be made online at www.wadugger.com. Woodall-Anderson and Dugger Funeral Home, 108 W. Watauga Avenue, Johnson City is honored to be serving the Grove family. 423-928-2245