Mary Katherine (Corum) Gwynne, 73, of Morgantown, and Miami, Fla., entered into God’s Kingdom on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
She was born Oct. 7, 1949, to Eugene “Gene” and Lucille Corum.
Mary Kay was the most loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, daughter and grandmother and is survived by her husband, J. Robert “Bob” Gwynne; children, Matthew Bell (Betsy), Sherie Bell Freedman, Tyler Gwynne (Allison), and Mackenzie Gwynne (Neill); sister, Wilma Polce (Joe); and seven grandchildren.
Mary Kay was a wonderful woman to all who knew her. During her school years, she was beautiful, athletic and committed to learning. On the inside, she was even more beautiful than her outward natural beauty. Mary Kay was kind and gentle and although somewhat shy, she was always friendly to complete strangers. She defined grace, dignity and humility.
Moreover, Mary Kay had a maturity beyond her years that remained with her throughout her life. When you met her, you walked away with the feeling that you had just met a most wonderful person who has a sense of decorum and class reserved for few others. Mary Kay’s personality was much like that of her dad, former WVU head football coach, “Gentleman” Gene Corum. Neither Mary Kay nor Gene ever had a bad word to say about anybody. They were both committed to a lifetime of helping young people succeed.
Mary Kay began an athletic career as a cheerleader at Flatts Grade School and then moved on to three more years of cheerleading at Suncrest Junior High School. At Morgantown High, she was an athletic cheerleader her sophomore, junior and senior years. Mary Kay’s senior year she was elected vice president of the student body. Not surprising, in May of her senior year, she became one of Morgantown High’s most beautiful May Queens. Further, she was voted the “Most Popular” in a poll conducted by the Red and Blue Journal. She was also active in various clubs and other activities.
Upon graduation, Mary Kay followed her dad’s footsteps and enrolled as a student in WVU’s School of Physical Education, where she once again excelled in the classroom. During her college years, she was a member of Delta Gamma, women’s sorority, Orchesis and Dolphins. In 1970, lovely photographs of Mary Katherine Corum, as Miss Monticola, adorned WVU’s yearbook.
Upon graduating from WVU, Mary Kay embarked on a career of molding and nurturing young students into successful adults. Her first teaching position was at Morgantown High, where she taught Spanish and assisted in various athletic coaching activities. She then moved to Miami, Fla., where she taught elementary and preschool children. Much to her credit, while teaching, she obtained a master’s of educational administration degree. Subsequently, she was offered and accepted the position of principal at the prestigious Gulliver Academy in Coral Gables, Fla. She once again excelled and continued in this position until her retirement 22 years later. During the rest of her life, she remained good friends with the student alumni, parents and employees of these institutions.
During her years as principal, she was asked to serve on the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences’ Visiting Committee. She served
12 years on the committee. During her tenure, Mary Kay served as the chair of the Visiting Committee for six years and was actively involved in the success of the college’s fundraising efforts curriculum changes, and helping students find their way.
Mary Katherine Corum Gwynne was not only the best of best, but in addition, she was a great wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, teacher and administrator and is a fine example for all of a life well-lived. She will be dearly missed. May the flights of angels carry her Home.
A service and reception are being planned in Morgantown. Details will be forthcoming in the near future.
