Marie Farris Dunn

Marie Farris Dunn, 61, of Eden passed away peacefully on July 30, 2024, with family by her side.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Fair Funeral Home Chapel in Eden. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 1-2pm. Burial will follow the service at Lawson Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, 3131 Price Rd, Eden, NC 27288.

Marie was born February 9, 1963, in Eden, NC, to the late James Calvin Farris and Rebecca “Becky” Axsom Farris. She spent many years in the textile industry, most of them at Pluma in Eden. She was a “piece worker” and proud of the work she did there. More than that, she was proud of her children and was often bragging about both.

More than anything, Marie loved her grandchildren. They were the light of her life. Mason, being the first, always held a special place in her heart. They had an unbreakable bond from the beginning, and he had her to himself for five years. Miles was her very best friend, and she was his. They talked about everything, and he often told her his secrets. The three of them shared a love of music, and listened to and sang songs every day as she picked them up and drove them home from school. She loved it when Miles would play guitar for her. She was his biggest fan. She loved her boys, and they love their Gramma. Cora Mae, her only granddaughter, brought her so much joy. Having a little girl to play with and buy dresses and dolls for was something Marie had been wanting for a long time. She loved watching Cora play and hearing her call her “Gram Gram.”

Marie loved her family, and there are a lot of them. One of five children, they had a lot of stories between them and their cousins. They would get together and laugh about all the trouble they caused as kids. As they grew older, their bonds changed and grew. Through ups and downs, they were always there for each other. Having lost the oldest and youngest in 2020, the remaining sisters grew even closer. This loss was never far from Marie’s heart.

She loved family gatherings and parties for the children. She loved watching each of her other children (nieces and nephews) grow and succeed and have children of their own. Watching her great-nieces and great-nephews grow up was something she cherished. She was so proud of each of them.

She loved fishing, camping, Carolina basketball, and racing. Marie has always been an excellent foosball player, hustling others for decades. She also used to sing karaoke, with a love of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Marie loved flowers and gardening. She loved going to the mountains to see the leaves change in the fall and trips to the beach with her kids and grandkids. Watching them play in the ocean and walking on the beach with them at night were two of her favorite things.

She overcame many struggles in her life, things she dealt with on her own terms, until the most recent diagnosis of brain cancer. While this was unable to be treated successfully, she made the decision to spend the time she had left with her family. “As strong as possible for as long as possible” has been the motto.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tara Fargis (Ken Spencer) of Eden, James “Jay” Purgason (Cortney) of Shiloh; her beloved grandchildren, Mason Fargis, Miles Fargis, Cora Mae Purgason; sisters, Terri Farris, Dixie Cassell (Carter King); nieces and nephews, Rehanna Miller (Barry), Lee Farris (Allison), Michael Hutchinson (Kim); great-nieces and great-nephews, Kyndall, Katelyn, Eva, Emma, Lee Jr., Colt; numerous cousins, family, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Marie is preceded in death by her sister, Bambi Hutchinson, and brother, Thomas “Tommy” Farris.

Her children would like to thank her sisters and their cousins who have stepped in and helped during this difficult time. They would also like to thank the doctors and staff at Duke University Medical Center and, most especially, the staff at Ancora Compassionate Care for their love, kindness, and all they have done to make her comfortable since her diagnosis on June 5th.

While this journey has been swift, it was full of love and support.

One of the last things Marie said to her children, which they now share with all who loved her: “If y’all don’t stop crying, I’m going to curse you out.”

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.