Mary Lee Matheson Shanahan

Mary Lee Matheson Shanahan died peacefully with her family and friends at her side at Hospice House of Pinehurst April 9, 2019. She was 87 years old and, except for this brief illness, she had lived in Southern Pines, N.C., at Penick Village.

Mary Lee was born Oct. 2, 1931, on Long Island, N.Y., to Viola and Martin Matheson. She graduated from the Buckley Country Day School in Great Neck; the Cathedral School of St. Mary in Garden City; Pine Manor Junior College in Wellesley, Mass.; Connecticut College in New London; and the New York School of Interior Design in NYC.

An only child, Mrs. Shanahan is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Robert D. Larsen, Frank E. Holmes and Captain Thomas L. Shanahan; and her son, Christopher D. Larsen. She is survived by her daughter, Brooke Larsen of Penick Village, Southern Pines, N.C.

Mrs. Shanahan taught kindergarten before her marriage. Afterwards, she enjoyed careers as a Doncaster representative, an interior decorator known as A Better Arrangement, later adding an antique shop to ABA called Open Occasionally.

A dedicated volunteer, she was active in Planned Parenthood; her children’s schools; her churches; No One Dies Alone; Daughters of the American Revolution in N.Y., of which she was still a member; and the Junior League, which gave her friendships she cherished.

A memorial service at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines is planned for April 16, 2019, at 1 p.m., with the burial of her ashes in the church garden near her son and friends. There will be a reception immediately following in the church parish hall.

Memorial donations may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church or the Penick Foundation.

Online condolences can be made at bolesfuneralhome.com.

Services were entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

This is a paid notice.