
Mary Ellison Krisle Martin
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A long life, well-lived. Mary Martin passed away peacefully at her home at The Cascades - Greenville, SC, on October 15th. Born Mary Elizabeth Houlding on November 30, 1922, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to Gordon and Helen Mitchell Houlding, she was raised in Toronto. She moved to NYC where she met Knoxville, Tennessee native Bill Ellison. They married in August 1946 and made their home in Knoxville. During that time, she was active at First Baptist Church, was President of the Guild of the Knoxville Symphony and a member of the Knoxville Junior League and Knoxville Garden Club. In 1971 Bill passed away, and in 1974 she married George Krisle, Jr., a widower and long-time friend of Bill. In 1980 Mary and George retired to Hilton Head Island. George passed away in 1995, and in 1998 she married Heston Martin, a widower and George's tennis doubles partner. Following Heston's death in 2002 Mary moved to Greenville.
Mary was athletic, artistic, competitive, and beautiful: outside and in. She was a social person with a great sense of humor and with many interests including tennis; duplicate bridge (Silver Grand Master); landscape painting; and fishing in the lagoons in Sea Pines. She was an avid Tennessee Vol fan and became a Furman Paladin as her two Ellison sons graduated there. In Greenville, Mary was a member of Greenville Women Giving and Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Mary was predeceased by her parents; a brother Donald R. Houlding; a step-sister Mary Maguire MacPherson; her step-daughter Margie Martin and her three husbands.
Surviving are three sons: David G. Ellison (Frances) of Greenville; W. Michael Ellison (Betsy) of Laurens, SC; and Dr. George M. Krisle, III (Susan), of Knoxville; 9 grandchildren: Kevin W. Krisle of Cleveland, OH; John K Krisle of Atlanta; Whitney K. Bell (Mike) of Knoxville; Mary Jennifer Ellison (Kate) of Durham, NC; Dr. William D. (Bill) Ellison (Carol Lee) of San Antonio, TX; David G. Ellison, Jr. (Catherine) of Westport, CT; Robert P. Ellison (Krystal) of Chapin, SC; Joseph B. Ellison (Margaret) of Charleston, SC; and Lyndley E. Weisner (Travis) of Laurens, SC, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 11 a.m. at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.
Contributions in Mary's memory are appreciated to The Community Foundation of Greenville for the Greenville Women Giving Endowment, 630 E. Washington St, Greenville, SC 29601; to Furman University for the Scarpa Endowed Tennis Scholarship, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613 or to the charity of one's choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Martin family.
