NEW BERN, NC
Ruth Ellen Sorrell Mosley, 77, of New Bern and formerly of Weaverville, NC, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family on August 2, 2016. She was predeceased by her parents, Rev. Joseph and Ida Sorrell, and her brother, David.
Ruth grew up as a preacher’s kid in Virginia. Recognized for her amazing musical ability, but also her perfect pitch, she started taking piano lessons at an early age. In high school she played on the school’s first girls’ basketball team and graduated as valedictorian. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Wake Forest College and her Master of Music in Organ Performance from North Texas State University. She was employed as a choral teacher at North Buncombe High School in Weaverville and as the Music Director at Weaverville United Methodist Church for over 30 years. She was the Minister of Music at Centenary United Methodist Church in New Bern and also performed as the pianist at Campbell’s Creek United Methodist Creek in Aurora. In retirement, Ruth served as a substitute organist for many churches in the New Bern area. She was also a Mary Kay representative for over 25 years.
Ruth was active in the Beta Sigma Phi and Alpha Delta Kappa sororities. She was a member of the Music Educators of North Carolina, the American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association. Ruth sang in the Craven Messiah Chorus and previously in the Asheville Choral Society. She wrote the music for a local production of Oz, Under the Rainbow as part of her association with the River Town Repertory Theatre.
Ruth was beautiful, inside and out. She had a sweet, unassuming nature and the ability to appreciate people as they were without judgment. She loved adventure of new experiences, being outdoors, gardening, animals and her amazing family. One of Ruth’s recent adventures was parasailing in the Bahamas with her children.
Ruth is survived by her husband, John Mosley; her children, Paul Stegall and his wife Denise of Oro Valley, AZ; Sharon Stegall and her husband, Jay Crowley, of Ledyard, CT; Diana Stegall and her husband, Rick Pollock, of Rockford, MN; and her grandchildren, Tyler, Kelsey, Weston and Paris.
Visitation will be Friday, August 5, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 PM, Saturday, August 6, 2016. Both services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church. Those wishing to offer condolences may visit www.pollockbest.com. Memorials in honor of Ruth Mosley may be made to Trinity UMC, PO Box 12867, New Bern, NC 28561-2867; Craven County Hospice, PO Drawer 12610, New Bern, NC 28561; or the American Cancer Society, 2202 Wrightsville Ave, Suite 111, Wilmington, NC 28403, or www.cancer.org.
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