Mary Kelly Jernigan Houghton

Mary Kelly Jernigan Houghton, nurse, homemaker and long-time resident of New Bern and Straits, died Saturday, January 23, 2021 at age 94.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 7, 2021, at Christ Church in New Bern, The Rev. Cortney H. Dale, presiding. Burial will follow at the outdoor Chapel.

Mrs. Houghton was born in DeLand, Florida on May 27, 1926.  The daughter of Jesse and Fannie Sandy Jernigan,  she was raised in Florida and North Carolina.  She completed registered-nurse training at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. It was during this time that she met and fell in love with medical student Raymond Curtis Houghton.  They married in 1948 in Portsmouth, and celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on December 19.

The Houghtons moved to New Bern in 1957, where Dr. Houghton established an obstetrics/gynecology practice and Mrs. Houghton assisted with patients and management of the office for many years.

The Houghtons retired to Straits in Carteret County in 1984, where they enjoyed life on Core Sound.  For the past 20 months, Mrs. Houghton stayed at Brookdale Senior Living in Morehead City with Dr. Houghton, who survives her.

Mrs. Houghton is also survived by three daughters and their husbands:  Barbara and Bill Handy of Naperville, Illinois; Kathryn and Frank Schreier of Beaufort; Diane and Eli Blanchard of Morehead City; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The grandchildren are Jason Blanchard and wife Molly of Raleigh ; Jill Blanchard Vinson and husband Shawn of Clayton; Mary Schreier of Cary; Nick Handy and wife Sarah of Charlotte; Eric Schreier and wife Beth Anne of Garner; and Brent Handy of Tacoma, Washington.

The great-grandchildren are Morgan and Connor Blanchard of Raleigh; Josh, Kate and Jack Vinson of Clayton; and Owen Schreier of Garner.

The family gratefully acknowledges Emma Grandy for her devoted, loving care during Mary’s final months, and the entire staff at Brookdale Senior Living for their dedication and care during such a difficult period.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the memory of Mary Houghton may be directed to:

*  Christ Episcopal Church, PO Box 1246, 320 Pollock Street, New Bern, NC

28563 www.christchurchnewbern.com/give/

*  Core Sound Waterfowl and Heritage Center, 1785 Island Road, PO Box 556,

Harkers Island, NC 28531 www.coresound.com/ways-to-give

*  North Carolina Foundation for Nursing, 4350 Lassiter at North Hills,  Suite

250, Raleigh, NC 27609  https://ncnurses.org/foundation/foundation-home/

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.