Obituary

Mary anna hill mcnabb, 89, residing in houston, texas, and formerly of charleston, departed this earth to be with her heavenly father. She passed away peacefully and of natural causes at her beloved clarewood house on may 1, 2014.
Mary anna was the oldest daughter of mark hanna hill and olive buckner hill of charleston. She was born in beckley and soon after the family moved to the kanawha valley and charleston. She attended and graduated from charleston high school and then attended business college in charleston. She started her business career in the 1950s with her family’s business, hy-grade sales company. Her father, mark hill, founded that landmark kanawha valley business in 1938. Mark hill was a well-known west virginia entrepreneur of his time and a public person.
Mary anna was guided by her father’s principle that “service is the price one pays to inhabit this earth.” she lived her life with a lifelong commitment to learning, being of service to others and a continuous reinforcing of her faith. For many years she was the administrator of the craik-patton house, a historic period home and museum. Colonel george s. Patton (csa) owned the home prior to the civil war and until his death in that conflict. Colonel patton is the grandfather of general george s. Patton iii of world war ii fame. In her role at craik-patton house, mary anna became a well-versed historian of the early and rich history of the kanawha valley and the james river and kanawha turnpike. She guided countless school and tour groups through the house, spinning the wonderful tales of the region’s early history. She was also parish secretary and a vestry member of the episcopal church of the good shepherd as part of her desire to be of service to others. During another phase of her life, she was on the executive staff of ferro products located in charleston.
She was a long-term member of the daughters of the american revolution (dar). She also became an avid genealogist due to her interest in her family’s history. Mary anna was eternally grateful for her ancestors’ and close relatives’ service to their country.
Mary anna loved to sing and dance and was known for her infectious smile and her love of life. As a younger woman, she was an accomplished soprano vocalist and frequently performed at public functions. As she raised her three sons, piano music and song were constants in her home. She was a scout mom, snagged fly balls during little league practice and provided her boys with many wonderful ways to learn and grow. She was ever-present in her sons’ lives and will always be remembered for her love and loyalty to each of them.
She became an avid sports fan of her alma mater, charleston high school, and an avid sports fan of her sons’ alma maters, west virginia university and duke university. She attended games far and wide and loved every minute of those experiences.
Mary anna moved to houston, texas, in 2005 to be closer to her sons. She moved to a home on the golf course at champions golf club and then to her beloved clarewood house. After moving to texas she enjoyed countless relaxing weekends with her sons on galveston island. She also loved the big skies of central texas and weekends and holidays in round top, texas, with coffee on the porch, watching the sun rise and an occasional glass of wine at sunset and the beautiful, clear starry nights. She also had the privilege to travel the world and her unquenched desire to learn was put to good use on those excursions.
Mary anna was a breast cancer survivor dating back to the 1980s and had battled a variety of heart and respiratory issues without complaint.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband, john thomas mcnabb, and her son, robert hill mcnabb. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, debi mcnabb of houston, texas; her son, mark alan mcnabb of houston, texas; and her son, john t. Mcnabb ii and his wife, darlene, of biltmore forest, n.C., and round top, texas; six beloved grandchildren; and six beloved great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on may 13 at 10:30 a.M. In the clarewood house chapel with pastor thomas hill presiding. A private graveside service will be held on may 30 at 10 a.M. At tyler mountain memory gardens in cross lanes.