Mary Ann Stetson passed away on May 2, 2024, at Franklin Manor in Winchester, TN. She was born in Long Island, NY on Sept 17, 1939. Mary Ann graduated from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY in 1961. While attending Hofstra Mary Ann met her soon to be husband of 62 years, William “Coach” ”Bill” Stetson. In 1965, after graduating from Hofstra, Mary Ann and Bill joined a very short list of young couples who have moved from New York to Jumpoff, TN in search of lucrative teaching careers. According to Bill, Mary Ann didn’t unpack her belongings for 6 months hoping that they were going back. She was amazed at “how red the dirt was down here.” The two eventually settled into the Jumpoff community despite the fact that they were transplanted Yankees and no one could understand Bill’s Brooklyn accent.
Mary Ann taught elementary education at Good Shepherd School, Monteagle School, and Sewanee Elementary School. After her retirement in 2005 she continued teaching with Bill by homeschooling three of their grandchildren. Mrs. Stetson, as she was known by her students taught so many children on the mountain and in Winchester that hearing someone other than Bill call her Mary Ann seemed odd. After so many years of teaching handwriting to elementary students, Mary Ann’s own handwriting was perfected to the extent that Microsoft should have created a Mrs. Stetson font. Whenever her former students spoke of her, all would say that they loved her. They inevitably describe her using the words nice or sweetheart. “Coach” Stetson is still waiting to be described as such. Mary Ann had a way of making any person, young or old, feel that they were better or smarter than they felt just before they spoke with her. In her eyes you were the best, and whatever you just did was amazing.
Mary Ann and Bill raised three daughters. With a coach for a husband and daughters involved in athletics, Mary Ann attended more school athletic events than anyone should have to endure. She surely loved the Lady Vols or whatever sport Bill, her daughters, or grandchildren were playing at that moment but any enjoyment beyond that is pure speculation as she was a master at feigning interest to make everyone happy. She would probably rather have been working in her flower garden.
She was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish. She played piano at church and helped organize church events and Holiday masses. If she told you she would pray for you, rest assured, she would do it before she went to bed that night. Her rosary beads gathered no dust.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson William Mitchell Snead. Mary Ann is survived by her husband William “Bill” “Coach” Stetson, daughters Beth Hazelwood (Stacy), Marjorie “Joy” Snead (Gene), Tiernan Earle (Darren), grandchildren Stetson Snead, Ashton Kelly (Addison), Reilly Earle, Rachel Hazelwood, Christian Snead, Silas Earle, and Isaac Hazelwood.
Private services were held for Mrs. Stetson. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931) 967-2222
