Ethel Colyer

Ethel Mae Harrison Colyer, born August 21, 1920, in Bluffton, GA, to the late William E. Harrison and Mary Belle Forrest Harrison, moved to Spartanburg in 1937, where she met and was married to the late John W. Colyer for 49 years. She is survived by two sons, Stephen William Colyer, whom she adopted in 1952, and Dr. Peter A. Moore, who adopted Ethel in 2005. Steve and his wife, Sandra, reside in Coconut Grove, FL, and Dr. Moore lives in Spartanburg, SC. Also surviving is her sister, Ruth Lands of Spartanburg, SC; two sisters-in-law, Charlyne Harrison of Dunwoody, GA, and Betty Harrison of Brevard, NC; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by three brothers, William Howard Harrison of Statesboro, GA, Walter Luke Harrison of Brevard, NC, and Dr. John Robert Harrison of Dunwoody, GA; as well as one sister, Mattie Leone Harrison of Black Mountain, NC. A graduate of the Textile Industrial Institute (now Spartanburg Methodist College), she worked after graduation for two years as the secretary to the president of the college, Dr. Robert B. Burgess. In 1942, she married John Colyer and in 1952 "Sweet John" and "Sweeter Ethel" chose to adopt an infant from the South Carolina Children's Home. She engaged in raising her child until he went to college and then returned to the work force assisting her husband's firm, Spartan Industrial Supply Company. Ethel was an avid reader and a member of both the Book Review Club and the White Oaks Book Club. A longtime member of Central United Methodist Church, she was a member and secretary of the Administrative Board, served on various committees, and was a member of the Norton Sunday School Class. Becoming involved with Spartanburg Regional Hospice upon the passing of her husband, she was named a Lifetime Member of the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Board. One of her proudest moments was the opening of the Hospice Home where she passed her final days. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Sunday, July 7, 2013, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Monday, July 8, 2013, at Central United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Alex Stevenson. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Complex. Memorials may be made to the Central United Methodist Church Building Fund, 233 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or Spartanburg Regional Hospice Special Needs Fund, 120 Heywood Avenue Suite 300, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ethel Mae Harrison Colyer please visit our Sympathy Store.