Mary Gordon Austin Tugman

Mary Gordon Austin Tugman, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, died on March 12, 2026 at Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, the same town where she was born on February 6, 1931. She was the youngest of four children born to the late William Bryant and Winona Neal Austin. On November 26, 1953, she married Dana Tugman, and they shared a loving marriage until his death in December 2013.

Mary Gordon is survived by her two children, Dana Tugman Colvard and Neal Austin Tugman and his wife, Sarah. She was the proud grandmother of five: Ashley Tugman Hinton (Forrest), Nathan Davis Colvard (Megan), Chelsea Colvard Roop (Heath), Amanda Neal Tugman, and Mary Austin Jones Tugman. She was also blessed with five great-grandchildren: Layla Roop, Bellamy Roop, Emerson Roop, Willa Colvard, and Ruby Colvard. Other survivors include her sister, Roberta Austin Widman, her brother-in-law Stuart Tugman, several nephews and nieces, great-nephews and nieces, and a host of cherished friends. She and her family were grateful for the friendship and compassionate care of Ruth Eastridge, Barbara Carpenter, and Missy Roland.

She dedicated 31 years to teaching, beginning at Fall Creek Elementary School in Yadkin County and continuing in Ashe County at Jefferson Elementary and Mountain View Elementary. Despite having skipped the second grade as a student, she chose to teach second grade for her entire career. She deeply loved her students and was very proud of their accomplishments. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the national honor society for teachers.

Mary Gordon had a deep and abiding faith in God and was a lifelong member of Jefferson United Methodist Church, where she served in many ministries, including as a Sunday School teacher, a member and officer of the United Methodist Women, a choir member, and a member of Martha’s Helpers. She also volunteered with Hospice, Ashe Memorial Hospital, and the Museum of Ashe County History. She enjoyed visiting with family and friends, reading, quilting, embroidery, and painting. She and her husband traveled extensively, visiting Canada and all of the lower 48 states, often sharing the journeys with their grandchildren. She especially cherished time at the beach with family.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her sister Polly Kennedy, her brother W. B. Austin, Jr., and her son-in-law Shane Colvard.