Mary Elizabeth “Lib” Fortune Horton, of Morganton, NC passed away on February 4, 2026 one day after her 97th birthday. She was born in Dysartsville on February 3, 1929, to the late Charles Winfred Fortune and Callie Duval Fortune.
Lib, affectionately called “Mama Lib” worked as a school secretary at West Concord School which later became Burke Exceptional School and then North Liberty.
Lib loved camping, gardening, canning, making jellies and apple cider, fishing on Core Banks, and a good hotdog around the campfire. She was an exceptional cook and enjoyed experimenting on her family, creating tasty dishes for all to enjoy. Lib collected volumes of recipes and enjoyed sharing her food with everyone.
Mawmaw/Honeybun loved and was loved by her surviving son, Winfred “Fred” and wife, Nina Horton; daughters-in-law, Brenda and Terry Horton; grandchildren, Dawn Young and husband, Mark, Tabitha Horton, Harold “Hal” Horton, Jr. and wife, Laura, Katie and Sarah Horton; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Jacob Young, Eli and Holden Horton.
In addition to her parents, Lib was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Laton Alton Horton, Sr.; children, Laton Alton Horton, Jr., Harold Lee Horton, Sr.; Norma Jean Horton; sister, Mildred Horton; brothers, Neal Fortune (Ophelia) and William Fortune (Lena).
A graveside will be held at a later date at Burke Memorial Park.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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