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Grace Proffitt McArthur, 94, a longtime servant of the community, died Sunday following a brief illness.

She was the widow of David L. McArthur, who owned and operated McArthur's Department Store for a number of years on Broadway in Maryville. Her father, Fred Lowry Proffitt, was on the faculty of Maryville College and held the key post of treasurer during the Depression. She was a granddaughter of Nicholas Proffitt and Mary Alice Lowry Proffitt who in 1889 came across the mountains from northwest North Carolina to Maryville so their children could get an education at Maryville College.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at New Providence Presbyterian Church following a private interment at Grandview Cemetery.

A 1935 graduate of Maryville College, she attended New York Theological Seminary. She served as director of Christian education at the Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pa., the Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., and her home church, New Providence Presbyterian of which she was a member since 1921.

Mrs. McArthur taught Christian Education at Maryville College, taught in the college/parish programs at Home Avenue and Sunnybrook chapels, kindergarten at Home Avenue and elementary education in Maryville city schools. She also served as librarian at Friendsville and Walland high schools. She was an elder at New Providence Presbyterian Church, a past president of Chilhowee Club, member of DAR and Blount County Historic Trust.

In addition to her sister, Louise Haviland, and brother-in-law, Wayne, she is survived by her daughter, Alida Graves, a RN at Blount Memorial Hospital; son, Fred McArthur, who is executive vice president of Rariry Communities, a group of 12 residential developments, and his wife Wanda; son, Stainton McArthur, director of national accounts sales for Loft Furniture of Morristown, and his wife Gail; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.