Former secretary, executive secretary, and administrative assistant Novice Marvene (Hinton) Morris, 86, passed away January 14. Novice served as assistant to the president to five Mount Vernon Nazarene University presidents from 1972 to 1991.

Novice was born July 28, 1929, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Ellis C. Hinton and Erlean (Colley) Hinton. She attended Warner Elementary School, East Junior High School, and East Senior High School in Nashville.

During her 44-year work career, she served at the WSM radio station and WSM-TV. She was secretary to a lawyer, worked at an appliance repair shop, typed at home for the R.L. Polk Company while her children were small, started the bookstore at Trevecca Nazarene College, and served three pastors at Grace Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee, including John A. Knight.

In 1972, Knight was elected the second president of Mount Vernon Nazarene College. The next year, Novice, her husband, Cecil, and their daughter, Kristi, moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Novice was instrumental in starting the MVNU Women's Auxiliary with Evelyn Prince in the early 1980s. Novice received honorary alumnae status at MVNU in 1981, retired in 1991, and was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Letters from MVNU in 1996.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil.

Novice is survived by her daughters, Vicki Lynn Lupo, Cathy Cay (Bruce) Stewart and Kristi Lou (Bobby) Small; eight grandchildren and their spouses: Greg Kidd, Brian Kidd, Jennifer Kidd, Daniel and Carrie (Higgs) Peeples, Clint Harstine, Cayla Harstine, Rob and Andi (Phillips) Small, and Matt and Jami (Small) Pope. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren: Dylan Kidd Cooper; Brady, Jacob and Lucas Kidd; Tanner and Tate Peeples; Will and Brianna Small; and Bayli, Rhyli, Presli, and Gradyn Pope.

Calling hours are Saturday, January 16 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Mount Vernon First Church of the Nazarene, 807 Coshocton Ave., Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050, where a funeral service will be held January 17 at 3 p.m. with Russ Gumm officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral.

Friends may also call Monday, January 18 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, January 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Wilkinson-Wiseman Funeral Home in Portland, Tennessee. A graveside service with Pastor Andy Mathias will be held at 2 p.m. in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Novice’s name may be made to the MVNU Women’s Auxiliary Endowment Fund, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050.

“Novice was an enduring part of the history of Mount Vernon Nazarene University," said Henry Spaulding, MVNU president. "Her fingerprints are literally evident in the history of the University. We will miss her plain spoken demeanor and fearless faith in this place.”

--Mount Vernon Nazarene University