Pansy Ritchie

Pansy Evelyn Tallent Avery Ritchie, age 102 of Highway 150, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 23, 2021 at her residence.  She was born April 6, 1918 in Lincoln County to the late Doc Miller and Cleo Pendleton Tallent.  She was a member of Crouse United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school for 62 years.  She was also a recipient of the Lay Leader Award. Mrs. Avery was a 1st Grade teacher and taught for over 25 years including time at North Brook II and at Cherryville East Elementary.  She was also a dairy farmer and she was an agriculture representative from Lincoln County to China.  She was a world traveler who visited many places including Israel Holy Land, China, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, and Mexico to name a few.  Pansy took pleasure in tending to her gardens, both vegetable and flowers, and loved to spend time outdoors.  She enjoyed bowling, golf, dancing, and was an amazing cook.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Lester Avery; second husband, Ernest Ritchie; son, Hubert Jacob Avery; sister, Louise Tallent Brown; and brothers, Dwight, Blanch “Brownie,” Dean, Gene, and Max Tallent.

Survivors include her daughter, Patricia Avery Hayes; grandchildren, Brian Hayes and wife, Beth, Stephanie H. Richards and husband, Ken, and Michelle H. McSwain; great grandchildren, Alexis Blair McSwain, Sean Avery Hayes, and Marjorie and Macaulay Richards; sister, Edith T. Stevens; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Pansy will lie-in-state Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Carpenter-Porter Funeral & Cremation Services.

A private graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Lincolnton with Rev. Jerry Lail officiating.

Memorials may be made to Crouse United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 43, Crouse NC 28033.

Condolences may be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net