Bessie Geouge Mcdaniel Keller

Bessie Geouge McDaniel Keller, 99, went to be with God October 28, 2013 at the home of her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Marty and Marion Boling of Jamestown, NC. A Homegoing Celebration will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Trinity United Methodist Church located on South Main St., Lexington, NC. The Revs. Jim Groome, Marion Bolilng, and John Paul Hankins will be officiating at the service. Inurnment will follow at the Forest Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive guest prior to the service from 1:00 to 1:50 pm in the narthex of the church. Born October 25, 1914, in Mitchell County, NC, the daughter of the late David Jonathan Geouge and Gertrude Sparks Geouge, and step-daughter of the late Virgie Woody Geouge. She was preceded in death by her first husband and the father of her two daughters, George Darwin McDaniel; her second husband of 58 years, Gather Jackson Keller; three sisters: Eloise Autry, Arzilla Young, Lovie Sigmon; and one brother, Wayne Geouge. Also preceding her in death was a son-in-law, Jimmie Vance Shipley, and a grandson-in-law, Jimmie Hall. Bess was a long-time resident of Hickory, NC with brief residencies in Winston-Salem, Chickamauga, GA and Danville, VA before moving to Lexington, NC in 1980. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Lexington, a lifetime member of the United Methodist Women, A Sunday School teacher, and a willing volunteer to serve her church wherever she was needed. She enjoyed hobbies such as knitting, crocheting, etc. She was a wonderful cook and took great pleasure in traveling by camper with her husband, Gaither. Together they made numerous trips via bus tours, including one across the United States. Survivors include her two daughters, Willaine McDaniel Hankins and husband, the Reverend John Paul Hankins of Stony Brook, NY; Martha Jean McDaniel Boling and husband, the Reverend Marion Boling of Jamestown. Surviving also are her beloved grandchildren: Stan Hankins (Karen) of Georgetown, KY; Tim Hankins (Christine) of Ridge, NY; Scott Shipley (Janie) of Greensboro, NC; Elizabeth Hankins Johnson (Mike) of Johns Creek, GA; Judith Hankins Dubois (Marc) of Centereach, NY; Jamie Shipley Hall Erath (George) of Jamestown, NC; Leah Hankins De George (William) of Bayport, NY; Step-grandchildren: David Boiling of Charlotte, NC; the Reverend Jon Boling (Wendy) of Winston-Salem, NC; Andrew Boling (Karen) of High Point, NC; Jan Boling Blue (Scott) of San Diego, CA. Twelve great-grandchildren are left to mourn her death: Jannah and Janelle Hankins; Ellen, Olivia and Jane Johnson; HaLee and Hannah Shipley; Jakez and Aziliz Dubois; Angela Hall; Grace and Gregory De George; ten step great grandchildren: Laura and Christina Boling; Hayley Boling; Ashley and Seth Boling; Nicholas Lowry; Tyler, Logan, Will and Hensley Erath. Bess is also survived by three brothers: Knox Geouge of Spruce Pine, NC; Douglas Geouge (Ellen) of Green Mountain, NC; Dudley Geouge (Rachel) of Hickory, NC; two sisters-in-law, Precious Kelley of Rhodhiss, NC; Betty Keller of Hickory, NC and one brother-in-law, the Reverend Albert A. Young of Hickory, NC. Her many beloved nieces and nephews; her Trinity church family, and her friends scattered far and wide, will miss the generosity of her spirit, the understanding and wisdom of her faith that others witnessed through the many acts of kindness she shared to all who knew her. Memorials gifts may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church at 902 S. Main St., Lexington, NC 27292.