Obituaries
Farrie Ellen White Blackburn
( November 1, 1924 - March 9, 2017 )
Mrs. Farrie Ellen White Blackburn, 92, of Reepsville Road, Lincolnton passed away unexpectedly on March 9, 2017 at CHS-Lincoln surrounded by family and friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 in the Philathea Classroom of the First United Methodist Church in Lincolnton from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m.
Farrie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marion K. Blackburn, her parents, J.L. and Mae Biggerstaff White, two brothers and two sisters. She leaves behind to cherish her memory a son, James Barry Blackburn of Elkin and a number of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends including Barbara McBride of Marshville, Jim Stamey of Polkville, Karen Smith of Asheville, Jamie Stamey of Lake Norman, Emily Noland of Mooresville, Johnny Blackburn of Lincolnton and his children, Will, Allie and Margery Blackburn of Lincolnton and her sons, Luke and Jack Frazier. Other special friends include Joe Barnhill of Lincolnton, Reverend Dr. Kenneth Clapp of Salisbury and Sam Tate of Boone. A very special person in Farrie’s life was Mrs. Louise Daniels of Stanley who was her caregiver, spiritual counselor and friend.
Farrie grew up in rural Cleveland County and after completing high school, entered training at Crowell Hospital in Lincolnton to become a registered nurse. Later she became Director of Nurses at Reeves Gamble Hospital and later transitioned the nursing staff to the new Lincoln County Hospital, also serving as Director of Nurses at the new facility. Later she became Health Education Coordinator at Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory serving seventeen years. While there she completed her BS degree in Health Care Administration at St. Joseph College in Maine. While at Catawba Valley, she helped establish the first continuing education program for Emergency Medical Technicians in the North Carolina Community College system.
In addition to her working career, Farrie lead a busy and active life. She was a charter member of the Lincolnton Business and Professional Women’s Club and served as President and District Director. Farrie was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years and held a number of offices including Worthy Matron and District Deputy Grand Matron. She was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ, Lincolnton for many years serving in various capacities including Youth Fellowship Director and was the first woman elected to serve as a Deacon. During several summers she used vacation time to serve as camp nurse at Johns River Camp.
Farrie was also quite active in community affairs. She served as President of the Catawba Valley Lung Association from 1977 to 1979 and received their Volunteer of the Year Award in 1978. She also served as President of the American Lung Association of North Carolina from 1987 to 1988. For several years she served on the Executive Committee at the Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds (United Church of Christ) as Co-Chair of the Personnel Committee. In 1993, Farrie served on the Operations Council at Abernathy Laurels and as Chairwoman of the Executive Committee. She also served on a group appointed by the County Commissioners which inspected local nursing homes and made recommendations. She was the first nurse to be appointed to the Board of Health in Lincoln County and served for a number of years receiving their recognition award in 1986. She also served on the Lincolnton City Planning Board for several years. Farrie was active in the American Ex- Prisoners of War Association completing her husband’s term as Western District Director and continued to serve several years on her own. A patron of the arts, Farrie served for a time as a member of the Lincolnton Community Concert Association.
Over the years, Farrie received many recognition awards. She was most proud of being nominated and conferred to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Gov. James E. Holshouser, Jr. in 1972, the highest civilian honor conferred by the State of North Carolina. In 1961, she was presented as Lincolnton-Lincoln County Woman of the Year. In 1971, she was elected District 29 Nurse of the Year by the NC State Nurses Association.
Farrie never met a stranger and could always be depended on for a good story. She was also a cancer survivor. She loved to read ,was an avid bridge player and Tar Heel fan. In her later years she was able to travel to Europe, the Pacific and the Caribbean accompanied by her friend, Robert Papp, retired President of Catawba Valley Community College. One of the highlights of her trips abroad was riding a zip line in Costa Rica at age 82.
The family wishes to thank her many relatives, friends and neighbors for their expressions of sympathy and support during this time as well as Hospice and the nursing staff and doctors at CHS-Lincoln for their excellent care and compassion, especially Dr. Fox and Dr. Aswad.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lincolnton, Building Fund, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092 or to Christian Ministry of Lincoln County, 207 South Poplar Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 in the Philathea Classroom of the First United Methodist Church in Lincolnton from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m.
Farrie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marion K. Blackburn, her parents, J.L. and Mae Biggerstaff White, two brothers and two sisters. She leaves behind to cherish her memory a son, James Barry Blackburn of Elkin and a number of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends including Barbara McBride of Marshville, Jim Stamey of Polkville, Karen Smith of Asheville, Jamie Stamey of Lake Norman, Emily Noland of Mooresville, Johnny Blackburn of Lincolnton and his children, Will, Allie and Margery Blackburn of Lincolnton and her sons, Luke and Jack Frazier. Other special friends include Joe Barnhill of Lincolnton, Reverend Dr. Kenneth Clapp of Salisbury and Sam Tate of Boone. A very special person in Farrie’s life was Mrs. Louise Daniels of Stanley who was her caregiver, spiritual counselor and friend.
Farrie grew up in rural Cleveland County and after completing high school, entered training at Crowell Hospital in Lincolnton to become a registered nurse. Later she became Director of Nurses at Reeves Gamble Hospital and later transitioned the nursing staff to the new Lincoln County Hospital, also serving as Director of Nurses at the new facility. Later she became Health Education Coordinator at Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory serving seventeen years. While there she completed her BS degree in Health Care Administration at St. Joseph College in Maine. While at Catawba Valley, she helped establish the first continuing education program for Emergency Medical Technicians in the North Carolina Community College system.
In addition to her working career, Farrie lead a busy and active life. She was a charter member of the Lincolnton Business and Professional Women’s Club and served as President and District Director. Farrie was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years and held a number of offices including Worthy Matron and District Deputy Grand Matron. She was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ, Lincolnton for many years serving in various capacities including Youth Fellowship Director and was the first woman elected to serve as a Deacon. During several summers she used vacation time to serve as camp nurse at Johns River Camp.
Farrie was also quite active in community affairs. She served as President of the Catawba Valley Lung Association from 1977 to 1979 and received their Volunteer of the Year Award in 1978. She also served as President of the American Lung Association of North Carolina from 1987 to 1988. For several years she served on the Executive Committee at the Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds (United Church of Christ) as Co-Chair of the Personnel Committee. In 1993, Farrie served on the Operations Council at Abernathy Laurels and as Chairwoman of the Executive Committee. She also served on a group appointed by the County Commissioners which inspected local nursing homes and made recommendations. She was the first nurse to be appointed to the Board of Health in Lincoln County and served for a number of years receiving their recognition award in 1986. She also served on the Lincolnton City Planning Board for several years. Farrie was active in the American Ex- Prisoners of War Association completing her husband’s term as Western District Director and continued to serve several years on her own. A patron of the arts, Farrie served for a time as a member of the Lincolnton Community Concert Association.
Over the years, Farrie received many recognition awards. She was most proud of being nominated and conferred to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Gov. James E. Holshouser, Jr. in 1972, the highest civilian honor conferred by the State of North Carolina. In 1961, she was presented as Lincolnton-Lincoln County Woman of the Year. In 1971, she was elected District 29 Nurse of the Year by the NC State Nurses Association.
Farrie never met a stranger and could always be depended on for a good story. She was also a cancer survivor. She loved to read ,was an avid bridge player and Tar Heel fan. In her later years she was able to travel to Europe, the Pacific and the Caribbean accompanied by her friend, Robert Papp, retired President of Catawba Valley Community College. One of the highlights of her trips abroad was riding a zip line in Costa Rica at age 82.
The family wishes to thank her many relatives, friends and neighbors for their expressions of sympathy and support during this time as well as Hospice and the nursing staff and doctors at CHS-Lincoln for their excellent care and compassion, especially Dr. Fox and Dr. Aswad.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lincolnton, Building Fund, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092 or to Christian Ministry of Lincoln County, 207 South Poplar Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Posted on 11 Mar 2017
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125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521