Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-12-12
MRS. W.P.PENDLEY
SUCCUMBS SUNDAY
Tribute is Paid to Memory of Widely
Known Blowing Rock Lady,, Who
Died Suddenly Sunday Morning.
Funeral Services Tuesday.

Sixty-eight years ago, in beautiful
Globe Valley, Caldwell County, there
was born to Mr. and Mrs. Luther
Moore a daughter, little Miss Lou
ellen. The child grew, passed from
infancy to childhood; from childhood
to young womanhood, all the while
developing into one of the strongest
Christian characters known in this
part of Northwestern North Caro-
lima. In her early childhood she dedi-
Gated her life, her efforts, her whole
physical being to the services of her
God and humanity. In after years
she was married to Mr.. Patterson
Pendley, of the same neighborhood,
and the twain long fought the bat
ties of life together. But, this past
summer, Daddy Pat" was called up
higher.
Last Sunday morning, just after
s o'clock, the office phone rang to
announce the death of Mrs. Pend
ley, which had occurred in the night
while loved ones were at rest all
about her, not knowing that the
spirit of the queen of the house
hold' had been waited away on an
SSio "iISo W LIlS SclcSGldI ClIN. Inc
news, as it spread, cast a gloom over
the entire town. Oh, how sweet for
a character like this, after long life
of usefulness, conscious of duty we'll
done, to lie down for rest, temporal
ly, to awaken, spiritually, in the
Land of Eternal Rest!
'The funeral services were conduct
ed at the home at 10 o'clock Tues
day morning by her pastor, the Rev.
+. A. Hix, assisted by Rev. F. M
Huggins, former pastor of Blowing
Rock Baptist Church, after which
the long procession of heart-broken
loved ones and friends from far and
near wended its way to the burying
ground near Coffey's Gap, where the
remains were inferred meath bank
of flowers, which spoke in undisputa-
BILE language of the esteem in which
she was held by the donors, and 9TH
ers who assembled to pay their last
respects to one who was truly lover
of humanity.
Soon after their marriage Mr.. and
Mrs. Pendley moved to Linville City,
during its early developments, and
opened a hotel, where they remained
for several years, doing good busi-
ness. Thirty years or more ago, they
moved to Blowing Rock where they
went into the hotel business on a
larger scale. Mr.. T. H. Coffey mar
ried the eldest daughter, Miss Annie,
and through the years the Watauga
Inn justly won for itself the name
of the most charming hostelry in
that wonderful resort section, under
the management of Mr. Coffey and
Mrs. Pendley. Three years ago in Oc-
tober the old Watauga Inn burned,
but the demand was so great for them
to reopen that the new Watauga Inn
was soon doing business in the
Boogher building, where Mrs. Pend
ley died Sunday morning.
When the most lowly or the most
prosperous within her radius (Which
was a wide one) were in trouble, it
was this messenger of love, hospital
ity, and good cheer, with open purse,
if necessary, who could always be
seen as ministering angel, helping
the poor, or speaking a word of
cheer to those who were in trouble.
Her church and Sunday School were
her earthly ideals, as this story will
prove: Mrs. Pendley was always
thrifty, and out of her abundant
funds she was always building, as
the story goes, sum to be used
when she became unable to longer
earn. This sum had grown to $1,000,
which was highly priced by her. A
few years ago the need of new
Baptist Church became imperative
for Blowing Rock, and it was decided
to make the effort. AS was expected,
Mrs. Pendley took the lead in col
lections, much being given by sum-
mer tourists. The work progressed,
to the delight of all, until the dark
day came when the funds were ex-
hausted. Then it was that this good
woman, this lover of her church and
its membership, being willing to >risk
all to the dear ones at home and her
God when old age and weakness
came, dropped the whole sum into
the church treasury and the beauti-
full building now stands largely as a
monument to her untiring energy and
willingness to sacrifice all for its
completion. We are caused to Won
der if, in the still morning hours of
last Sunday, while she was in the
presence of the God whom she had
served, He did not say to her, "You
shall have no more troubles or sor-
rows, old age shall not weaken you
you have done your part; you have
won your crown - come up and
claim it."
Mrs. Pendley was the mother OF
three children, Mrs. T. H. Coffey
and Mrs. Herman Deal. The only
son, Marshall Pendley, died in the
State of Washington several years
ago. Two grandchildren also sur.
vive, Mr.. Thomas Coffey Jr. anc
Miss Ellen Coffey, the former g
member of the Board of Education
and the latter assistant cashier o1