Surrounded by her loving family, Laura Elfreed Shirley Armstrong, 86, of Hickory, North Carolina went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, following a period of declining health.
Born March 5, 1934 in Camden, SC, she was the daughter of the late George W. Shirley and Ruth Shirley McKenzie.
Elfreed, known to many as “Pete” or “Nin” was well known for her classy demeanor, vivacious style, her cooking skills, specifically coconut cream pie, her interior design talents and above all for being the loving wife of 68 years to Jimmy B. Armstong, Sr. Together they built a family legacy Jim Armstrong Subaru, Inc. where they both worked. They enjoyed traveling, living in Hilton Head, SC and High Meadows in Fancy Gap, NC, playing golf together and living life to the fullest. She lived for quality, sophistication, elegance and beauty in all aspects of her life. She was a lovely, gracious, classy woman who remained strong willed, spunky and feisty until the very end.
She was a charter member of Moss Creek Plantation, Hilton Head, SC, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, and Lake Hickory Country Club, Hickory, NC.
Preceding her in death, a son, Rodney Anthony Armstrong, her parents and in-laws, Arnold and Jardie Armstrong of Gastonia, NC.
Surviving her is the love of her life, husband of 68 years and her daily caretaker, Jimmy B. Armstrong, Sr. of Hickory, NC; son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy B. Armstong, Jr. (Susan); daughter, Allyson Armstrong, all of Hickory, NC; grandchildren: Jackie Grindstaff (Jody), Aspen Brown (Jay), Laura Barnes (David), Megan Benfield (Michael) all of Hickory, NC; great-grandchildren: Scout and Huckleberry Brown, Grayson Grindstaff, Landry, Lennox and Georgia Barnes, all of Hickory, NC; special caretakers that meant the world to her, Faith Edwards, Steve and Hannah Austin, Rocky Clayton and Ann B. Dellinger.
Very important people to whom she cared about were all the staff and families of Jim Armstrong Subaru, Inc. and the staff at Fresenius and Davita Kidney Dialysis Centers of Hickory.
Elfreed’s funeral was held on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in the chapel at Bass-Smith Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service in Oakwood Cemetery.
The Scoop sends our warmest condolences to Allyson Armstrong and her family.