Early Sunday morning at 4am on July 14, Nancy Louise McNeely Fitch, affectionately known as "Momma" and "Maw Maw" peacefully passed from this world to eternal life in paradise with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom she faithfully served all of her life. As she transitioned to eternity, her kids, Eddie and Kathy, granddaughter, Karen, and daughter in law Delynn gently held her hands while whispering tender goodbyes. Her son in law, Joe, was also present to offer support and love during that time.It was a glorious moment in time knowing she was regaining her sight and receiving her new body with no pain or suffering.

We were so blessed that Nancy lived a good long life with our family. She recently celebrated her 95th birthday on April 20th of this year. At her party, she radiated with love and appreciation for family and friends who stopped by to celebrate her. There were many!

Nancy was greatly known for her love of the Lord. She would often sing or hum hymns and was very involved with her Sunday School class at Elizabeth Baptist Church. After losing her vision, for many years while she was able, she remained dedicated to hearing daily Bible scripture and devotional Sunday School lessons by listening on CD. She thought the world of her many friends from the church and her Pastor, Rit Varriale. She eventually began attending New Salem Church with Kathy and Joe when she couldn't get to Elizabeth any more. She enjoyed making many new friends there and being able to stay in church at New Salem to worship the Lord with fellow believers as long as she could. Pastor Marsha Bristow, of New Salem Church, and many at the church showed a lot of love and concern for Nancy which blessed her tremendously.

Nancy truly has been the glue that has held our family together. Every holiday and special occasion has been celebrated with her (and Daddy/Paw Paw before he passed in 2006) at their house. She absolutely adored her entire family and no one was a favorite. Her love for each person was unwavering and there was never a time that you couldn't call or stop by to chat, get advice or unlimited encouragement. Her door was always open anytime you needed her. She made many tremendous sacrifices for her family and even raised two of her grandchildren without hesitation. No other person will ever be able to fill the void in our hearts that came with losing her.

As much as it hurts to let her go, we know that she has been reunited with those she loved and missed so dearly. Most importantly, she is with her Lord. For that reason alone we are at peace with her passing.

In 2006, Nancy's husband of 59 years, Lee, went to be with the Lord after a short battle with cancer. After Lee passed, she remained mostly independent at home with the help of her daughter and best friend, Kathy, who did everything possible to keep Momma at home until the very end, as she had requested. It wasn't easy and there were many hard days but with the support of Eddie, Delynn, Karen and Joe, Kathy pressed through the difficulties and kept the promise of allowing her to pass in her own home peacefully.

Nancy is survived by many amazing family members whom she truly cherished. Her son, Eddie, affectionately known to her as "Old Man" and her precious daughter in law, Delynn. Eddie was always keeping Momma laughing with his "nonsense" which she enjoyed and Delynn was like another daughter to her. She admired Delynn very much and joked that she appreciated Delynn trying to "keep Eddie straight." Eddie and Delynn were always available when Momma needed her and she knew they loved her very much. She is also survived by her daughter and closest friend, Kathy Ponder, and son in law, Joe. She truly appreciated that Joe and Kathy helped keep her home running after Lee died by mowing the lawn, fixing things around the house and going to the store for her. Kathy kept food in the house and made easy meals for her to eat when she was home alone. Joe would run to the store 10 times a day if she needed something and was totally dedicated to getting whatever she needed as soon as possible. She was very thankful for every little thing no matter how small it may have seemed.

Nancy is also survived by her special granddaughter, Karen (Theis) that she raised as her own. She was so proud of Karen being a nurse and had once wanted to be a nurse herself. Karen's husband, Brian, was also very special to Maw Maw and she loved hearing stories about his job and all the "shenanigans" he would share with her about work.

Nancy loved every single one of her grandchildren and great grands deeply. She had four grandsons, Todd Fitch (deceased), Chris Rathbone, Shane Bryant (deceased) Jacky Bryant and Ashley McDaniel (Katy). She was blessed even further when the Lord gave her five amazing great grands, TJ Bryant, Drew Theis, Rachel Theis, Declan McDaniel-Jackson and Finley McDaniel-Jackson. Her grands and great grands were absolutely the apple of her eye! In her last days on earth, the one thing that brought her the most joy was visiting with and "seeing" those grandchildren!

Nancy is also survived by her sister, Ruth Estes, of Alabama, and many nieces, nephews and extended family that she loved very much, especially her closet niece, Dorothy Fitch, and her very special son in law, Roger Passmore.

Nancy is predeceased by many special family including her "Daddy" Samuel Moore McNeely, "Mommy" Rachel Belle McNeely, daughter Carolyn Passmore (Roger), two grandsons, Eddie "Todd" Fitch, Dennis "Shane" Bryant Tesmer, her brothers, Lem McNeely, Pinkney McNeely, Amzie McNeely, and sisters Minnie Webb, Fannie Hamrick, and Cordia Lee McNeely.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to some very special nurses at Carolina Caring Palliative Care and Hospice. Kelly, NP, Palliative Care, Kelly (Hospice primary nurse), Brittney, Heidi, Debbie (Hospice triage nurse) and Nancy (Hospice triage nurse) were tremendously kind and compassionate. We couldn't have done this without their help!!

Family and friends are invited to see Nancy at Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 N. Post Rd, Shelby, NC, on Wednesday at 10 AM. Service begins at 11 AM with Dr. Rit Varriale officiating. Nancy's son, Pastor Eddie Fitch, and Pastor Marsha Bristow will also make special remarks. This will be a time to celebrate her life and there will be no "goodbyes" but instead "See ya laters!" because we know that one day we will be together with our Lord and will see her again! Praise God for his loving kindness and tender mercies!

Memorials in her memory may be made to Elizabeth Baptist Church, and/or New Salem Church, both of Shelby, NC.

Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 N. Post Rd, Shelby, NC, 28152

New Salem Church, 2300 Hoey Church Rd, Shelby, NC, 28152

Online condolences may be made at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Alexander family.