Louise Clark McGimsey

Louise Clark McGimsey, 90, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015 at Morganton Grace Hospital.

She was born Aug. 23, 1925 in Ringgold, GA, and was a daughter of the late Barnie Lewis Clark and Lurah Clinton Clark. She won her 6th grade County spelling contest and had exceptionally beautiful handwriting. She was a descendent of the Cherokee Chief Vann family of N. Ga.

Louise was a veteran of World War II, serving as a nurse in the US Army and stationed in Chattanooga, Tn. having graduated from the Military-Cadet Nurse Corps at the Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga in 1943.

She then went on for further training in New York where she married Dr. James McGimsey, Jr. of Morganton and moved to Morganton in 1953 where they lived in the "castle" on Edgewood Ave. She raised 5 children and would give what seemed like 15 children a ride to swim meets in her large yellow finned station wagon. She was a member of the First Methodist Church, an active parent in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and helped her parents in law on Valdese Ave., James and Margaret McGimsey through their elder years.  She was very smart, taught herself to be a great cook, was a tireless mother and homemaker, and had the capabilities of an old fashioned Southern Storyteller and the grit and mustard of a self-made success.

Louise is survived by her children, James Franks McGimsey, III of Mt. Dora, FL, Judith McGimsey Baker and husband, Greg, of Seattle, WA, John Clark McGimsey and wife, Li Jie. of Charlotte, NC, William Claywell McGimsey of Houston, TX, and Thomas Clinton McGimsey and wife, Anne, of Dublin, Ireland; grandchildren, James Franks McGimsey IV, Collier Baker, Tommy McGimsey, Kieran McGimsey, Clara McGimsey, Lua McGimsey, and JJ McGimsey; and 2 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Sunday, Nov. 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.  The graveside service will be follow at 2 p.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. John Fowler officiating.