Nancy Cooper Horsley

MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Nancy Cooper Horsley, 79, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 200at her home. Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Nancy lived most of her life in the Belmont, NC area and was the eldest daughter of the late James and Elizabeth Richardson Cooper. Nancy was a sports enthusiast, playing basketball in her teens where she was a member of the 1947/48 winning Stanley All Star Girl's Basketball team. Nancy enjoyed following the Pro Tennis Tour and playing bridge with her community friends. Throughout her life, she derived her greatest pleasure from the game of golf, avidly playing with her spouse and long time friends and, in the latter years, with her Prestwick Golf community. In 2007 Nancy made a "hole in one" with a 108 yard drive on Prestwick's 5th hole. Upon retirement from Piedmont Processing in Belmont, she traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. Nancy's family was extremely important to her and she enjoyed hosting family gatherings at her home. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Allman McElwaine in 1978 with whom she had and is survived by four daughters; Elizabeth McElwaine Riddle and David of Southport, NC, Sandy McElwaine and Kathy Tighe of Ojai, CA, Robbie McElwaine Carr and Kevin of Belmont, NC, and Kathy McElwaine Rhyne and John of Belmont, NC. She was also preceded in death by her second husband, Frank McKenzie Horsley in 2008. This marriage expanded her family to include two stepsons and a stepdaughter; Steve Horsley and Gigi of Wilmington, NC, Susan Horsley Beam and Jim of Wilmington, NC and Eric Horsley and Jennifer of Charlotte, NC; as well as six grandchildren. Nancy is also survived by two brothers, Earl Cooper and Helen of Mt. Holly, NC, Grady Cooper and Glenda of Dallas, NC; three sisters; Barbara Cooper Hester of Mt. Holly, NC, Shirley Cooper Pate of Stanley, NC, Sarah Cooper Barnhill of Valley Head, AL and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are grandchildren; Chris Pillow, Kim Pillow, Lauren Carr, Robert Carr, Katie Rhyne and John Marshall Rhyne, and great grandchildren, Justin Stickle and Hailey Pillow. A gathering of friends was held at her home in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, August 8, 2009. A Celebration of her Life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at the Bumgardner Chapel of McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the Chapel. A memorial plaque will be placed alongside her first husband's in Gaston Memorial Park. Her ashes will be scattered at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mercy Hospice, PO Box 50640, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29579. Condolences may be sent online at www.McLeanFuneral.com. McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the family of Mrs. Horsley.