Eula B. Gorden

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH | Eula Bellamy Gorden, 98, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord, Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

She was born November 2, 1909 in Brunswick County, North Carolina, and was the oldest of 10 children born to Arthur Chapman and Hortena Hughes Bellamy. Eula was schooled in Brunswick County, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C., and joined the Women's Army Air Corps during World War II. After military service, she moved to Santa Barbara, California and married Harold C. McTavish in 1946. They later lived in Ventura, California where she graduated from Ventura College, becoming a licensed vocational nurse. She worked with Ventura County General Hospital and later the California Mental Health System, retiring from Camarillo State Hospital.

Following Harold's death in October 1968, Eula married Lyle A. Gorden in 1970. They were married for 34 years. Lyle passed away in November 2004.

Eula was a charter member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Ventura and was active in the church and its programs. She was also a community volunteer working at the election polls and assisting senior citizens. After retirement, Eula traveled and vacationed often with friends and family.

Eula was affectionately called ''Lulie'' by her great-niece, Dawn Tiffany and great-nephew, Shawn, a nickname they gave her as very small children. She dearly loved them and they, in turn, dearly loved her. As their closest extended family member, she played a loving role in their lives as they grew up in Ventura and also in that of their mother, Sherrie Bellamy. Her other niece, Pamela Bellamy Quinn from La Jolla, Calif., completed the family. ''Lulie'' was thrilled at the birth of her great-great-nephews with the arrival of Tiffany's sons, Cody and Morgan; Shawn's sons, Wyatt and Logan; and Pamela's son, Austin. There are many happy memories of holidays, vacations, school events, sports, music recitals, family dinners and just spending family time. In 1999, Sherrie and Pamela hosted a very special event, a 90th birthday celebration for ''Lulie.''

In 1995, Sherrie moved from California to North Myrtle Beach and Shawn and his family followed in 2001.

''Lulie'' rejoined the family in January of 2005 when she came to live with Sherrie. In July of 2006, she became a resident of Autumn Care of Shallotte, N.C., where she made new friends with the staff and residents.

Eula is survived by her son, Robert Osborne and his wife, Nancy, of Hurricane, Utah; grandson, Garrett Osborne of Los Angeles; brothers, Charles Bellamy and his wife, Madge, and Edwin Bellamy and his wife, Lois, of Little River; sisters, Mary Livingston of Longs and Ina Loflin of High Point, N.C.; niece, Sherrie Bellamy of North Myrtle Beach; cherished great-nephew, Shawn Bellamy and his wife, Elizabeth, of Little River; adored great-great nephews, Wyatt Bellamy and Logan Bellamy of Little River, Cody Sayre of Ventura, Calif., and Morgan Schutte of Slidell, La.; niece, Pamela Bellamy Quinn, her husband, Steve; and great-nephew, Austin of La Jolla, Calif.; niece, Portia Bellamy of Charlotte, N.C.; nephew, Timothy Bellamy and his wife, Pauline; and great-nephew, Chris of Manville, R.I.; sisters-in-law, Juanita Bellamy of Ash, N.C., Nova Bellamy of Piscataway, N.J., and Mildred Bellamy of Greensboro, N.C.; and former daughter-in-law, Charlotte Osborne of Las Vegas. Many other nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren also survive Eula.

Her infant son, Harold C. McTavish Jr.; her parents; husbands, Harold C. McTavish and Lyle A. Gorden; brothers, Owen, Clyde, Lucian, E. J., and Arthur; and her beloved great-niece, Dawn Tiffany Harrell, whom she always called, ''my little girl,'' predeceased Eula.

The family wishes to thank Peggy Vereen for her in-home care and friendship to Eula; the staff of Autumn Care for their kindness; Mrs. Rosa Baker, her good friend and roommate at Autumn Care; and her long-time close friends and neighbors in Ventura, Cailf., Sally and Tom Mueller.

Sherrie, Shawn and Elizabeth want to specifically thank Aunt Mary Livingston and cousin, Harry Livingston Jr. for their weekly visits to ''Lulie,'' and also to Aunt Mary and Aunt Ina Loflin for their love, counsel and support.

A celebration and thanksgiving memorial service for Eula's life will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2008 at Lee Funeral Home in Little River, with the Rev. Kenneth M. Tucker officiating. A private burial will follow in the Vereen Family Cemetery.

Please send your condolences to MyrtleBeachOnline.com.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory of Little River/N. Myrtle Beach is serving the family.