Faye Lavyelle McDaniel

Faye Lavyelle Watkins McDaniel passed peacefully on December 20 th , 2025, at

the age of 91.

Born in Spindale, North Carolina to H. Ed Watkins and Pansy Morris Watkins on

September 4 th , 1934, she attended R.S. Central High School. She eventually

earned her high school diploma at Garinger High School in Charlotte, North

Carolina through night school in 1975. Faye worked as a daycare teacher for

over 30 years.

One of her greatest joys was to travel, especially during the years she visited her

middle son while he served in the United States Air Force. Those visits took her

far from home to Panama, France, Germany and across the United States. No

destination captured her heart quite like the beach. Faye loved Rod Stewart and

Elvis, having seen them both in concert. She was rarely without a disposable

camera nearby, faithfully capturing birthdays, holidays, and ordinary days simply

because they mattered. Over the years, she filled albums and boxes with

thousands of developed photographs. Her legacy lives on in the images she left

behind. Her greatest devotion was to her family, especially her four grandchildren

. She always made time to visit them, often with a birthday cake in hand or sitting

proudly at sports tournaments.

She was preceded in death by her parents H. Ed Watkins and Pansy Watkins,

brothers Howard Watkins, Horace Watkins, Dever Watkins, and sister Fern

McEntire. She is survived by her sister Rachel Haynes, sons Joseph "Tony"

(Debbie), Brian "Todd" (Angie), Eric Lee, grandchildren Ryan (Maddie), Kylie

(Miles), Ian, Aidan (Britta), and great-grandchildren Emma Faye and Carson

Miles.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Best of Care

Assisted Living in Kannapolis, NC and VIA Health Partners Hospice for their

compassion, kindness, and attentive care.

The Family will hold a memorial service at Crowes Mortuary and Crematory,

118 College Avenue, Rutherfordton NC. at 3PM, Saturday December 27, 2025