Gae Armstrong

Gae Smith Armstrong died peacefully surrounded by her children on August 27th after a five-year journey with Alzheimer s Disease. She was born May 9, 1937, in Mt. Airy, NC to Edgar and Grace Smith. She was one of seven children and spent her early years on a dairy farm where she developed a love for the earth. She was the Valedictorian of Beulah High School and after graduation moved to Winston-Salem, NC where she attended the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. It was there she met George Herbert Armstrong. George and Gae moved to Madigan Air Force Base in Washington State for a short time before returning to Mt. Gilead, NC where they made their home.
Mt. Gilead was a special place for Gae and her family, and she was always grateful for the village that helped her raise her children after George s death in 1976. She worked as a nurse at Montgomery Memorial Hospital, was involved in her children s activities, and an active member of First United Methodist Church Mt. Gilead. She was a member of the Chi Sigma Club and always active in community activities. She relocated to Greensboro in 2017 and was fortunate to find a community of friends at Heritage Greens. Because of her dementia she moved into the Arboretum at Heritage Greens in September of 2019, and we are so grateful for the loving care she received from the associates and staff who cared for her. They quickly learned how independent she was and allowed her to maintain that by respecting her wishes to do as much as she could for as long as she was able.
Gae s first priority was always her family. She was a proud mom and Mimi and loved spending time with all her family on Lake Tillery. She is survived by her children, Cathy Cochran (Buck), Bert Armstrong (Melanie), and Emily Roberts (Scott) her grandchildren Cameron Cochran (Brian), Trey Cochran, Robert Armstrong, Jenni Armstrong, and Mark Morley as well as her sisters Dorothy Hicks and Ina Edmiston. She also treasured time with many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on September 10th at 11am at First United Methodist Church in Mt. Gilead. The family will greet friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Associate Appreciation Fund at Heritage Greens 801 Meadowood Street, Greensboro, NC 27409 or First United Methodist Church Mt. Gilead, NC 27306.
Cathy, Bert, and Emily will be forever grateful for the loving care of all the staff at Heritage Greens as well as the guidance and support of the staff of AuthoraCare and First Light Home care who were part of her journey.
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