Letty Bridgers DeLoatch

1936 - 2025

Letty Bridgers DeLoatch

July 23, 1936 - July 17, 2025

Letty Bridgers DeLoatch, age 88 of Eagle River, Alaska, died peacefully on July 17, 2025, after a short bout with cancer.

Letty was born in Rich Square, N.C., on July 23, 1936, to Claude and Mamie DeLoatch. She grew up in nearby Conway and attended Conway High School. She went on to earn a BS from East Carolina University in both art and English followed by two Master's Degrees from New York University in art and arts education.

Letty spent her early years in Greensboro, N.C., balancing the raising of three children with teaching art and English in the local schools and pursuing her love of photography, pottery, and painting. After spending a number of summers volunteering in Yosemite, she fell in love with the rugged landscapes and beautiful vistas of California. She spent many years on the California coast and Yosemite Valley creating art and supporting Yosemite National Park programs. She spent her last years enjoying the Alaskan frontier, spending time with her daughter, Lenna, and her family.

At the heart of Letty's life was her vibrant creative spirit; if she wasn't teaching art, she was actively creating it. From photography to pottery to drawing to painting to mixed media, she found peace and purpose in the creative process. Her early artwork focused on seascapes of the North Carolina coast. Later, influenced by her time out west, she created abstract acrylic and mixed media paintings inspired by rocks, trees, and water. Her artwork has been featured in numerous galleries across the United States.

Letty was enthusiastic about the outdoors with a love of sailing, camping, and hiking. She camped with her family in their StarCraft camper on trips as far away as Nova Scotia. Later, she would take long solo trips out west camping along the way, exploring historical sites throughout Wyoming, Montana and Utah. She was particularly interested in her distant cousin Jim Bridger who had been a trapper and explorer in the region.

Letty is preceded in death by her parents and her former husband, Don Rose, Sr. She is survived by her sister, Peggy Bridgers; and Letty's three children, Lenna Michener, April Harris, and Don Rose, Jr.; and her grandchildren, Will Michener, Amanda Michener, Henry Michener, Laura Hutchinson, Clifford Rose, Jordan Rose, Alden Rose, and Ella Rose.

A graveside service will be held at the Conway Cemetery, 229 N. Church St., Conway, N.C. 27820, on August 9th, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at 301 S. Church Street in Conway.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sierra Club, or a charity of your choice, would be a fitting memorial, appreciated by the family.

Online condolences can be left at www.garrettsykesfs.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Murfreesboro, N.C., (252) 332-3122.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service