Mrs. Carolyn Merle Land McGuire

Carolyn Merle Land McGuire stopped what she was doing, mentally strapped on her dancin’ shoes, and left this place on Monday, January 28, 2013. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She was born on December 20, 1922, in Danville, Virginia, the youngest girl of seven children born to Alfonza F. Land and Evelyn W. Land. Sadly, she experienced all of their deaths prior to her own. She lived in Danville and Spencer, North Carolina during her childhood and adolescent years, moving to Miami, Florida to attend secretarial school after graduating from high school. After wow-ing all the young and handsome military officers stationed in Miami during the War, she met Marvin Hurt McGuire, Jr. (the most handsome of all) in Salisbury, North Carolina; they married in 1944. And “Oh!” what a life she and her “Mickey” had! They travelled, they entertained, they danced many a night away. They settled in Richlands, where he was born, and raised three children here. He preceded her in death in 1977, and she did what she had always done…..she carried on. She continued to travel and entertain and, of course, dance. She loved digging in the dirt, and had the most glorious flower gardens in all of Tazewell County. She played golf and bridge with her friends. She read books-lots and lots of books. She visited her children and grandchildren. And, when in these latter years she could no longer get around easily, she sat in “her corner” and regaled her friends and family with tales of yore, and with her thoughts on the state of this ol’ world. In 2005, her son, Mick, passed away in Texas, then, in 2009, her younger daughter, Eve, died. Although these two tragic losses dealt her an immense blow, she did what she had always done…she carried on. She leaves behind one daughter, Dinah McGuire Douglas, and her partner, Linda Fowler; six beautiful and talented grandchildren: Marvin Hurt McGuire IV and his wife, Vikke, John McGuire and wife, Nicole, Matthew McGuire and wife, Melissa, Marianne McGuire Ewell and husband, Law; Courtney McGuire Douglas and William Hurt Douglas and his partner, Peter Widmer; twelve great-grandchildren (and another soon to arrive in April). Carolyn McGuire -“Gan”, “Guiresey”- was one amazing woman: glamorous, loving and kind, passionate, a Friend to all who knew her, involved in her community, fiercely strong, fun-loving and full of joy. She had opinions and expressed them openly and honestly. In other words, she lived. And she truly carried on to the end. Funeral services for Carolyn Merle Land McGuire will be conducted Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Cedar Bluff United Methodist Church in Cedar Bluff, Virginia with Annette Warren officiating. Interment will follow at Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery, Richlands, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: David Peery, Joe Adair, Terry Stevenson, D. G. Jennings, George McCall, John McGuire, John York Lindsey, Jim Peery and Joe McCall. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Wade Peery, G.T. Harris, Bruce Mitchell and Don Dye. Friends may call from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Friday evening at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home; 1401 Second Street; Richlands, VA 24641. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Bluff First United Methodist Church, Box 209, Cedar Bluff, VA, 24609 and to the Richlands Ministerial Association, PO Box 173, Richlands, VA 24641. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of the arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Mrs. Carolyn Merle Land McGuire

December 20, 1922 - January 28, 2013