Mary Eloise Sargent

Mary Eloise Sargent, 84, of Delaware, OH and formerly of Bandy, Virginia, passed away early Saturday morning March 21, 2015 at her niece’s residence in Ashley, OH. She was born August 1, 1930 in Bandy, Virginia to the late William Baylor Sargent and Grace Elizabeth (Vernon) Sargent. Eloise was a 1947 graduate of Richlands High School in Virginia and she later retired from the Tazewell County, Virginia School District after decades of filling whatever was needed from bus driver, tutoring homebound students and substitute teaching. She attended the Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church in Bandy, VA and was an ordained minister with both Assemblies of God and later the Church of Gospel Ministry. She was also a member of the Bandy Volunteer Fire Department for a number of years. She loved life and was happiest when sharing her faith and spiritual enthusiasm in word, song and deed. Described as a “Maverick from the mountains” and a “mountain evangelist”, she was sassy, savvy, never bashful and thumbed her nose at conformity and marched to a different drummer. She believed we are our brother’s keeper and in times of need it wasn’t uncommon to find Eloise rolling up her sleeves, hanging up her cane on the nearest prop and lending a helping hand in changing a neighbor’s flat tire or delivering a bag of groceries or whatever was needed. Some believe she was even born with a chain saw in one hand and a car-jack in another. Eloise had hundreds of stories of friends she’d met and the wonderful times they’d shared. She spent her last year in Ohio and was full of glee when receiving letters from those who knew her from “back home”. Even though severely physically injured in a fall at 83 years of age, she fought back to walking, picking beans and singing “Amazing Grace” at the community street fair. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her fiancé Charlie Smith of Bandy, VA who was killed in the Korean Conflict. Charlie and Eloise had known each other from childhood and they started dating when she was 16 and they were engaged when she was 19. Eloise spoke of Charlie often and loved and quietly grieved his passing throughout her entire life. She was also preceded in death by sisters Velma J. Sargent and Gladys Marie Sargent of Bandy, VA, sister and brother-in-law Beulah and Ruel Sparks of Cedar Bluff, VA, brothers Sherman N. Sargent of Ashley, OH, Ernest Sargent of Cedar Bluff, VA and Myrl Sargent of Bandy, VA and brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Helen Sargent of Galion, OH. Left to cherish her memory is her sister Essie Faye Vrooman of Marion, OH; sisters-in-law Lola (Shinault) Sargent of Roanoke, VA and Wilma J. (Burnette) Sargent of Ashley, OH; 3 nieces, 5 nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews; numerous special friends including Linda Smith of Pounding Mill, VA, Janice Cottrell and Lola Walters of St. Albans, WV, and Hazel and Dave Willoughby of Uniontown, OH. The family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Grace Hospice of Columbus, Harold Arvin RN, Chaplain Lloyd Markley, Kristin, Amy, Samantha and Renee; Arlingworth Home Care of Dublin, Hang Nguyen RN and Mimi Filipova LPN; Visiting Physicians of Westerville, Ana Moore NP, Melissa, Angie, Jennifer and Dave; River Rock Rehabilitation, Janelle and Ronda; Visiting Podiatry Dr. James Blain MD; and all other members of “Team Eloise” – Tari, Alex, Sandy, Renee, Nikki, Tammy, Audrey, Andrea, Laurie, Jenny, Amy, Kaylee, Bobbie and Cassie – nurses, STNA’s, aids and family that provided Eloise with around-the-clock loving care. The family will receive friends on Saturday March 28 from 12:00 pm until time of funeral services at 2:00 pm at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home, 1401 Second Street, Richlands, Virginia. With the Pastor Ray Justus officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. Friends and Family will serve as pallbearers. The Snyder-Rodman Funeral Center of Delaware, OH is honored to assist the family locally. Condolences may be expressed to the family and memories may be shared by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Mary Eloise Sargent

August 1, 1930 - March 21, 2015