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Lisa Anne Benkowski
Lisa Anne Benkowski, 36, of Apex, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003. Lisa is survived by her husband, Michael David Benkowski; daughters, Hanna and Katherine Benkowski; parents, Stephen and Susan Mueller of DeSoto, Texas, and Timothy and Faye Weill of Nashville, Tenn.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, David and Judy Benkowski of Green Bay, Wis.; sisters, Bridget Wadley of Rockwall, Texas, Tina Tollefsbol of DeSoto, Texas, and Katherine Hanners of Corpus Christi, Texas; paternal grandmother, Mary Weill of Racine, Wis.; maternal grandfather, Floyd Ockey of Salt Lake City, Utah; and a niece and several nephews.
Lisa graduated from Saint Catherine's High School in Racine, Wis. Upon her graduation from Saint Norbert College in DePere, Wis., she completed her doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Her postdoctoral research was under the supervision of the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chemistry Department. She was a member of the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Lisa was an active member in the St. Mary's Magdalene Church and school community, donating time and talent for the advancement of faith and education.
Her unselfish view of life will be missed by family and friends from around the world. Her courageous daily struggle with colon cancer was not shown to others because she never wanted to trouble anyone with her pain or battle. Lisa will be missed greatly by everyone and we are the special ones to have known her for this short amount of time. Her spirit will live on forever in all of us. We truly believe that she is resting in peace and without pain for the first time in over nine months. May God bless you, Lisa, and may you continue to watch over us.
A funeral mass was held Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 11, at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex. The family received friends following the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Magdalene School in the name of Lisa Benkowski Science Fund, 625 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502.
Mitchell Theo Burden
Mitchell Theo Burden, 82, of Apex died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at Western Wake Medical Center. Mr. Burden was a corporal in the U.S. Army serving under General George S. Patton in the European and North African campaigns in World War II. He was a Mason and member of Apex Baptist Church. Mr. Burden was a mechanical designer with Monsanto Inc. for more than 25 years.
A funeral service was held Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, at Apex Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Qualls officiating. Burial followed in Apex Cemetery.
He is survived by his sons, Tim Burden and wife, Tina, and Mark Burden and wife, Karen, all of Apex; daughters, Margaret B. Seagroves and husband, Bill, of Apex, and Pam B. Terrell and husband, Brian, of Fuquay-Varina; brother, Charles Burden and wife, Frances, of Hartselle, Ala.; grandchildren, Sgt. First Class Charles "Ronnie" Branton and wife, Charito, Matthew and Lori Burden, and Megan Terrell; and a special pet, Buddy. His wife, Melissa H. Burden, predeceased him.
The family received friends on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Apex Funeral Home. To honor Mr. Burden's memory, the family requests contributions to Meals on Wheels, 707 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Western Wake Medical Center and in particular Dr. Himanshu Parikh for his special care of Dad.
Milton Clay Jones
Milton Clay Jones, 90, of Holly Springs Road, Raleigh, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 at Rex Nursing Care of Apex. He was born in Wake County on Jan. 19, 1913 to A. P. P. Jones and Annie Virginia Maynard. Mr. Jones was a farmer, trucker and volunteer fireman with the Swift Creek Fire Department. A funeral service was held Saturday, Nov. 8, at Macedonia United Methodist Church with the Rev. Glen Mason officiating. Entombment followed in Montlawn Memorial Park.
Mr. Jones is survived by his daughter, Rildia J. Pritchett and husband, Douglas, of Cary; grandchildren, Natalie and Brian Pritchett of Cary; sisters, Mary Virginia Jones and Annie Lee Wester and husband, Elmo, all of Raleigh; and brother, Russell Jones and wife, Eva, of Raleigh. His wife, Mavis Atkins Jones, died March 27, 2003. His brothers Bryce Jones and Henry Jones also preceded him in death.
The family received friends Friday, Nov. 7, at Apex Funeral Home and at other times at the home of Rildia Pritchett in Cary.
Those considering memorial contributions may make them to Macedonia United Methodist Church Building Fund, or Hospice of Wake County.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Rex Nursing Care of Apex and Hospice of Wake County.
H. Lester Creech
H. Lester Creech died Sunday morning, June 27, 2004, at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary. He was born Feb. 4, 1921 in Pine Level. Lester graduated from Pine Level High School and Kings Business College. He married Dorothy Thathcher July 31, 1942. Lester began his career with Carolina Trailways in October 1942 and retired in October 1985, having served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
He was a faithful member of Ephesus Baptist Church and enjoyed his Sunday school class, the Fellowship Class, where he served as outreach leader.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Preston and Victoria Peedin Creech, and his brother, Harold P. Creech.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Dorothy T. Creech; his children, Vicki Wilkinson and her husband, Danny, Terry Campbell and her husband, Ray, and John Creech and his wife, Jane.
Lester was so very proud of his grandchildren who are left to cherish and honor his life: Kevin Campbell and his wife, Deborah; Todd Campbell; Shawn Wilkinson and his wife, Julie; Heather Boyer and her husband, Daniel; and Ryan Creech. He also found great joy in his great-grandchildren, Clayton Wilkinson, Rebecca Campbell and George Boyer.
Lester also leaves to honor his memory wonderful brothers and sisters: Lucille Holland, Donald and Marie Creech, Shelba and George Keene and Shurrell and Janie Creech.
The family extends love and heartfelt thanks to Cora Watson, Lucille Reid and Alice Stewart, who lovingly cared for Lester during the past 14 months. They also thank the staff at Glenaire Skilled Nursing Facility for their compassionate care.
A celebration of Lester's life was held Wednesday, June 30, at 11 a.m. at Ephesus Baptist Church in Raleigh. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Smithfield.
The family received friends Tuesday evening at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary.
Mary Ann Fegan
Mary Ann Fegan, 85, of 301 Kildaire Woods Drive in Cary, died June 25, 2004 due to a brief illness. She was a native of Chicago and a retired secretary. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great- and great-great-grandmother and a special friend to all who knew her.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at 1 p.m. at the Apex Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Walter Ross officiated. The family received friends from noon until the service began.
Survivors are two daughters, Beth Simpson and husband Stan of Apex and Judy Woods and husband Jerry of Burr Ridge, Ill.; a stepson, Albert Fegan Jr. and wife Mike of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Macular Degeneration Fund, P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053, Attention: Reserve to Restoration of Vision.
Edward Rue Dixon
Edward Rue Dixon, 49, of Brownsville, Tenn., died Friday, June 25, 2004 at his home.
Dixon worked in auto-parts sales for NAPA and was a cotton grader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The service was Tuesday afternoon at Brownsville Funeral Home, followed by burial at Oakwood Cemetery.
Dixon belonged to Ed Worsham Masonic Lodge No. 505 and Order of the Eastern Star No. 356.
Survivors include sisters Jo Anne Dixon Smith of Wildersville, Tenn., Donna Mary Dixon Mitcham of Auburn, Ala., and Martha Dixon Akins of Castalian Springs, Tenn.; brothers Cecil Thomas Dixon of Cary and James Dale Dixon of Castalian Springs, Tenn.; and his fiancee, Susan Kay Dean of Brownsville, Tenn.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ed Worsham Masonic Lodge No. 505 or Order of the Eastern Star No. 356.
Elisabeth 'Beth' Shafer
Elisabeth Ellen Evans Shafer, 38, of Cary, died Saturday, June 26, 2004 at her home. She lived each day to the fullest while battling melanoma.
Beth was the loving wife of Barry Shafer and mother of Rebecca and Ben. Beth and Barry celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary June 21.
Born to Virgil and Donna Schleif Evans of Saugerties, N.Y., Beth was a 1983 graduate of Saugerties High School. She graduated from SUNY Oneonta in 1987 with a degree in elementary education.
Beth moved to Cary after her marriage and taught first grade at Apex Elementary School for six years. She earned a master's degree, summa cum laude, from Meredith College.
After her children were born, Beth devolted herself to her family and community. A longtime member of First Reformed Church of Cary, she taught Sunday school, played piano, ran the missions committee and led children's worship. She coordinated the Cary area CROP walk, visited shut-ins with Meals on Wheels and was a leader of Rebecca's Brownie troop. She volunteered at Adams Elementary School with the PTA and in the classroom.
Her deep faith in God kept her in bright spirits through the end of her life.
Beth was preceded in death by her mother.
In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her father, Virgil Evans of Cary; a sister, Laurie Evans and her husband, Brian Digre, of Chapel Hill; two brothers, Steve Evans and his wife, Mary, of Acton, Mass., and James Evans and his wife, Merry, of Syracuse, N.Y.; three nieces and seven nephews; and many aunts and uncles, including her special Aunt Shirline Evans of Willow Grove, Pa. She also leaves her parents-in-law, Stanley and Leona Shafer of Fair Lawn, N.J.; and brother-in-law, Steven Shafer of Fair Lawn, N.J.
The family received visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 1, at First Reformed Church of Cary, with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.
The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be made to CWS/CROP, First Reformed Church of Cary or for the children.
