Ethel Van Horn

Obituary Ethel Day Van Horn, of Morehead City, died peacefully on June 11 at Carolina East Medical Center. She was 94. Her life was both ordinary and remarkable. Ethel Day was born on Cedar Island in 1922, the only child of Duffy and Dora Day. Despite pervasive hardships brought on by the Great Depression, Ethel recalled a childhood made rich by a loving family, the budding of life-long friendships, and the good fortune of growing up on an island with abundant seafood, gardens and waterways as her childhood playground. When Ethels father died in 1939, her mother built a grocery store to support the family. Dora Days store became a gathering place on the island, and a source of support and sustenance for island families in lean times. Ethel frequently said that the self-sufficient and kind-hearted people of Cedar Island were the models for her core values. Ethel moved to Morehead City after finishing business school. She met Harry Van Horn, a talented local baseball player, shortly after World War II. Harry observed that Ethel made daily trips to the post office. He frequently found a way to be on the front steps when she arrived. There was no formal proposal. Both assumed from the outset that they would marry and have a family. They married in 1947 and had two children. Harry suffered a stroke and died in 1985. Ethel is survived by two sons, Bill Van Horn, of Morehead City, and Edward Van Horn, of Atlanta; her friends and caregivers Mark Young and Sue Dingess, of Morehead City; and a community of devoted friends and extended family. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and a long-time advocate and volunteer at Marthas Mission. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Morehead City. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 pm Wednesday at Brooks Funeral Home in Morehead City, and in the Fellowship Hall at the Methodist Church following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Marthas Mission, First United Methodist Church in Morehead City, or an act of kindness for someone in need. Visitation Wednesday June 14, 2017 , 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Brooks Funeral Home Memorial Service Thursday June 15, 2017 , 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church 1-888-579-7953 Code: 2002089P Facts Born: October 27, 1922 Death: June 11, 2017 Memorial Donations Memorial donations can be made to: Martha's Mission, P.O. Box 603, Morehead City, NC 28557 First United Methodist Church, 900 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 Any act of kindness for someone in need. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Ethel Van Horn