Hazel Hines Knowles

Louise Hines Knowles of Strasburg, Virginia, born April 14, 1923 passed away on May 21, 2012 in Huntersville, NC. Louise spent her childhood in North Florida and was one of twelve children. Her father passed away when she was just six years old and her mother was pregnant with the twelfth child. Some pretty tough years followed. During Work War II she and many of her siblings were scattered due to the war effort and she traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to work at the Collin's Radio Factory in support of the cause. Her exposure there to various tools and working with electricity would prove to come in handy throughout her life. She is survived by her children; one daughter and four sons and their spouses; Pixie Knowles of Cornelius, NC, Kearn and Nancy Knowles of Fredericksburg, VA, Geoffrey and Kathy Knowles of Wardensville, WV, Matthew and Josie Knowles of Mariette, GA, Terry Knowles of Virginia Beach, VA; 11 grandchildren, Casey Robert Crabill, USAF Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Deanna Sherrill of Charlotte, NC, Kearn Knowles, Jr. of Bumpass, VA, Ryan Knowles of Fredericksburg, VA, Brett Knowles of Albany, NY, Robby Knowles, USAF Germany, Kevin Knowles of Crofton, MD, Laura Hough of Stafford, VA, Joshua Knowles of Concord, NC, Cara Knowles Bryan of Augusta GA, Mitchell Knowles of Marietta GA and 13 great grandchildren. Louise was a devoted and supportive Wife of 62 years, a Loving Mother, Proud Grand and Great Grandmother and Friend. She was the teller of hilariously funny stories from her childhood and married and parenting years. She made baked apples a wonderful desert and poking a hole in a biscuit and filling it with syrup became a mouth watering treat. Her cakes, pies, cream puffs, and woven breads and oh my gosh-Mom's homemade fudge can still be smelled and tasted in our memories as though they were being prepared at this moment. Mom made Birthdays bright and Christmas magical far into our adult years. She was an encourager to all her children and grandchildren. Louise was an artist who created many lovely pieces in clay, busts reflecting a very close likeness to each grandchild; JFK, Abraham Lincoln and dozens of Santa Clause figurines. She created beautiful oil paintings of country scenes which we all display proudly in our homes. Mom was a Jack of All Trades and a master of a few. She refinished old oak furniture bringing out the beauty and luster in the aged wood that had been covered in layers of paint for decades. She did electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, plastering, wall papering and painting and took a stab at roofing but quickly found she had an issue with heights. Her grandchildren knew her as Gramma and her great grandchildren knew her as "Beezie" and Lord how she loved the babies. In the last couple days before Mom passed she was surrounded by 37 family members. Saturday evening she looked into the faces and pointed to each of them, called them by name and told each of us, "I Love You". There are no shadow boxes of awards and medals to bring attention to her life of sacrifice. There will be no Honor Guard or Bugler's call to glorify the countless hours of dedication to her children's upbringing and countless hours more spent on her knees in fervent prayer on our behalf. She was the spiritual backbone of our family who prayed on her knees daily until her knees would no longer support her and then continued in prayer for all of us who remain, family and friends alike, to her last breath. All our breaking hearts give testimony to her Love of family and the Love she instilled in all of us. We look forward to the day we are reunited. She will be deeply missed. Graveside services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Friday June 15, 2012 at the National Veterans Cemetery in Culpepper, VA. The family will receive guest from 5:00 to 7:00 at their home on 564 Orchard Street, Strasburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in her honor to Levine & Dickson Hospice House, 11900 Vanstory Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078 or your local hospice. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service Huntersville, NC is assisting the family, Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com