Estelle McGaughy Brown

Estelle McGaughy Brown

May 22, 2022, 96, Goldsboro –

Estelle McGaughy Brown left this earth to be with her Heavenly Father on May 22, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard “Dick” Miller Martin and Allie Hawkins Moore Martin; all her siblings; her husband G. R. “Bob” McGaughy; her second husband, William (Bill) Brown; and her oldest son, Richard Vernon McGaughy.

Survivors of her family include her sons, Dennis McGaughy and Ellis McGaughy (Karen); grandchildren, Donna McGaughy Amon, Robert McGaughy (Audra), Richard McGaughy, Alex McGaughy (Morgan), Mitchell McGaughy, and Amy McGaughy; great grandchildren, James (Jamo) Tisdale, Elizabeth Amon, John Michael Amon, and Chloe McGaughy. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews whom she loved.

Mary Estelle Martin was born July 27, 1925, at her parents’ home near Princeton, NC. She was the last surviving sibling of eight children that grew up farming and knowing the meaning of hard work. “Times were hard,” she’d say. She spoke of picking cotton and how little they had growing up. Her mother made some of their clothes from empty flour and sugar sacks, and shoes were sometimes a luxury when attending the small, local school (interesting fact, Estelle attended school with Ava Gardner). Estelle seemed particularly close to her mother, admiring her hard work ethic, kindness, and beautiful red hair. It’s likely that her mother instilled her Christian values as well as her ability to cook the best homemade biscuits you’ve ever tasted.

Estelle, or “Tump” as her brothers and sisters called her, seemed to be one of the more mischievous of the children as she often told funny stories of pranks she played on her sisters. Her nick name, “Tump”, came from when her mom had her standing on a stump and her family called her Tumpy Toddy due to her small stature.

Estelle met George Robert “Bob” McGaughy when she was working at a pharmacy in Goldsboro, and he was a young Army Air Corps soldier stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Field. They married… and interestingly introduced her sister Alma to his brother Paul, and they later married as well. Estelle and Bob had 3 boys and spent their lives raising their family; enjoying life’s joys, sorrows, and challenges together. Years later, after Bob’s unexpected death, Estelle married Rev. William “Bill” Brown.

In her younger years, Estelle enjoyed sewing and always had a feeling of accomplishment when she wore some of her favorite sun dresses. She loved working in the yard and was planting flowers and cutting grass well into her 90’s. Sweat would pour from her (which must be a genetically inherent trait ) but she would rarely overheat. On days like this, she would say, “nothin’ tastes better than plain ol’ water.” Estelle loved everyone she met and usually even on introduction, she would go in for a hug or a hand squeeze. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren. Many slices of applesauce toast and homemade dinners were savored by them along with hand holding stories and jokes (most told many times over).

Often times she could be heard at night praying. Praying for her children, loved ones, and for herself to deal with various trials and tribulations. Praise God her labor on earth is over as her heavenly eternity now begins in her new body. 2 Corinthians 5.

A service of love and remembrance will be held at 1 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home on May 31, 2022. The family will receive friends in the hour before the service. Committal will follow at Snow Hill Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Obituary lovingly submitted by Estelle’s family. Arrangements entrusted to Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange.

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