Nina Eloise Young Spangler passed away September 24, 2017 after 97 years of a glorious, faith-filled life. Born September 13, 1920, Mrs. Spangler was the youngest child of H. Fields Young, Sr. and Nina Lowery Young of Shelby.

Besides her parents, our mother was predeceased by our beloved father, Royce Patrick "Pat" Spangler, Sr., as well as her oldest sister Kathleen Foy and brothers H. Fields Young, Jr., Carlos Young, and Lamar "Buddy" Young. She was also predeceased by Jesse Mae Whitaker, an important part of our family who served as mother's support team and sidekick in helping raise five lively children.

Mother was a freshman at Meredith College majoring in Voice when she had to return home during the Depression to work in her father's store, Young Brothers, where she often recalled memories of residents who came to "town" on Saturdays to put down a nickel on a suit of clothes.

Active in civic life, mother was a former board member of the North Carolina Symphony and the Cleveland County Historical Museum. She was also a former trustee of Garner-Webb University where she and her late husband were highly involved. Mother also served as a member of the board of trustees of Mars Hill College and was a former member of Duke Medical Center's Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Board.

Our mother was an avid athlete. She won first-place in a road race in her late 50's at Shelby City Park. She was an avid walker, a great golfer and tennis player. Another one of her passions was playing the organ, an instrument she often played at full volume to awaken her children to get them out of the bed for school. Her favorites were "Oklahoma," "How Great Thou Art," "Climb Every Mountain," "76 Trombones," and other songs.

Her biggest passion was bridge. She belonged to a number of bridge clubs. During one of the final times she was able to play due to declining health, she had a Grand Slam. Even during her later years, she could still beat her children and grandchildren in gin rummy or backgammon. The family joke was that if she could choose one last thing to do in her life it would be to play bridge so we hope a deck of cards awaits her in heaven. She loved talking politics and the stock market.

Our mother and father were instrumental in all of our lives - giving each of us a strong sense of independence and faith we treasured with each passing year. She was a voracious reader, especially the devotions of Billy Graham for whom she had the utmost respect. Mother was the oldest member of the First Baptist Church of Shelby, N.C.

Our mother's favorite saying was "Live, Love and Laugh," a legacy she leaves to those whose lives she touched. A loyal Democrat, she and our father campaigned tirelessly for the numerous NC Governors and presidential candidates

Mother leaves five children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren including: Lynn Spangler of Shelby, Jane Poe (Steve) of Winston-Salem, Jean Spangler of Shelby, Penny Lambert (Marty) of Davidson, and R. Patrick Spangler, Jr. (Kay) of Shelby, along with grandchildren Nina Poe of Winston-Salem, Katie Smith (Van) of Richmond, Va., Patrick Spangler Kelly (Virginia) of Boulder, Colorado, Brittany Beam (Jason) of Shelby, and R. Patrick Spangler, III, of Shelby; great grandchildren Farah Smith, George Smith, Emmalyn Beam and R. Patrick Spangler, IV. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the Spangler and Young families.

Our family would like to thank the staff at White Oak Manor's Rehab Unit and Hospice of Cleveland County for their loving attention while mother was in their care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Pat and Eloise Academic Endowment Fund or the Eloise and Evelyn Spangler Music Scholarship at Gardner-Webb University, Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 997, Boiling Springs, NC, 28017, or First Baptist Church of Shelby, 120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC. 28150.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 2:00pm at First Baptist Church of Shelby with the Rev. Tony Tench presiding. Burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00pm to 2:00pm in the church sanctuary. The family will also receive friends at the home of Jean Spangler, 908 Hawthorne Road, Shelby, NC following the burial.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Spangler.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com