Nancy Elouise Pederson

Nancy Elouise Pederson, age 90, passed away peacefully at home in Oak Ridge, NC, on January 13, 2024, after a short stay at Moses Cone Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Guilford County, NC, born on August 2, 1933. She lived in her Lindley Park home on Beechwood Street for 50 years before moving in with her daughter’s family in 2010.

She graduated from Sumner High School in 1951 and recently attended a luncheon with her classmates.

Nancy retired from Wesley Long Hospital in 1997 as a Certified Nursing Assistant, with previous positions as telemetry operator and purchasing agent. Prior to that, she had worked for many years as a switchboard operator and supervisor for Telephone Answering Service in downtown Greensboro, and for a brief time as a school cafeteria worker in Jamestown. Before that, she was a stay-at-home Mom with her five children, and in her early 20’s was a switchboard operator for the O’Henry Hotel in downtown Greensboro where she met her husband, Pete Pederson, a traveling salesman and WWII Navy veteran.

Her love of travel took her to many places across the United States including Hawaii, Alaska, Washington State, Washington, DC, Mackinac Island, New York, Las Vegas, to name a few and most recently to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. One of her most memorable trips was overseas to the Holy Land. In addition to travel, she loved reading, crossword puzzles, theater, nature, walking in her neighborhood, cooking, and gardening. She had a warm smile, a good sense of humor, an infectious laugh, a compassionate heart, and was kind and welcoming to everyone she met. Employees at the Guilford College Harris Teeter always looked forward to her weekly visits.

Nancy was a faithful member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and served on the nurturing committee. Her love of Jesus was obvious in the way she lived, and how she treated others. For many years, she had a card ministry for the birthdays, anniversaries, get well wishes, sympathy, etc. of family and friends, letting them know she cared about and loved them.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, LaVerne Merle “Pete” Pederson; her son, Martin Severin Pederson; and daughter, Brenda Pederson Loye.

She is survived by her three daughters, Sherry Pederson of Tulsa, OK, Sandra McGuire (Steve) of Oak Ridge, and Carol Pegram (John) of Julian; daughter-in-law Lynn Pederson of Whitsett; and seven grandchildren, Becky Tapp (Carl) of Greensboro, Mandy Wooten of North Myrtle Beach, SC, Chris Loye (Michele) of Jacksonville, FL, Katie Loye (Michael) of Colfax, Sam Pegram (Kelsey) of Clemmons, Jacob Pegram of Julian, and Christine McGuire of Charlotte.

Also left to cherish her memories are great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren: Brittany Sutton (TJ), Olivia Tapp, Austin Wooten (Tori), Sierra McGee, Chloe Wooten, Noah Wooten, Harper Loye, Lanny, Sawyer, and Gavin Pitts, Mackenzie and Serenity Forbes, Sophia, River, and Waylon Wooten, Maddie, Addie, and Bella McGee, Stokeli Lane and Bryson Crusoe, and Homer Pegram.

A Celebration of Life service is planned for Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2905 N. O’Henry Boulevard, Greensboro, NC. Our Mom loved hats, so we would be happy for people to wear a hat (stylish or wacky) in her honor, should you wish to do so. Memorial contributions may be made to AuthoraCare of the Piedmont (“Hospice”) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.