MCARN BEST
May 27, 1915 - Feb. 7, 2015
McArn Best, 99, died Saturday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
Ms. Best was born May 27, 1915, in Goldsboro to the late William Hinton Best and Eleanor Munroe Best.
She graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1932 and attended Salem College where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1936.
McArn was active in sports where she played basketball, field hockey, volleyball and tennis each year at Salem.
During her senior year, McArn served as the president of the Athletic Council and was a member of the President's Forum.
Following her graduation, McArn taught school then moved to New York City where she attended business school.
Upon moving back to Goldsboro, she worked in the family business, W.H. Best & Sons as the accountant until she retired in 1955.
Retirement allowed McArn time to care for her parents, as well as spend time with her close friends on the golf course, at the bridge table and at the beach.
These life-long friends enjoyed one another, as they became part of each other's family.
McArn also spent hours as the Wayne Memorial Hospital Volunteer Coordinator and ran the gift shop.
At 80 years old, she attended Wayne Community College taking computer classes.
For years, McArn was known for her priceless emails reflecting on life, family values, funny pictures and verses, playing international bridge and managing her finances, all online.
Having never been married, McArn focused her attention on the children of her siblings and close friends.
McArn always said that her greatest joy in life was nursing the children.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Willowdale Cemetery with the Rev. Leigh B. Gillis officiating.
The family will greet friends following the service at the graveside.
In addition to her parents, McArn was predeceased by her sisters, Catherine Simmons Best and Mary Thompson Best Bell and her brothers, William Hinton "Billy" Best Jr., Clement Munroe "Mun" Best, Marcellus James "Mark" Best II and Paul Wesley Best.
She was also predeceased by her nieces, Mary Scott Best and Eleanor Munroe Best; and her nephews, Talbot Sanborn "Sandy" Best and Eugene Beery "Gee" Best.
McArn is survived by her sister-in-law, Sarah Sanborn Best "Sally" Riddle of Morganton.
She is also survived by her 11 nieces and nephews, Jane Beery Best Grandbouche and husband, Brad, of Sarasota, Fla., Catherine Street Best of Bristol, Va., Hinton McArn Bell of Wilmington, Bond Munroe Bell and wife, Tracy, of Nags Head, William McGregor Bell of Greenville, Benjamin Palmer Best of Coconut Creek, Fla., William Hinton Best III of Gig Harbor, Wash., James Marcellus Best and wife, Mary Cameron, of Morganton, Clement Munroe "Jack" Best Jr. and wife, Ellen, of Goldsboro, Marcellus James "Jay" Best Jr. and wife, Kathy, of Goldsboro and Frank Sanborn Best and wife, Missy, of Goldsboro; and 22 great-nieces and nephews also survive McArn.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1101 E. Ash St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530 or to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Arrangements are with Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 10, 2015 1:49 PM