Patricia Shell

Patricia Ann Eckard Shell, 70, of 6th Street Circle NE, Conover died Sunday, November 16, 2008. Born April 12, 1938, in Hickory, NC to the late Ellen Huffman Eckard Leatherman and Earl Eckard, she was raised by her mother Ellen and step-father Eugene F. Leatherman. She was the granddaughter of the late Edna Sherrill Huffman and D.C. Huffman. Pat was a graduate of Hickory High School, Class of 1956. She married the late Bobby â??Carrollâ? Shell of Hickory on August 28th 1956. They were married for 27 years and lived in Catawba where they were members of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Pat also attended Community Chapel in Conover. Pat retired in December, 2006 from the Catawba County United Way where she was the Director of Volunteer Center/Information and Referral. She was instrumental in establishing the â??Stuff the Busâ? School Supplies Drive which is held annually in Catawba County. She was committed to her work which involved recruiting area volunteers to help in the various partnerships within United Way. She was heavily involved in the annual â??Christmas Bureau Toy Distributionâ? as well as the â??Dayâ??s of Caringâ?. She also coordinated the annual â??Giving from the Heartâ? volunteerâ??s awards luncheon. Pat worked as Regional Director for the American Cancer Society for 15 years prior to the United Way. She also worked for the Catawba County School System for many years. Pat was a recipient of the â??Order of the Long Leaf Pine,â? the highest civilian honor that can be granted in the state of North Carolina. It is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state through their contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers and many years of service to their organizations. Pat was a 14 year Pancreatic Cancer Survivor. Pat is survived by a daughter, Cynthia (Cindy) Shell Pray and husband Micheal of Camp Lejeune, NC and a son, Johnny Carroll Shell and wife Sonya of Stafford, VA. Her grandchildren include Jordan and Riley Huggins, Madison Pray, Jacob and Taylor Shell. Also surviving is her aunt, Martha Huffman Moore of Granite Falls and two cousins, Wayne Moore of Stanley and Willard Huffman of Newton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two uncles, Olin Moore of Granite Falls and William â??Billâ? Huffman and an aunt, Mildred Huffman. A Celebration of Patâ??s life and worship service will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday November 20, 2008 at the chapel of Jenkins Funeral Home. The Rev. Tony E. Bunton will officiate. The family will receive friends following the ceremony at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Catawba County United Way, PO Box 2425 Hickory, NC 28603 or to Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, PO Box 31, Newton, NC 28658. Condolence messages may be sent to www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Shell family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton.