Category: 1970s

George Alexander Kaneklides, age 71, of Cane Mill Road slipped into the arms of Jesus Christ on Monday, January 23, 2023 at his home. Mr. Kaneklides was born on November 21, 1951 in Rowan County to the late Constantino George and Linda Arab Kaneklides.

Mr. Kaneklides grew up in Salisbury, NC where he graduated class of 1969 from Boyden High School in Salisbury. Mr. Kaneklides graduated with his undergrad degree from Davidson College where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He went on to attain his law degree from Wake Forest University where he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity where he served as Chief Justice.

Mr. Kaneklides was an attorney most of his life and served under two North Carolina governors, Governor James Holshouser and Governor James Martin. It was during his service under Governor Holshouser that he was awarded the honor of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. He authored the book “The Making of a Governor” about his time with Governor Holshouser. He was also the recipient of The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels Award.

Mr. Kaneklides was a member and past president of the Coats Lions Club. He was a long-time member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Raleigh, NC. He was a loving husband, father, and friend. Surviving include his wife of 42 years, Ann Langdon Kaneklides; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Kaneklides; son, Alexander Langdon Kaneklides; and mother-in-law, Helen Barnes Langdon.

Arrangements: Funeral Services will be held-2:00 PM Friday, January 27, 2023 at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Coats, NC. Officiating will be Rev. C.H. Lee. Burial will follow in Coats City Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Coats, NC and other times at the home. Flowers are welcomed; however, donations may be made in his memory to Davidson College at PO Box 7159 Davidson, NC 28035 or to Hampden-Sydney College at PO Box 127 Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943. The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers. 

George Crowell was born in Lexington, NC, on Jan. 5, 1951, to Giles and Jean Crowell.

He graduated from Lexington Senior High School before attending Davidson College and Wake Forest School of Business.

As a life-long learner, George enjoyed astronomy, was a masterful home chef, and learned watchmaking and beekeeping later in life. He was a passionate wine-connoisseur and even owned a restaurant and wine shop.

Professionally, he worked as a CPA for Dimon, Inc., in Danville Va., where he frequently traveled the world and developed life-long global friendships.

George had an incredible sense of humor and was loved by everyone who ever met him, retaining friendships for life.

Most importantly, George was a loving father, grandfather, husband, brother and friend to so many.

He is survived by his wife, Gretchen, his children, Cory (Shannon) Crowell, of Apex, NC, Channing (Marta) Crowell, of New York City, and Madalyn (Christopher) Brown, of Greensboro; and grandchildren, Delos, Payton, Collin and Jude Crowell, and Pierce Annabelle Brown.

He is also survived by brother Frank (Pat) Crowell, of Lewisville; and sister Kathy (Greg) Oliver, of Lexington. He is loved by many nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins.

He will be deeply missed by many.

Appreciation to his many caregivers and Hospice.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, Jan. 15, at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, with Reverend Jeff Johnsen officiating.

Donations may be made to the St. Jude (stjude.org) or Lung Cancer Initiative (https://lungcancerinitiative.org/).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the Crowell family.

John McDermott Monaghan, Jr., 70, passed away November 12, 2022, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. John was born May 14, 1952, in Fayetteville, N.C. to his loving parents Sara Weatherly Monaghan and John McDermott Monaghan, Sr. John dearly loved his hometown, where his father’s family lived for 150 years.

John was a proud graduate of Terry Sanford High School, Davidson College (Go Wildcats!), and earned a MPA from NCSU.

Beyond John’s academic and corporate successes, he was a loving husband to Cathy Constant Monaghan for 43 years. John was Dad to Katherine Monaghan Nisbet (husband Thomas), and Ann Clark Monaghan, and he was an outstanding “Daddy J” to Thomas Gluyas Nisbet IV (Ford) and John McDermott Nisbet (Mac), all of Raleigh.

John was a hands-on guy – a Mr. Fix It, and he was always there with his tools ready to work. He was a happy, dedicated family man, eager to lend a hand. His quiet, compassionate, witty persona helped John make and keep friends for a lifetime.

John’s professional career was long and varied with unique duties ranging from city government to downtown revitalization, and then the natural gas industry. He worked for the City of Fayetteville as Assistant City Manager, Downtown Revitalization Director, and as President of Fayetteville Progress. A career change took John to North Carolina Natural Gas, Carolina Power and Light, Progress Energy, and finally Piedmont Natural Gas, where he worked in governmental affairs until retirement.

He was passionate about figuring out how to make things in the world work better. This was true throughout his life − from restructuring how to best manage garbage pickup, to routing natural gas through a maze of pipelines from the Gulf of Mexico during a rare deep-south blizzard so that his beloved Tar Heel State’s residents could heat their homes and industries didn’t have to shut down.

John was a genuinely smart guy who loved a challenge. He was equally comfortable fishing with friends off the N.C. coast or on a drilling rig in the Gulf as he was giving a presentation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington D.C. Upon John’s early retirement from Piedmont Natural Gas, he was awarded membership in the Order of the Longleaf Pine, a high honor for North Carolinians.

Although he received numerous awards in his career, John was most proud to be called Dad and Daddy J. Daddy J enjoyed digging in the dirt and playing with trucks with his grand boys, paying homage to his own childhood passion. He was thrilled to spend time at the coast, in pursuit of his favorite seafood, or in the N.C. mountains with friends or family. From classical to New Orleans jazz to classic rock, John loved all music and never argued about the cost of concert tickets. He enjoyed travel, but anywhere in the Tar Heel State was always a top destination. John claimed to have played “the worst rounds of golf on the best courses” in the country. His dry wit and sense of humor got John through many sticky situations and endeared him to friends and coworkers alike.

Church was also an important element of John’s life. He was a spiritual man who loved sharing his faith. From leading youth group camping trips to his time serving the church vestry at St. Johns in Fayetteville, John was an ever-present source of strength and wisdom. When his career took him to Raleigh, the Monaghan’s found their home at Christ Church, where he again lent a hand whenever needed.

Our family wishes to thank the staff at The Cardinal at North Hills, for the love, patience, and daily care shown to John for the past 14 months of his residence there. They are truly angels without wings.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Christ Church, 120 East Edenton St., Raleigh, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 2 p.m., with a reception following in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to one of John’s favorite organizations in his memory: Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601 (https://ccral.org/give/memorial-honorarium/); Cumberland County Foundation, 308 Green St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 (https://www.cumberlandcf.org/give/give-now.html); St. John’s Episcopal Church, 302 Green St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 (https://www.stjohnsnc.org); or St. Saviour’s Center, 616 Tucker St., Raleigh, NC 27603 (https://www.saintsaviourcenter.org/donate/).