North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years

Robert G. “Bob” Vaillancourt, 74, of Calabash, N.C. died on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 25, 1945, in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of the late George J. and Yvonne Labrie Vaillancourt. Bob served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Fire Station 5 in West Hartford, Conn.  He was a member of American Legion Post 503 of Calabash, N.C., and VFW Post 7288 of Calabash, N.C. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Judy Austin Vaillancourt; son, Jack Vaillancourt (Kathy Kondracki); daughters, Rita …

Karen Weisser Layton, 72, of North Myrtle Beach died on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. She was born on March 18, 1947, in Grand Forks, N.D., the daughter of the late William Charles Weisser and Norma Evelyn McDonald. Karen graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Shortly afterward she and Joe moved to Atlanta, Ga., and raised two sons. She lived there until retirement in 2006, when they relocated to North Myrtle Beach. She worked as a merchandiser with American Greetings and loved working with her flowers and traveling around the world. She is survived by her husband …

George Liston Nealy, 83, of Loris passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at his home. Mr. Nealy was born on Sept. 6, 1935, in Loris, to the late Jessie Thurman Nealy and the late Odell Odessa Caines Nealy. He served his country with courage and dignity for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. After the Navy, Mr. Nealy worked as a carpenter until his retirement. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Audrey Watson Nealy, of Loris; his two sons, Dale Nealy and his wife, Samantha, of Winter Haven, Fla., and Trey Brown and …

Florene Anderson Stevens, 95, of Loris passed away on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Loris following an illness. She was born on Jan. 12, 1924, in Rocky Mount, N.C., to the late Oscar “Bud” G. Anderson and the late Bessie Suggs Anderson. Mrs. Stevens worked at Loris Hospital and then Loris Drug store as a bookkeeper until her retirement. She was a longtime member of Cane Branch Baptist Church. Survivors include her two sons, Larry G. Stevens and wife Holley, and Ernest L. Stevens; daughter-in-law, Wanda Stevens, all of Loris; one sister, Marvelene “Bootsie” Roberts and her husband, Sherrell of …

Donald Larry McCormick, 77, of Red Bluff Road in Loris passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Mr. McCormick was born on July 13, 1941, in Loris, the son of the late Kelly Hampton and Agnes Parker McCormick. He was a 1959 graduate of Loris High School. Prior to retirement, he worked at the shipyard in Norfolk, Va. and owned and operated a restaurant in Columbia. Mr. McCormick was also a store owner in the Mt. Vernon section of Horry County. He was an electrician in the Loris community and was in used car sales. Mr. McCormick was predeceased by …

Clay G. “Don” Bellinger III, 76, of Little River died on Monday, May 27, 2019, at McLeod Seacoast Medical Center in Little River. Born on Oct. 1, 1942, in Ridgewood, N.J., he was the son of the late Clay G. Bellinger II and Marguerite Stewart Bellinger. Mr. Bellinger is survived by his wife of 29 ½  years, Rita Sue Campbell Bellinger; one son, Clay G. Bellinger IV; two daughters, Kim Isley and Stephanie Peters; one brother, Bob Bellinger; six grandchildren; and his faithful canine companions, Lil’ Johnny and Bella. Services were private with the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials …

Ben Montgomery, 80, of Little Rvier, died peacefully at his home on Monday, May 27, 2019. He was born on Nov. 22, 1938, in High Point, N.C. to William Porter Montgomery and Edith Oliver Montgomery. He served in the Army from 1963 to 1965 and was stationed in Thule, Greenland, for part of his service. He worked in the Static Elimination Equipment department at 3M as well as the Automotive Trade Division until his retirement in 1999. Upon retirement he moved to Little River to enjoy fishing, tinkering and spending time with friends and family at the beach full time. …

At McLeod Health, they want to keep you informed of the latest medical information. Join them for dinner and a discussion about Women’s Health on Thursday, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at McLeod Seacoast Hospital in Little River. This free, informational event will feature an expert panel of physicians discussing topics such as pelvic health, menopause, GERD, diabetes, stroke, heart health and more. The panel of physicians includes Dr. Chris McCauley of McLeod OBGYN Seacoast, Dr. Lacie Edmison of McLeod Digestive Health Center Seacoast, Dr. Viki Papathanasiou of McLeod Family Medicine Carolina Forest, Dr. Josh Sibille of McLeod …

By Mary Templeton The Yaupon Garden Club recently culminated their year during a luncheon at the C.B. Berry Center in Little River and a celebration with the Ecotots at Ocean Drive Elementary School in North Myrtle Beach. Several YGC members were honored for their contributions during 2018-19:  Jeanette Lyon was awarded the Ruby Reeves Bell Award for Outstanding Work, Phyllis Green received the Dallas Wallace Berry Horticulture Award, and Mary Templeton was awarded the Ann Keith Edens Community Service Award.  Graceann Phillips and Kathleen Kepenis were honored with Life Memberships in the Garden Clubs of South Carolina. The 2019-20 officers …

By Meg J. Williams Jaime Cech is Waterway Elementary’s Teacher Spotlight this week. She teaches 5th grade and is from Cortland, Ohio, and she loves the Ohio State Buckeyes! Jaime followed her family down south in 2002. Her mother lives nearby in North Carolina but she still manages to get back up north to visit. Her older sister lives in Hershey, Pa., with her husband and four children. Before leaving Ohio, she taught two years there after graduating from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education. Jaime has lived in the area for 17 years and has taught …