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

Richard James Hibbard, 33, of Little River passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. Rich was born on July 2, 1985, in Elizabeth, Pa., to James Hibbard and Bernice Hibbard. Rich served his country with courage, honor and dignity in the U.S. Navy, after which he worked as the owner and operator of Richard Hibbard Electric. He truly loved the beach, surfing, any outdoor activities and all of the wonderful people he met while living in this area. In addition to his parents of Pittsburgh, Pa., he is survived by his wife, Ashley Hibbard of Little River; her parents, James …

Patricia Sarah Housman Gray, 89, of Loris passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, at McLeod Loris Hospital in Loris following an illness. She was born on Dec. 9, 1928, in Westwood, N.J., to the late Mortimer J. Housman and the late Hazel Collignon Housman. Ok was a loving homemaker and of the Lutheran faith. Living in Whiting N.J., both she and her husband Chet were instrumental, with other dedicated folks, in bringing the Whiting First Aid Squad to their adopted home. After Chet’s death, she moved to Florida where she lived a very happy life with relatives and friends, …

Edward R. Murray of Little River passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Nancy. Ed was born on June 30, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, a son of the late John J. and Lilly Murray. He attended St. Rita High School in Chicago and graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Hotel/Restaurant Management. He was a veteran of the U.S Army. Ed met and married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1960 and together they began their journey which included career opportunities in St. Paul, Minn., …

Lloyd “Gene” Gore, 83, of Tabor City, N.C., passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. Mr. Gore was born on Nov. 23, 1935, a son of the late William Frank and Isabelle Soles Gore. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Mr. Gore loved NASCAR, working on old cars, listening to beach music and his dogs, Katie and Henry. He was predeceased by one sister, Ruth G. Banker, and one brother, Carl Gore. He is survived by his wife, Patricia R. Gore of Tabor City; one daughter, Dyna Jean Johnston of Tabor City; one son, Ricky Dale Gore (Myra) …

Tammie René West Cox, 58, of Longs passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach following an illness. She was born on Sept. 3, 1960, in Charleston to John Turner West Sr. and Versie Carter West. Mrs. Cox was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and attended Mt. Leon Baptist Church. She previously worked with ESCOD Industries, but will be most remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, daughter and friend to all who were blessed to have known her. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Cox is survived by …

Edward Michael Burke, 59, of Longs passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach following an illness. He was born on March 9, 1959, in Mineola, N.Y., to the late John Harold Burke and the late Janet Hubbard Bossler Burke. Survivors include his son, Chad Burke of Lexington, N.C.; his sister, Joann LaVeglia and husband Michael of Longs; and many nieces and great-nieces. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 1506 Gumm Plaza, Hwy. 501, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29577. Sign Mr. Burke’s online guest book at hardwickfuneralhome.com. Hardwick Funeral Home …

Betty Hilburn Lockey, 83, of Little River died on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at McLeod Seacoast Medical Center in Little River. Born on June 10, 1935, in Bladenboro, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Jim C. and Lillie Bozeman Hilburn. Mrs. Lockey is survived by her husband of 55 years, Howard S. Lockey; one son, Howie Lockey (Erin); eight daughters, Paulette Arnette (Charles), Gail Thompson (Glenn), Faye Cox (Alan), Jeannie Folks (Steven), Carol Kelly (Don), Mindy Livingston (Mitchell) and Sheila Nolan (Cliff); 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one daughter, Cathy Barbour; and …

About 330 people walked through six homes decorated to the hilt for Christmas, from the classic to the contemporary, according to North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club committee chairperson Connie Holston. “Overall, I think it was a great success,” Holston said. “We didn’t have any major issues with traffic, which I know some subdivisions were worried about, but it was spread pretty evenly (among the six houses). And I think we had about a 15-18 mile range of houses to see.” The home that was the furthest south was a contemporary on 46th Avenue South in the Windy Hill section, decorated …

The city Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony was held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in McLean Park in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach. This drone shot of the park was taken by North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Stephen Murphy.

Move over Lollipop Guild. Local children are about to become members of the Candy Cane Hunt Club with an event this evening at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex off Robert Edge Boulevard. Area children with their parents are invited to a new event this year for the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department: a candy cane hunt on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 5:30-7 p.m. followed by the showing of the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas’’ on an outdoor, large screen. There’s a twist to this hunt for traditional, petite sized red and white candy canes. Children can …