Lou Ellen (Tink) Veazey

Durham, NCMrs. Lou Ellen “Tink” Veazey, 92, passed away in peace at her home in Durham, NC on Monday, February 18, 2013.Born to Thollie and Minnie Green in Hester, NC on February 29th, 1920, Lou Ellen spent her childhood and adolescent years on her family’s farm in Granville County. After graduating from Creedmoor High School in 1935, Lou Ellen attended Stone Business School in Raleigh, NC. While living in Creedmoor, Lou Ellen met K.O. Veazey, whom she married on April 9th, 1942. Upon K.O.’s return from the war, he and Lou Ellen settled back into life in Creedmoor, and had three children, Otley, Douglas, and Linda. In 1956, the family moved and built their home in Durham, NC.After raising her children in Durham, Lou Ellen eventually joined K.O. in running his tobacco business in Douglas, GA. Lou Ellen became the bookkeeper for Wilkins-Veazey Tobacco Warehouse, travelling to and spending half of each year in Douglas, until she and K.O. retired to their home in Durham in 1996. Prior to her passing, Lou Ellen and K.O. celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2012.In retirement, Lou Ellen enjoyed spending time with her six grandchildren, her one great-grandchild, and her extended family. Known affectionately as “Tink” by her friends and family, Lou Ellen will always be remembered by those who loved her as a kind, gentle, and caring woman whose home was always an open, warm gathering place. Lou Ellen will also be remembered for using her kindness and grace to touch the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her. Whether she was playing games with her grandchildren, or seeing an old friend from her high school class, or reconnecting with one of the many friends she made in Douglas, GA, Lou Ellen approached everything in her life with a sense of warmth, compassion, and generosity. At her passing, Lou Ellen’s house was again a gathering place, as she was surrounded by her husband, K.O. Veazey, and her three children, Otley Veazey and his wife Wanda, Douglas Veazey and his wife Gwen, and Linda Duda (Veazey) and her husband Turan Duda. Lou Ellen is also survived by her six grandchildren, William Veazey, Elizabeth Veazey and her husband Ryan Wishart, Scott Veazey and his wife Ashley, Amanda Veazey, Ellen Duda, and Aisander Duda and his wife Julie, and their child Elias Duda.The family expresses gratitude to her loving and dedicated extended family and caregivers; Carolyn Williamson, Betsy Hayes, Louise Green, Iris Bradberry and Duke Home Care and Hospice staff especially Pat Ostergaard. There will be a visitation honoring Lou Ellen Veazey at Hudson Funeral Home (211 S. Miami Blvd) in Durham on Thursday February 21st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a graveside service at Maplewood cemetery (1621 University Rd) in Durham Friday February 22nd at 2 p.m.