A Former Publication Of Alderson High School
“Alderson’s Longest Running News Media”
Gretchen Manning Feamster (Louise) Obituary
November 13, 1929 - March 10, 2025
Gretchen
Louise
Manning
Feamster,
95,
passed
away
surrounded
by
her
daughters
at
home
on
Monday,
March
10,
2025.
Born
November
13,
1929,
in
Deland,
Florida,
she
was
the
daughter
of
the
late
Joeseph
Cato
Manning
and Thelma Louise Bauknight.
Louise
spent
her
life
devoted
to
her
girls
and
running
her
restaurant,
the
Alderson
Dairy
Bar,
for
four
years,
then
building
on
changing
the
name
to
what
it
is
known
as
today,
The
Alderson
Big
Wheel.
She
was
a
very
entrepreneurial
woman
with
many
rental
properties,
cattle,
and
other
very
successful adventures.
She
married
Joe
Feamster
in
1977
and
spent
her
life
on
the
farm
helping
grow
and
develop
the
farm
to
what
it
is
today.
One
of
her
legacies
was
teaching
her
grandchildren
and
great
grandchildren
how
to
swim
in
her
in-
ground
pool.
Her
dream
of
living
her
life
was
complete
on
Monday
when
she
passed in her own home.
Louise
was
the
last
surviving
member
of
her
family.
In
addition
to
her
family,
she
was
preceded
in
death
by
her
husband
Joe
Feamster.
Those
left
with
the
memories
of
her
love
and
selfless
devotion
are
her
daughters;
Deborah
Donohue
(James,
Sr.)
of
Merrimack,
NH,
Pamela
Wigglesworth
(David)
of
Alderson,
Bonnie
Reed
of
Fort
Meyers,
Fl,
Jamie
Cole
(Tony)
of
Asbury,
and
Sherry
Canterbury
of
Alderson;
a
son
she
never
had,
Eddie
Whitt
(Beverly)
of
Alderson;
grandchildren
James
Donohue,
Jr.
(Jody)
of
Kittery
Point,
ME,
Diane
Donohue,
of
Merrimack,
NH,
Justin
Wigglesworth
of
Mims,
Fl,
Jennifer
Propst
(Dan)
of
Billington,
WV,
Sibby
Duff
(Andy)
of
Lexington,
KY,
Grant
Serreno,
II
(Kathy)
of
Linthicum,
MD,
Ronnie
Cole
(Susie)
of
Kings,
NC,
Tony
Cole
(Kelly)
of
Asbury,
Martina
Nutter
(Brandon)
of
Asbury,
Vanessa
Moore
(Richard)
of
Pence
Springs,
Juilana
Hedrick
(Anthony)
of
Alderson;
19
great-grandchildren,
and
4
great-
great grandchildren.
The
family
would
like
to
express
their
sincerest
gratitude
to
her
caregivers
Jennifer,
Gabby,
Shirley,
Ruby,
and her granddaughter Juliana.
Funeral
Services
will
be
Friday,
March
14th,
2025,
3:00pm,
at
the
River
of
Life
Church
of
God
with
Dr.
Gerald
Erskine
and
Ron
Cole
officiating.
The
family
will
receive
friends
from
1:00pm-3:00pm
prior
to
the
service. Burial will follow at the Muddy Creek Cemetery, Blue Sulphur Springs.
Alderson
Funeral
Services
and
Smathers
Funeral
Chapel
is
honored
to
have
been
entrusted
to
care
for
Louise
and
her
family
during
their
great
time
of
need.
Online
condolences
are
encouraged
at
www.smathersfuneralchapelinc.com.