Remembering our friend Kurt

Kurt Tyler Loveland, 71, of Morganton, NC, died peacefully on March 25, 2023. While in the hospital for evaluation, he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and passed away several days later. During his brief hospice stay at the facility, he was surrounded by caring friends and family members.

Kurt was born in the suburbs of Philadelphia on October 10, 1951 and was the son of J. West Loveland and Mary ‘Lee’ Loveland. He attended Penncrest High School in Media, PA and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Physics from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Physics and Atmospheric Science at Drexel and taught at the University as well as other institutions. While in semi-retirement, he tutored students in a number of scientific disciplines.

He spent most of his life in Delaware County, PA but lived his last ten years in Morganton where, many would say, he truly blossomed. Kurt enjoyed a number of hobbies, such as photography, dancing and horseback riding. He cultivated many friendships and engaged in an active civic life. He was a charter member of the Morganton Humanist Alliance and was active in the community service projects and social events. Perhaps his most memorable attribute was his true joie de vivre that led so many people to gravitate toward him.

As a trained scientist, Kurt liked to do research on all manner of things from product analysis to statistics on key social and ecological issues. He had a keen interest in the weather, cloud formation and what was going on in the skies above. Many in the community had the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise and sunset photographs that he would regularly post on Facebook.

Kurt was passionate about politics and loved organizing meetings to get more voters involved in local elections. He always brought the magic and the smiles; his enthusiasm was contagious. He was delightfully uninhibited, enjoying being a ham and the life of the party. Having been born with severe hearing deficits, his early years were confining, but once he moved to Morganton and received cochlear implants, a whole new world opened up, allowing him to enjoy music and an ever expanding social network.

Kurt particularly enjoyed live music and taking videos of local bands. He was fun, eccentric and had a unique sense of style. He enjoyed wearing outfits that reflected his mood and personality. This was especially true on the dance floor where he was often the first one out there, encouraging people to get up and get moving. Kurt not only enjoyed music at the many venues in Morganton, but frequented music festivals and enjoyed what he called “Happy Hippie Camping”.

Kurt often exclaimed that he was having the time of his life in Morganton. He loved his life and loved his many friends. He was the first to help someone in need, contribute to a Go-Fund-Me or donate to a political campaign. He believed strongly in the democratic process, social justice and human rights. His heart for people was huge. He was a magnet, a shining light. He will be deeply missed.

Kurt is survived by his son, Louis Loveland, and his sister, Lori Loveland, both living in Greensboro, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents West and Lee Loveland.

Remembering our friend Steve

To our family and friends, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Stephen Earl McNally. After a brave battle with cancer, he died at his home Thursday, March 21, 2024. Stephen was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Judith Ann McNally who died January 28th, 2021. They shared a happy life with the light of both of their lives, their daughter Lillian Grace who will keep their memory alive in the community and create her new chapter based firmly on the strong foundation provided by her parents.

Stephen will always be remembered for his quick wit and love of music. His favorite things to do were spend time with his daughter and watch movies. He was a plumber and owned his own company, LGM Plumbing and Mechanical, named after his daughter. Judith was a bright soul who spent her free time volunteering or working in the garden. They both had strong ties in this community and have left their daughter with many people to help keep their memory alive.

Remembering our friend Michele

Michele Marie Magill died suddenly on October 8, 2024, at her home. She leaves behind her children Ian and Eloise, daughter-in-law Shea, granddaughter Lily, and husband Jeff. Michele was born in Métlaoui Tunisia, a small oasis town on the Algerian border at the edge of the Sahara. Her parents were Joseph Lucas and Genevieve Manuad.

Michele’s father was a civil servant for the French government. His work required extensive travel and thus Michele lived many different places as a child, including Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal. She recalled moving as many as five times in one year. Finally, the family, now including little sister and brother Mylene and Thierry, settled in the port city of Sète on the French Mediterranean coast near Montpellier. Michele graduated from Paul-Valéry high school in Sète at age 15, second in her class. She was a good student and loved learning. In fact, she spent nearly her entire life as either a student orTo our family and friends, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Stephen Earl McNally. After a brave battle with cancer, he died at his home Thursday, March 21, 2024. Stephen was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Judith Ann McNally who died January 28th, 2021. They shared a happy life with the light of both of their lives, their daughter Lillian Grace who will keep their memory alive in the community and create her new chapter based firmly on the strong foundation provided by her parents.

Stephen will always be remembered for his quick wit and love of music. His favorite things to do were spend time with his daughter and watch movies. He was a plumber and owned his own company, LGM Plumbing and Mechanical, named after his daughter. Judith was a bright soul who spent her free time volunteering or working in the garden. They both had strong ties in this community and have left their daughter with many people to help keep their memory alive. teacher. Michele admired American culture from an early age. She would carry a pocket transistor radio around everywhere so as not to miss when The Beach Boys Good Vibrations played. After a few more years of school and work, she fulfilled her dream of visiting the U.S. She and a friend pick up a ’65 Mustang at a Drive-Away service in Newark, NJ. When they stopped for gas, they asked the attendant, “Which way is Hollywood?” He pointed at the Manhattan skyline and advised, “You go the other way.” When Michele was nearly finished with her first college degree at the Université de Montpellier, she was fortunate to snag an exchange student position at Dickinson College, a small private school in Carlisle, PA. Her dorm had the library on one side and the cafeteria on the other. She was in paradise. The next academic year, she was able to get an exchange post to the University of NC. Her love of Southern American literature made it a perfect fit. She came to North Carolina and fell in love. The Carolina geography, climate and people compelled her to stay. She lived in a few different places in NC, but never again outside its borders. She became a Tar Heel, and the tar had her feet stuck fast. Michele entered a PhD program at UNC and completed her doctoral thesis on a study of Marcel Proust’s “À la Recherche du Temps Perdu,” which was published by Oxford Press. Upon graduating UNC, Michele became a professor at NCSU in the languages department. She taught French language, culture, cinema, and of course, literature. She loved teaching and made learning enjoyable for her Wolfpack students. Michele estimated she taught 10,000 students during her 38-year tenure. Michele received the NCSU Alumni Distinguished Professor Award in 1996, the only time ever that honor was bestowed on a language professor. After retiring in 2015, Michele moved to Morganton with her daughter and husband to be near her son and his family.