Lee completed her long journey home Thursday evening when she stepped through the Gates of Heaven and into the loving embrace of her Savior. She was greeted by her beloved husband Edward “Eddie” Davis McLaughlin, Jr. who preceded her in death on April 13, 1996, and her parents, Heber Lee Dail of Pitt County, N.C. and Velma Bell Paramore Dail of Washington, N.C.
She was born in Suffolk, Va. and relocated to Norfolk, Va. at a very early age when her father was employed with Norfolk Southern Railroad. There she attended school through Oscar Smith High School. She met the love of her life at Doumar’s Drive-In in Norfolk while having dinner with a friend in 1964 and married Eddie February 8th, 1965. Their marriage, and the United States Marine Corps, took them all over the country until his retirement in 1980 when they and their daughter settled in her family’s hometown of Washington, NC to be near her surviving aunts and uncles.
In the mid 1970s Lee found work at a struggling floral shop in Richlands, NC while the family was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This began her long career as a floral designer and eventually led to her ownership of Pamlico Florist, here in Washington, for nearly 23 years. As a florist, she was a member of the East Carolina Floral Association.  Illness eventually forced her into retirement but it never stifled her creativity, for she continued many other artistic endeavors at home. During her years in the florist she met hundreds of people, many of who became such good friends they were like family. She also taught floral design through Beaufort County Community College for several years, helping a number of aspiring designers begin their own shops throughout Eastern North Carolina. She was an avid collector of teddy bears, and many remember the beautiful porcelain dolls she loved to create.
In addition to her daughter Cheri McLaughlin Biddix, she is survived by her son-in-law Jeffery Scott Biddix, her treasured grandson Edward “Dail” McLaughlin Biddix; several devoted friends, a considerably large extended family including one aunt, many cousins, and her husband and son-in-law’s families, plus her two special pets, Mitzi and Skochi.
Funeral services will be 3:00 pm Wednesday, August 10, 2011 in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington and will be conducted by Rev. Henry Horne. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Scott Biddix, Mark Biddix, Jack Schindel, Jeremy Gipe, Terry Bostwick, Bobby Hodges, Billy Slade, and Raymond Williams will serve as pallbearers.
Flowers are welcome, for she loved them so much, or memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the McLaughlin family.