Ellen Marie Caston died Saturday as a result of a car accident in the Pittsboro area.

As an ER nurse, an assisted living nurse, a nanny or as the most wonderful of friends, she touched so many folks. She loved people and made friends so easily as they loved her in return. Her love of life was further revealed by the wonderful joy she found in her Christmas and Halloween yard decorations year after year.

She is survived by her husband, Dan. A son, Allen and daughter, Ann along with her husband Ted and grandsons Jason and Jeremy in addition to great grandson Josiah, reside in Huntington, Ind. Her daughter, Carla, lives in Yorkville, Ill. Her stepson, Kirk, and step daughter, Tami along with grandchildren Sammy and Kaserai, reside in Wilmington. Also surviving is her beloved German Shepherd, JR.

The viewing will be at Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill from 7 to 9 p.m. today with the funeral at 10 a.m. Thursday at Orange Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Chapel Hill. www. walkersfuneralservice.com.

Brendan Kearns

Brendan Kearns, 71 of Ashford Drive, Pittsboro, died Sunday in his home.

Funeral and burial will take place in Highland Mills, N.Y.; arrangements will be announced when they are completed.

Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne, Griffin Chapel, Pittsboro.

Eleanor Smith Pegg

Eleanor Smith Pegg died Feb. 22.

A creator of gold and silver jewelry, she also shared her beauty through flower arranging, gardening and philanthropy.

She was an active member of the Chapel Hill Garden Club for over 70 years and started the club's scrapbook collection at the N.C. Botanical Garden.

She donated a 74-acre tract in 1995 in honor of her late husband, Carl Hamilton Pegg, professor of history. The tract was re-named "Pegg Hill" and is a protected area through the Triangle Land Conservancy. She donated 82 acres on the Haw River which will be protected as a natural area and is part of the Haw River State Park. She funded the Eleanor Smith Pegg Exhibit Hall at the Botanical Garden's Visitor Center opening in June and the Carl H. Pegg and Eleanor S. Pegg Scholarship fund to benefit students at UNC.

She was predeceased by her husband and only child, Elizabeth Latta. She is survived by her granddaughter, Suzanne Upton, Suzanne's husband, Tom, and their children, Cole, Madlyn and Sterling.

No services will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the Carol Woods Employee Appreciation Fund, 750 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Send obituaries and photos to Sheri Farmer at chnclerk@nando.com

Byrle Mudd

Byrle Mudd, of Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, died Saturday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Funeral plans are incomplete at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne, Griffin Chapel, Pittsboro.