Patricia A. Kiefer departed this life June 19 at home, with her family present after an heroic four-year battle with an incurable cancer. She was the daughter of Herbert J. Lyons and Ethel Anna Hartman of Milwaukee, Wis.

An excellent home-maker and mother, she began to home-school her first child in 1986, and went on to co-found the Chapel Hill Homeschoolers. Before she finished, she had seen three children graduate from the Kiefer Academy Home School and go on to university or grad school, and one to finish the 11th grade.

She was an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham and was involved in a variety of service and discipleship ministries over the years.

She is survived by her husband, David F. Kiefer of Chapel Hill; son and daughter-in-law, Aaron Kiefer and Casey Kiefer, of Cary, and son, Matthew Kiefer, of Chapel Hill; and daughters Lydia Kiefer and Hannah Kiefer of Chapel Hill. She is also survived by a brother, Herbert J. Lyons Jr. of Hartland, Wis.

A private graveside ceremony was held Monday, June 22, at the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery. There will be a public memorial service and celebration on Saturday, June 27, at 3 p.m., at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham, with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Pat's beloved Camp Forest Springs, N8890 Forest Lane , Westboro, WI 54490.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservices.com.

Margaret Cole Allison

Mrs. Margaret Cole Allison, 94, formerly of Hillsborough, died on Sunday, June 21, at Wynwood of Chapel Hill.

Born in Alamance County on Dec. 26, 1914, at the home of her maternal grandparents, she was the daughter of the late Olander Parrish Cole and Mary Shoffner Cole.

She was a lifetime resident of Hillsborough and a member of the Hillsborough United Methodist Church. Margaret attended W.C.-U.N.C. in Greensboro and was a graduate of East Carolina University. She was a dedicated teacher in the public schools of Forsyth and Orange Counties for 35 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Marion E. Allison, and her sister, Winifred Chance.

Margaret was an independent, energetic, and talented person. She was an accomplished portrait and landscape painter. She enjoyed writing poems and songs. A lovely song written by her was performed by her niece this past winter for family and friends at Wynwood. Most of all, she loved being outdoors working in her yard or playing golf with friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen A. Fowler (Robert) of Chapel Hill; two sons, Dr. Craig E. Allison (Scarlett) of Pinehurst; and Michael C. Allison (Elaine) of Corneilius; one sister, Billye C. Forrest of Chapel Hill; three grandchildren, Dr. Shannon Allison of Pinehurst, Shoffner Allison of Charlotte, and Lauren A. Foster of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Margaret's friendly and thoughtful Occoneechee neighbors who were so kind to her for many years. The family would also like to thank the staff members of Home Helpers of Hillsborough and Wynwood of Chapel Hill for their kind and compassionate care of Margaret.

Funeral services will be conducted today at 2 p.m. in Walker's Funeral Home Chapel in Hillsborough. Burial will be in the Hillsborough Town Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hillsborough United Methodist Church, 130 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough, NC 27278.

Online condolences may be made at Walkersfuneralservice.com.

A

Martha Spencer

Martha Spencer, 97, died on June 15 at UNC Hospitals. She was a resident of Carol Woods Retirement Community.

Martha was born in New York City to Minnie and Louis Willner and grew up in Yonkers, N.Y. Her family moved to Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, N.Y., when she was a young adult. There she met her husband, Barney Spencer, whom she married in 1937, and who predeceased her in 1974.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Minna and Haven Wiley of Carrboro; her son, Norman Spencer, of Northampton, Mass.; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was predeceased by her two younger sisters, Sylvia Morrison and Rita Barrett.

She moved to Chapel Hill in 1982, where she was a regular volunteer for Planned Parenthood and UNC Hospitals. She received the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood in 1989 and the Elaine Hill Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service at UNC Hospitals in 1995. For many years she traveled with groups from the N.C. Botanical Garden.

A reception to honor Martha's life will be held in the Carol Woods social lounge on Thursday, July 2, at 3 p.m.

Please make donations in her memory to Planned Parenthood of America, UNC Hospitals Volunteer Services or the N.C. Botanical Garden.