Madelyn Rutherford

Madelyn Sloan Rutherford passed away Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. Madelyn was born in Statesville, March 12, 1951, to William Arthur Sloan and Faye Genevieve Washam Sloan. Madelyn graduated from North Iredell High School before attending Peace College and Meredith College in Raleigh, where she received her Home Economics degree. She married John Otha Hill, Sept. 9, 1972, and they had two children, Jonathan William Henry and Kathryn MacKenzie. Madelyn always had a heart for hosting people in their home and opened one of the first Bed & Breakfasts in Statesville, in 1989. She was heavily involved on the Travel & Tourism board to bring guests to our lovely town. In 1995, Madelyn and John moved the bed & breakfast to Union Grove. They remained married until Mr. Hill's passing in 2006. Madelyn was blessed to find love again and married Richard Rutherford in 2007. Madelyn and Dick had many wonderful adventures whether it was going to the theater, traveling in their RV, visiting England and Estonia, or seeing their large combined family. Art was another passion of Madelyn's, she was extremely creative and through the years perfected knitting, acrylics, flower arranging and especially watercolors. She won multiple awards for her beautifully rendered landscapes. Madelyn loved a deal and you could find her most Saturday mornings at yard sales. She loved to take her grandchildren to thrift shops and taught them the joy of a good find! Christmas was a favorite time for Madelyn, she worked on her list all year and could tell you the number of days to Christmas at any moment. Madelyn's family was her prized possession. She rests as the beloved of Dick Rutherford; mother of Jonathan and Katy; mother-in-law of Daina Rice Hill and Joe Leischner, whom she loved as her own; their children, Caroline Brooke Hill, Charlotte Genevieve Hill, Isaac William Leischner, Sloan Marie Leischner; her adored sister, Margaret Elizabeth Sloan Barnard and her husband, William Barnard; and her niece, Elizabeth Barnard Kilby and husband, Andrew Kilby; as well as her Rutherford family, Kevin and Sherrill and son, Nicholas; Kathleen and Jeff Rathbone and their children, Justin and Amanda 'Lou', Jarred and Amanda Rae, Mallory and Cody; Kelly and Lowell Bowman and their children, Lowell and Stevie, Chelsea and Robbie; Chris and Sophie and their children, E.J., Jeremiah and Eli. Along with the 12 great-grands, Kylie, Thomas, Max, Heidi, Hadley, Hollin and Mason, Allie, Jackson, Levi, Kortland and Kamryn. She loved them all so deeply. Madelyn was fiercely loyal, unafraid to share an opinion, believed in Holidays with family, and loved without expectation. She was deeply moved by her faith and her church community at Union Grove Methodist Church. Family and friends will gather for her memorial service Saturday, Nov. 4, at Union Grove United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Service will be conducted by the Rev. Neill Shaw, with an honorary prayer from the Rev. Tavvi Hollman of Tallinn, Estonia. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your favorite charity in Madelyn's memory or to the Veterans Ministry at Union Grove UMC PO Box 55, Union Grove NC 28689. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.