Margaret L. Hall

CORNELIUS – Margaret Losey Hall, 75, of Cornelius, died Jan. 6, 2012, at CMC University hospital following a complicated illness.

Born to Cecelia and Ralph Losey on July 12, 1936, she was the youngest of three children. After completing her master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma, she joined the staff of Congressman Carl Albert and moved to Washington, D.C. She married Wayne Hall on Feb. 22, 1963, in Washington.

Margaret was an accomplished professional, working as a teacher, editor, development professional and director of several organizations.

Survivors include her husband, Wayne, their children, Katherine, Chris and Mike, and son and daughter-in-law, Josh and Laura; grandchildren Emma, Cecelia and Jaden; and siblings Herb Losey and Marie Thetford, who live in Texas.

A funeral was held Monday, Jan. 9, at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Samuel S. James Funeral Service Licensee was in charge.

Dr. Mary J. G. McConnell

DAVIDSON – Dr. Mary Jane Gates McConnell, 84, of Davidson died Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 at The Pines at Davidson, where she was a resident.

Born in Chicago, she was the only child of Edna Zimmer Gates and Dr. Raymond John Gates.

She attended Calumet High School and later received her doctor of optometry degree from Northern Illinois College of Optometry. While there, she met and later married Dr. Claude Hardison McConnell in 1950. Together they moved to Davidson, where they began their first practice on Main Street. She practiced in Davidson and Mooresville for 40 years. She was a member of American Optometric Association.

Dr. McConnell was the president of the Davidson School Parent-Teacher Association, an active member of the Davidson Garden Club, a Girl Scout leader for eight years and a docent at The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte.

Survivors include her husband Dr. Claude McConnell of The Pines; her daughter Mary Claudia (Coco) McConnell Killian and husband, Ray A. Killian, Jr., of Charlotte; Gayle Jane McConnell Tallardy and husband, Carl Tallardy III, of Newburgh, N.Y. and Key Largo, Fla.; her son Hardison Gates McConnell, Sr. and wife, Robbie Massey McConnell, of Huntersville; grandchildren, Ray A. (Rally) Killian III of St. Louis, Mary Gates Killian of Charlotte, Hardison Gates (Skip) McConnell Jr. and Cameron O’Neal McConnell of Huntersville. She is also survived by her stepmother, Vivian Rogue Gates of Clearwater, Fla.

A funeral service officiated by the Rev. Bill Cain was held Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Bethel Presbyterian Church and followed by a private burial.

Memorials can be made to Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, N.C. 28031; or The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Lane, Davidson, N.C. 28036.

Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee was in charge.

Grace L. Farmer

HUNTERSVILLE – Grace Lee Farmer Tefel, 79, of Huntersville, formerly of Vero Beach, Fla., died Jan. 3, 2012, at Levine Dickson Hospice House.

Born Oct. 8, 1932, in New York City, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin and the late Charlotte Gorman Farmer.

She was a retired hotel clerk with Howard Johnson’s.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Tefel. Survivors include her sons Raymond Tefel and wife, Lisa, of Huntersville, and Stephen Tefel of Maryland; a daughter, Diane Nanno of New York, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in Ft. Pierce, Fla., at a later date.

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services was in charge.

Joyce E. M. Bates

HUNTERSVILLE – Joyce “Me Maw” Ellen Monteith Bates, 78, of Huntersville, died Jan. 3, 2012, at Presbyterian Hospital-Huntersville.

Born May 29, 1933, in Huntersville, she was a daughter of the late Neal and Ellen Blythe Monteith.

She was a long time member of the Huntersville Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Huntersville High School, class of 1951, the last graduating class of that high school.

She retired after working 38 years at BellSouth.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Hildreth; son Robert Bates and wife, Belinda, all of Huntersville; sisters, Mary Neal Davis and Ethel Ranson; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by infant granddaughter, Keri Nicole Hildreth, and sisters Eunice Sims, Martha Monteith, and Janie Oehler.

A funeral service was held Jan. 5 at Huntersville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Vern Dodd officiating. She was buried in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Samuel S. James, Funeral Service Licensee was in charge.