Ruth Iris "Ikie" Stonestreet Herring

A proud graduate of Reynolds High School (1944) and Salem College (B.A. Spanish, 1948), Ruth Iris ("Ikie") Stonestreet Herring passed away on February 20, 2017 in Winston-Salem, her hometown for 90 years. Iris was born on November 16, 1926 to George Walter and Mabel Thomas Stonestreet, and grew up in Ardmore and Southside, where for many decades she was a faithful member of Southside Baptist Church.

She would be the first to say that marrying Lucian David ("Larry") Herring (d. September 1, 2007) in September 1949 was the best decision of her life. Together they enjoyed raising three daughters, beach vacations to the Carolinas, and in later years driving trips to and through British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and California, all while selflessly juggling longterm caregiving duties for various family members.

Iris is survived by her three daughters, Georgia Lu Herring Meagher of Charleston S.C., Mary Iris Herring Barton (Bruce) of Burlington, N.C., and Martha Carol Herring Melton (Rodger) of Lewisville, N.C. and St. Croix; four grandchildren (Chad, Chase, and Chance Barton and Sarah Melton); and two great-grandchildren (Grant and Zelda Barton).

Iris and her immediate family always warmly recalled sharing many years of Sunday lunches and Christmas holidays together with her older siblings (brother Charles Stonestreet and her three sisters, Sara McNaught, Mary Nell Wilson, and Martha Thompson) and her many devoted nieces and nephews, including David McNaught (an especially dear and valued visitor throughout her last years), Claire McNaught, Tony Thompson, Dean Thompson, Steve Wilson, and Charles Stonestreet. The family thanks the wonderful staff of Hearthside for their reliable, patient, and most of all compassionate assistance over the past months.

Iris will be remembered by all who knew her as a whipsmart, insightful, plainspoken, and energetic companion for walks on her well-loved Oak Island beach, puzzling out the latest crossword, caring for her daffodils, iris, roses, and peonies that flourished year after year, making uncannily correct stock picks into her late 80s, keeping a roaring fireplace alight and making quilts that warmed many winter nights for more friends and family than could be counted, and always giving the warmest possible welcome to any and all canine visitors who came her way-- and there were many.

She shared with Larry a steadfast belief that hard work and a positive spirit would bring good things, and in her last days was very clear in urging all in her circle to "get out there and live your life." A graveyard service will be held on Friday, February 24th at Forsyth Memorial Park at 1 p.m. Frank Vogler & Sons Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home or to Salem College.