Martha Lou (Page) McNuer

Martha Lou Page McNuer, 88, of Hickory passed away after a period of declining health on Friday, April 14, 2023. She was born in Catawba County on April 4, 1935. Her parents were William Taft Page “W.T./Bill” and Ethel Mae Killough Page. She was preceded in death by her parents and her two sisters; Mary Page Mecimore and Billie Page Bumgarner and husband I. Ray Bumgarner, all of Hickory.

Survivors include her two daughters, Deborah McNuer and Teresa “Terri” McNuer Taylor and husband Richard all of Hickory; three grandchildren, Christopher “Chip” Beach of Hickory, Heather Beach Gilmore of Bethlehem, David Taylor and wife Ashley of Hawaii; three great grandchildren, William “Will” and Gabriel “Gabe” Gilmore of Bethlehem, Madison “Maddie” Burgess of Maiden; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Also her “adopted” family Lita Miller, Amelia “Amy” Sain Cathey and husband John, Kenny Icard, and Eric Young all of Hickory.

Martha graduated in 1953 from Claremont Central High School in Hickory (Hickory High). She then graduated from Rowan Memorial School of Nursing (Salisbury, NC), a three-year program in 1956. She then met and married USMC Sherman Lee McNuer of SC, stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Martha worked at the VA in Salisbury until married and then Moorehead Memorial Hospital, Onslow County Hospitals until they moved with their daughters to Hickory. Martha worked 8 ½ years at Hickory Memorial Hospital before being recruited to be the head nurse on 2nd floor OB/GYN at the fairly new Catawba Memorial Hospital (now CVMC). While in that position, she was asked to implement the new concept of Primary Care Nursing with her floor being the first at CVMC. She also implemented the new OB programs of “Fathers’ Feeding”, “Sibling Visitation” and “Rooming-In” She had “Birthing in the Room” ready to launch when after 12 years as Head Nurse, she stepped down to the third shift staff nurse for two more years when she realized she missed direct patient care after participating in several medical missions adventures. She then transferred to Oncology as a Primary Care and Chemotherapy RN for the next 14 ½ years before, due to health reasons, she retired early in 1996-97. She also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

Martha and her sister Billie, for 80 years, attended First Church of God before calling Royal Chapel Church of God “Home”. While at First Church of God, she was active in the Church’s programs through: singing in the choir, teaching/helping in the kitchen during Bible School, spent four years as a Youth Leader, several years as Bereavement Dinner Coordinator, two years as WCG President, 5 plus years as Christian Singles President, making the candy sold at the missions bazaars as well as baking her “famous” Cold Oven Pound Cakes (which were Blue Ribbon and Best of Show Winners often at the Catawba County Fair), participated in a card ministry, shut-in visitation, and prayer chain programs. At Royal Chapel, she also was involved with card ministry and prayer chain.

Martha had been nominated and selected to be honored two years in a row to attend the Institute for Nursing Excellence while still nursing. She also became involved in missions work. Four years straight she was invited to be a guest instructor for nursing and pre-med students at a hospital in Puerto Rico through a program called Tri-S at the main Church of God University in Anderson, IN (Anderson University). She then went with a Methodist Group as a cook and First Aid Nurse to Barbados, Costa Rico, and Panama.

Martha then discovered a Church of God group from southern IN (led by Pastor Sam Harrington) and participated in many other mission trips as cook, laundress, first aid nurse, etc. with this group, two more guest instructor opportunities for the University. Those two trips were setting up a First Aid Station for Missionary Paul Butts in Peru at the edge of the Amazon jungle, and helping in the hospital in Kenya, East Africa with Missionary, Carolyn Aukerman. Martha said that journey/adventure was the thrill of her lifetime seeing the animals, and teaching students how to deliver babies. Martha went with the IN group to Costa Rico, two times to Chile, two times to Columbia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and another trip she could not recall for a total of 18 trips.

Martha will be greatly missed. She left behind giant footprints and an example of deep faith. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Royal Chapel Church of God. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:00 until 3:00 pm at the church. Pastors Carlton Davidson and Don Jackson will officiate the service. Memorials may be made to Royal Chapel Church of God, Smile Train, or Samaritan’s Purse heart surgery program.