March 13, 1933 ~ July 2, 2024 (age 91)

Martha Marlene Neisler, age 91, of Lake Waccamaw, NC, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Marlene was born in Caldwell County on March 13, 1933, the middle child of three daughters born to the late Dr. Clyde Reitzel Hedrick and Stella Lamkin Hedrick.

She spent her childhood years in Lenoir, North Carolina. She was a graduate of Salem Academy and attended Salem College. In the summer of 1953 she met the love of her life, Joseph “Joe” Andrew Neisler, Jr. at Crescent Beach. They married June 19, 1954 and lived in Kings Mountain, NC and Lake Waccamaw, NC. They raised four children: Stella N. Putnam (Gerald), Joseph “Rick” Neisler, III. (Kim), Melissa N. Lawrence, and Theresa N. McKeithan (Garry). Marlene was ‘Nanny’ to nine grandchildren: Lee Howell (Drew), Russ Putnam (Jenna), Janna Myers (Doug), Will Neister (Amber), Will Lawrence (Danae), Marlin Scott (Sean), Joe Lawrence (Brooke), Lauren Stone (Austin), Drew McKeithan (Ashlynn) and sixteen great-grandchildren: Luke and Grayson Howell, Parks and Josie Putnam, Douglas and Teddy Myers, Will and John Neisler, Melia Scott, Max and Anna Stone, Fin and Clara McKeithan, Eli and Elyse Lawrence, and Morgan Scott who is expected to come into this world on July 12, 2024.

Marlene was devoted to her family, who spent every holiday with her at Lake Waccamaw. She treasured their visits and enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren jump off the pier, swim in the lake, and ride the little boat built by Joe in 1961. Family was of upmost importance to Marlene. Her expectation was for them to love and cherish one another. The bond between her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was one of her most precious blessings. She was always a gracious hostess, welcoming many friends and family to her Lake Waccamaw home and helping Joe entertain at Oakland. She was a member of Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church, where she was an honorary life member of the Presbyterian Women, served the church as a choir member, Sunday school teacher, circle teacher, and Elder. Over the years she enjoyed volunteering with the Red Cross Blood Mobile, the Girl Scouts, the American Heart Association, and the Lake Waccamaw Food Mission. She served on the boards of the Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum, the Rube McRay Memorial Library, and helped organize the Lake Waccamaw Book Club of which she was a charter member. Marlene loved music. She taught many children how to play the piano. She had wonderful friends, far and wide, whom she loved dearly. Over the past few weeks she has been blessed by her caregivers, who took care of her every need. They truly are angels on this earth. Her family sincerely appreciates their love and support. Marlene was preceded in death by her loving husband Joe, and her sisters Theresa H. Sherman and Phyllis H. Miller and her son-law William “Bill” Lawrence, Jr.

She is also survived by her brother-in-law Hugh Neisler and his wife Jane, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, July 8 at 2:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Kings Mountain, NC. Visitation will be held prior to the service downstairs in the Fellowship Hall from 1:00 P.M. – 1:50 P.M. Interment will be at Mountain Rest Cemetery following the service. Pallbearers are her grandsons and grandson-in-laws. The family plans to have a celebration of Marlene’s life at Oakland at a later date.

McKenzie Funeral Home of Whiteville and Harris Funeral Home of Kings Mountain are serving the family. Memorials may be made to Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum, PO Box 386, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450; Rube McRay Memorial Library, PO Box 478, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450; First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1188, Kings Mountain, NC 28086