Mary Elizabeth (Westerman) Knopfle

Mary Elizabeth Knopfle, age 69, of Supply, NC passed away on Sunday the twenty second of March 2020 in the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, Brunswick House.

Mary was born in the Margaret Mary Community Hospital, Batesville, IN on Thursday the nineteenth of October 1950 to the late William and Loretta Gillman Westerman. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Westerman.

She attended and received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, then earned her master’s degree in special education, also from Ball State. After college she met the love of her life, LeRoy Knopfle and began a marriage that endured for over forty-four years. They were inseparable and could be found together no matter what they were doing.

She began a career that took her to Denver, CO to work as a teacher for the hearing impaired; they moved to FL and became owners of the Cross Creek Fish Camp in Cross Creek, FL. Mary was also a teacher at the Sidney Lanier School in Gainesville, FL and then retired to Holden Beach, NC where she became active in the Lockwood Folly Country Club and Lockwood Folly Women’s Club. She loved being active and enjoyed hiking, camping, snorkeling, fishing, golfing, biking and running or walking with her loving family. She was a lady who was a good steward of her talents and loved to make crafts and made different things to give away to others. She had a passion for her family and loved spending time with them especially her grandchildren. She was a tremendously strong and upbeat lady who kept a very positive outlook on life in spite of her twelve-year battle with ovarian cancer.

She is survived by her loving husband, LeRoy Owen Knopfle, Jr. of Supply, NC; a daughter, Heather K. Borter and husband Bill of Raleigh, NC; a son, Ryan Knopfle and wife Carolyn of Ocoee, FL; her grandchildren, Harrison, Brady & Haley Borter and Emily Knopfle; a sister, Doris Andre of Sunman, IN; two brothers, Dennis Westerman and wife Amanda of Brookville, IN, Melvin Westerman and wife Carol of Sunman, IN.

 A Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date to be held  in the Holden Beach Chapel, when it is deemed safe to do so.

 The family requests with gratitude that donations be made in her name to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 955 Mercy Lane, Bolivia, NC 28422 or to the Duke Ovarian Fund, 7413 Six Forks Road #365, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J Fulwood funeral Service Licensee, 910-471-5441

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