Faye Claudeen Edmisten

Faye Claudeen Edmisten, affectionately known as “Deanie” and later as “Nanny” when the grandchildren came along, passed away on August 10, 2026, at the age of 97.

Deanie was born on June 16, 1929, in Jamestown, Tennessee, to Henry Claude Garland and Ollie Bell Danner Garland. She was the sister of Mary, Margaret, and Melba.

Deanie found a rewarding career in nursing, a profession she truly enjoyed. She loved caring for others and took great pride in the work she did and the people she had the opportunity to help throughout her career. 

On June 13, 1953, Deanie married her soulmate, David “Dave” Edmisten, in Boone, North Carolina. Deanie and Dave shared a love of golf and frequently enjoyed playing together around Boone. She was blessed to find love and companionship a second time when she married Charlie Pugh on September 1, 2007. Deanie was fortunate enough to have two loves in her lifetime, and she cherished the love and memories she shared with both.

Deanie lived life with a competitive spirit and a wonderful sense of fun. She was a fierce competitor at any game, especially bridge and Kings on the Corner. She loved to play golf and was always ready for a game. She was still playing (and winning) cornhole at her 90th birthday celebration.

She loved her home, her garden, and the simple joys of growing things. Deanie loved flowers and took great pride in her beautiful garden. She also grew blueberries, creating some of the grandchildren’s fondest memories. They would spend time with Nanny collecting buckets of blueberries—although, as the family remembers, they usually ate more blueberries than they actually collected.

Deanie loved all animals and had a particularly special affection for bunnies. Her love of rabbits became part of her home and her personality, with a large collection of bunny figurines, plates, and decorations. It seemed there was hardly anything you could think of that Deanie couldn’t find a way to put a bunny on.

She also enjoyed sewing, quilting, and preparing homemade meals for her family. Some of her most treasured moments were spent with her grandchildren. When they came to visit, Nanny would wake up early to make fresh biscuits from scratch, serving them with her own homemade jams and jellies. 

She was predeceased by her son, David Jones Jr., and her loving husband, David Jones. The family finds comfort in knowing that she has now been reunited with her beloved husband and son.

Deanie leaves behind her two daughters, Claudia and her husband, Hilton, and Julie and her husband, Kris; six grandchildren, Chanee’, Courtney, Kris, Natalie, Trey, and Kory; and eleven great-grandchildren, Fisher, Raleigh, Faye, Jack, Alice, Analyce, Kaelyn, Macy, Kent, Emery, and Orie.

She will be remembered for her competitive spirit, generous heart, love of family (and sweets), and the countless ways she made those around her feel loved and cared for.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.at Three Forks Baptist Church located at 1922 U.S. Hwy 421 S, Boone, NC 28607.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Watauga Humane Society at wataugahumane.org.

Online condolences may be made to www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Edmisten family.

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