PEARL JUANITA YATES MUNSEY – Bluefield, VA.

Resilient, determined, lovingly tenacious. This was Pearl Munsey, who went to be with her Lord on November 8 ^th , 2020, just 2 months shy of her 97 ^th birthday. Pearl was born in Tazewell County (Horsepen), Virginia on January 15 ^th , 1924, the youngest daughter of Sylvester Albert Yates and Bertha Pearman Yates.

She was a 1943 graduate of Tazewell High School, where she was known as a formidable guard on the women's basketball team. At 18, she went to work in Bluefield, West Virginia where she met the man who would become the center of her universe, Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Munsey. Married 54 years, their union was a beautiful partnership.

Pearl was never shy of hard work, in fact she enjoyed it. If there was a job to be done, Pearl stepped in without a moment of pause. With great dedication, she cared for her mother and oldest sister in their twilight years. A faithful Christian, she rarely missed a Sunday at Horsepen Church of Christ, even driving across Stoney Ridge in dangerous winter weather.

She will be remembered by those who survive her for her inspiring devotion to family, friends and neighbors, her natural story-telling ability, and her cooking (especially her yeast rolls). She was a long-time member of Rebekah Lodge Number 1 of Virginia.

She is survived by daughters Barbara Long of Franklin, TN and Betty Leffel of Roanoke, VA, granddaughter Rebecca Long Purington of Brentwood, TN, close nieces Bertha Yates Pritchett of Charleston, SC, Bernice Yates Rose of Thompson's Valley, VA and Jenay Thompson Leedy. Also surviving are many more nieces, nephews and their children as well as Ryland and Darien Musick, whom Pearl loved like grandchildren. We wish to acknowledge her caregiver of the past 5 years, Lois Jessee, as well as the staff of The Havens and Ridge Care, both in Princeton, WV.

Pearl is preceded in death by her husband Woody, her 3 sisters: Elizabeth Katherine Day, Ida Clarice Day, and Ella Mae Murray and her 4 Yates brothers: Frank Paul, Robert Thomas, Bailey Albert and John Bunyon.