Ellen Padgett Huskey

Ellen Padgett Huskey, age 95, of Forest City, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the Fair Haven Home in Bostic.

Ellen was born Thursday, February 20, 1930 in Rutherford County to the late Frank Padgett and Virginia Lowery Padgett. She was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of 1947 and in 1980 earned her master’s degree from Appalachian State University. She worked for Cone Mill-Haynes plant for many years and later worked at the Florence Mill as the personnel manager. She was a longtime and faithful member of Haynes Memorial Baptist Church where she served as Music Minister and in many other capacities. Ellen was dedicated to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her family and her friends. She was community minded and a member of the Lucille Wall Music Club, the Women’s Club and served as a Hospice Volunteer.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, Maurice “Chocolate” Huskey and brothers, Charles and Jerry Padgett.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Maurice “Mark” Huskey (Donna) of North Myrtle Beach, SC; daughters, Janice H. Hodges of Hickory and Donice H. Ruppe of the Shiloh Community; sister, Trudy Moore (Bill); grandchildren, Heath Huskey, Heather Huskey, Meredith Bumgarner (Brock), Rose Marie Propst (Cody), Keilah Ruppe, Adria McManus (Derrick), Freddie Medlin (Karen) and Laurie Overman (Rodney); great grandchildren, Lauren Routh, Lexi Cochran, Chase Huskey, Kayden Huskey, Maddie Bumgarner, Jackson Bumgarner, Lilly Bumgarner, Brody Propst, Pierce Propst, Declan McManus, Zachery Medlin, Tyler Medlin, Lee Overman and Rebecca Overman; great-great grandchildren, Connor Routh, Canslee Curtis, Leyia Bernagozzi, Cove Coburn and Paxton Neilson.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Thursday, January 22nd at Haynes Memorial Baptist Church with Reverend Dwayne Scruggs officiating. Interment will follow at Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to Kairo’s Prison Ministry, c/o Shiloh Baptist Church, 1850 Poors Ford Road, Rutherfordton, NC 28139 or to Haynes Memorial Baptist Church, PO Box 617, Henrietta, NC 28076.