Shirley King Kincaid

OCTOBER 18, 1935 - JUNE 7, 2011 RALIEGH - Shirley Kincaid, 75, succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimers Disease and Colon Cancer after fighting these diseases fiercely for several years. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 11, 2011, at 1:00 PM at the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home Chapel, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27604. The family will receive friends Friday, June 10, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the funeral home. She was the first born of the late Harry and Velma King in Portsmouth, NH and the eldest of five siblings, giving her great experience in caretaking, support, and determination that she would embody for life. She was raised in Dover, NH and graduated from Dover High School. I 1953 she married her high school sweetheart, George Kincaid. They have enjoyed and celebrated 57 years of marriage together. Shirley and George welcomed their first child, George, Jr., into the world and shortly thereafter moved to Waldorf, MD, while George served in the U.S. Army. Following the Army, they made Windsor, CT their home and welcomed another son, Tom and daughter, Kathleen into the family. While in Connecticut, Shirley was involved with the Junior Womens League, Grace Episcopal Church, and numerous school and sporting events of her children. Shirley was part of the first graduating LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) class at St. Francis Hospital, of Hartford, CT, fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. While working as a nurse, she also explored her entrepreneurial spirit by creating a cake decorating business called Half & Half Bakes, with her friend Betty. They created thematic cakes, including guitars, teddy bears, dolls, hockey rinks, and wedding cakes. The constant whir of the mixer as well as the sweet smell of frosting filled the kitchen at all hours. We all remember riding along for deliveries, trying hard not to crush a cake in transit. Always prepared, she packed repair frosting and tools just in case. In 1972, a job opportunity for George brought them to Raleigh, which also brought new opportunities for Shirley. She was part of the first graduating RN (Registered Nurse) Class at Wake Technical College. She began working at Wake Medical Center and rose to the position of Surgical Floor Supervisor during her tenure. She continued to work at Wake Medical full-time, while pursuing her BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) at Wesleyan College and received her BSN degree in 1980. She loved being a nurse and working within the medical community at Wake Med. After being in the medical field for 30 years, her entrepreneurial spirit and drive surfaced again, opening Shirley Ks Uniforms, Inc., a medical and professional uniform store in 1985. She was joined by her son Tom, shortly after its founding and followed by her son George in 1995. T.A.G.S. Embroidery business was formed in 1986 (named after the first initial of each of her grandchildren). She was active in the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the Small Business Pinnacle Award in 2000. Shirley organized and enjoyed many family beach trips to the North Carolina Coast. She was the happiest when the beach condo was at maximum capacity with family members. She and husband George enjoyed many exciting trips within the US, plus several trips to the Caribbean. They also had the opportunity to visit countries abroad, including Ireland and Italy. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, baking, entertaining, attending NCSU football games, plays, the annual neighborhood pig pickin, family Christmas parties, holiday toy drivs, volunteering at the CPO Food Pantry, big family beach trips, gin & tonics, reading, visiting extended family and dear friends, and attending concerts, recitals, graduations, and sporting events of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Shirley was a strong, determined, dedicated, resilient, supportive, and loving woman, wife, and mother. She was known for her sewing talents, hard work, support, encouragement, big family meals (especially during the holidays), devotion to family, keen ability to teach, love of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She inspired many with her ability to juggle multiple pursuits and obligations, while making everyone feel special and loved. Her family (three children, five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren), friends, and husband will cherish the many wonderful memories, her generous spirit, and love she gave us. She is survived by her husband, George, Sr., of Raleigh; sons, George, Jr. and wife Melanie, of Knightdale, Tom, of Wake Forest; daughter, Kathleen and partner, Martha, of NY, NY; grandchildren, George, III, Sean, Amy, Thomas, and Maria; great grandchildren, George, IV, Laine, Lennon, Natalie, Jeffrey, Savannah, Emily, and Hailey; sisters, Gail Jarvis and husband, Bob, of Manchester, Ct, Barbara Zimmer and husband, Karl, of Granger, IN; and brother Bob King and wife, Lori, of Windham, CT. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Roberta. She was on the Advisory Board of Heartland Hospice, in Raleigh, became a volunteer, and then became a patient. The family would like to sincerely thank Heartland Hospice, especially Tressie, Janet, and Pat, for being there at every stage with unfailing love, professional care, compassion, and strength for all of u, but especially for Shirley. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Heartland Homecare & Hospice, 3200 Atlantic Ave. Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604 (919-877-9959), in Shirleys Memory.