Elois Anderson, 87, of Warne, North Carolina passed away peacefully at her residence on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. She was a native of Hiawassee, Georgia and a lifetime resident of Towns County, Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina.

She graduated as valedictorian of both Towns County High School and Young Harris College.

She was married on June 1, 1947 to Robert L. Anderson Jr. of Warne, North Carolina.

She began her career with the Bank of Hiawassee in 1947, progressing to serve as president and chairman of the board. Ultimately, she retired after 64 years in 2011. She served on the board, and in multiple capacities, for the Georgia Bankers Association. She was a true pioneer as one of the first female bank presidents in the state.

After the loss of her beloved husband in 1983, she succeeded him as a director of Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation for over 30 years.

She received the prestigious President’s Medallion Award in 1996 from Young Harris College.

She was selected as a Gracious Lady of Georgia, a group of highly achieved ladies dedicated to business involvement in their community and church services.

She was a huge supporter of the Georgia Mountain Fair, gladly volunteering much of her time and resources and following in the footsteps of her husband, who served 23 years as President of the fair. The Anderson-Paris Pioneer Park, located on the fairgrounds, was dedicated July 14, 2011.

Elois' other civic activities included serving as President of the Towns County Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the Appalachian Education and Historical Society Board of Directors and on the Board for the Towns/Union Habitat for Humanity. She was elected Citizen of the Year by the Towns County Lions Club, the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors, and the Lake Chatuge-Hiawassee Rotary Club.

She was a member of the Hayesville First United Methodist Church, where she served in several capacities, including committee chairs and Sunday School.

She was the daughter of the late J.Y. and Emma Maney Denton and the wife of the late Robert L. Anderson Jr., who died October 29, 1983. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Groves; and two brothers, J.C. Denton and J. William Denton.

Surviving are a son, Robert L. “Bob” Anderson III and wife, Tonia of Hiawassee; two grandchildren, Tori Elois Anderson and Dustin Robert Anderson; a sister, Jeanie D. Anderson and husband, Ray of Atlanta; several nieces and nephews, Preston Denton and wife, Suellen, Larry Groves and wife, Yoshia, Debbie Groves Duncan and husband, Rev. Mike, Jim Denton and wife, Kerri, Susanne Denton Hoppe and husband, Doug, John Denton and Julie Watson, Beth Elois Anderson Fidler and husband, Greg, and Amy Anderson Coates and husband, John; and many great nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Sunday, February 23, 2014 in the Hayesville First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Kirk Hatherly and Mike Duncan officiating. Interment was in Ogden Cemetery in Warne.  Pallbearers were Larry Groves, Preston Denton, John Denton, Greg Fidler, John Coates, Jerry Nichols, and Terry Taylor.

The family received friends from 4-7 Saturday evening, February 22nd at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville, North Carolina.

The family suggests memorials be made in memory of Elois Anderson to The Children’s Home Society of NC, PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415-4608 or the Hayesville First United Methodist Church, PO Box 85, Hayesville, NC 28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.