Blanche Marie Painter Worley, age 92, died peacefully in the presence of family on January 25, 2017. Blanche was a doctor of laughter and regularly prescribed it as the best medicine. From the time of her birth to Harry Marion and Blaine Carrie (née Broughman) Painter in Buchanan, VA, she flavored the lives of family and friends with her music, dancing, whistling, and world famous pumpkin pies, fruit cakes, and blueberry pancakes. She tickled the piano keys from ages 9 to 92 with hymns of praise and was a jubilant participant in church choirs of Buchanan, VA; Dahlonega, GA; and Hillsville, VA. Her smile and humor charmed the heart of Charles W. Worley of Greenlee, VA whom she married in 1942. With their four children, they moved to Georgia in 1955 and returned to Virginia in 1969 where she lived joyfully her remaining years in Hillsville. She found creation's laughter in flowers and gardening and served faithfully for many years as a leader of the Hillsville Garden Club.

She is survived by her husband, Charles W. Worley; her children William C. (Jane) Worley of Marietta, GA; Stan W. (Teresa) Worley of Dawsonville, GA; Gary M. (Sandie) Worley of Blacksburg, VA; Kathy W. (Thomas) Ratcliffe of Waynesville, NC; and sister Beatrice P. Carr of Gaithersburg, MD; along with 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives. Her family is a witness that she was clothed with strength and dignity, laughing without fear of the future, and unfailing in wisdom and kindness. Her virtues and her love of life lives on in them.

A celebration of her life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Hillsville, VA at 1 PM on January 28, 2017. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM on January 27 at the Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Funeral Home in Hillsville, VA and from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at The First Baptist Church of Hillsville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hillsville or to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The family would like to thank especially the staff of Heritage Hall, Laurel Fork, VA. Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.