Lorene Petree

Lorene Dunn Petree died March 11, 2022.  She was ninety-eight.

Lorene was born in Davie County to William Ollie and Nannie (Smith) Dunn. She was one of 10 children. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by seven siblings: Gladys Foster, twins Cleo Petree and Leo Dunn, Vance, Gilmer, and Hubert Dunn and Ruth Robertson.

Lorene was a 1940 graduate of Davie County High School where she played basketball and ran hurdles.  As a young woman, she worked for Hanes Hosiery Mills and Western Electric.

Lorene met her future husband C. Royce Petree in 1941 and they married when he returned from service in World War II.  They formed a 55-year partnership that lasted until his death in 2002.

Royce planted, tended, and harvested produce from two home gardens and Lorene canned and froze the food to make delicious meals year-round. She was an excellent cook, known for her coconut cakes and delicious dinner rolls.

Lorene was an energetic person who created a loving, cozy home for her family.  She was an accomplished seamstress who made beautiful clothes for her family and taught her daughters the love of sewing at an early age.  She taught Sewing and Tailoring at Forsyth Technical Community College and did alterations for The Buena Vista Shop and private clients for many years.

Lorene had many talents and loved a challenge. She learned to weave baskets, cane chairs, and re-upholster furniture. Once, she even made a girdle just to prove she could.

Lorene loved flowers and had a green thumb. She raised African violets indoors and her azaleas still provide a show every spring.

Lorene and her siblings were gifted singers and performed in local churches. Later, she entertained with the Morning Glories singing group. Lorene was long-time member of Mount Tabor United Methodist Church where she sang in the Chancel Choir and with The Joy Singers.

Lorene had a deep faith and loved the Lord.  She shared her faith with her daughters by taking them to evening church services where old gospel hymns were sung.  She gave them a knowledge of the Bible through many spirited games of Bible Lotto.

She read many books to her children when they were young and was always willing to read “just one more” before bedtime.  This awakened in them a keen curiosity and love of learning.

Lorene is survived by her daughters, Susan Petree and Phyllis C. Petree; a sister, Lynda Gilley; a brother, J.B. Dunn (Gay); a sister-in-law Norma Jean Dunn and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind two cherished cats, Bella and Scout.

The family would like to thank Lorene’s many caregivers through the years and the staff at Trellis Home Care for the support they provided in the last months of Lorene’s life. Special thanks go to aides Sandra Elliott and Deborah Hucks for their particularly devoted care.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hayworth-Miller on Silas Creek Parkway.  The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2022 at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church with burial in church cemetery afterwards.  Masks are recommended at the services.

Memorials can be made to Mount Tabor United Methodist Church.