Anna Austin Townsend,

Anna "Tressie" Austin Townsend, age 85, of Hickory, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Catawba Regional Hospice. She was born in Alexander County on March 15, 1929 to the late Juette Carson Austin and Elsie Elizabeth Echerd Austin. Tressie's former employers include Whisnant's, Little Coleman Co., and Hickory Craft Furniture. She attended St. Andrews Lutheran Church and she was a very active bowler. Tressie also loved to bake, read, and spend time with her grandchildren. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother: Ray Austin; sister: Thelma Austin Houston; and infant daughter: Elizabeth Annette Townsend. Those left to cherish her memory include daughters: Diane Townsend Sigmon (Neil) of Bethlehem, and Debbie Townsend Smart (Joey) of Bethlehem; sister: Maggie Austin Cothran of Taylorsville; grandchildren: Van Sigmon of Anderson, SC, Toni Burke of Selinsgrove, PA, Staci Sigmon (Ryan) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Neal Smart of Los Angeles, CA; seven great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews along with a special friend, Dova Smart.

Visitation will take place on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Service. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Steve Rhodes officiating. Burial will take place after the service at Friendship Lutheran Community cemetery. Memorials may be made to: Friendship Lutheran Church, 5300 Church Rd; Taylorsville, NC 28681 or Catawba Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd; Newton, NC 28658