Angus McCormick

Angus Alverson McCormick, 88, passed away peacefully at his Lumberton home on May 16th, 2019. A lifelong Robeson County resident, Angus’s life wove together a love for family, the land, and service to the church. Throughout his life those threads were constant.

Angus was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ann McLean McCormick and Angus Archibald McCormick, his brother William Neill McCormick, and his first wife Katherine Lee (Kitty) McCormick. He is survived by his second wife Dr. Carolyn Brumm McCormick and his children, Lee McCormick of Annapolis, Md., Rob McCormick (Leslie) of Apex, Graham McCormick (Bronwen) of Enka, Mary Alice McCormick of Saint Pauls, Daniel McCormick of Raleigh and four grandchildren, Anna Beth McCormick, Katherine McCormick, Joshua Jones and Gillian McCormick. He is also survived by his siblings, Mary Catherine Houck and Sarah Britt of Lumberton, Malcolm McCormick (Anne) of Flat Rock, and Duncan McCormick of Raleigh.

Angus was born in Saint Pauls on May 18, 1930, and throughout his life he never strayed for long from the sandhills of eastern North Carolina. His mother, Mary, was a teacher, active in the Saint Pauls Presbyterian Church and ran the family farm after her husband’s early death. Angus and his five siblings learned to value the church, education and hard work through their mother.  He graduated from Saint Pauls High School in 1948 and entered the U.S. Air Force, serving at Sheppard Air Force base in Wichita Falls, Tex. where he taught airplane engine repair during the Korean War.

After his military service he returned home to North Carolina and, like many young men of the time, attended college through the GI Bill. He graduated in 1955 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he met Katherine (Kitty) Lee of Lumberton. He would later reminisce about being fortunate to have a car and inventing ways to ensure Kitty had a ride home from Chapel Hill.  Angus and Kitty married in 1956 and lived in Saint Pauls where he began work with Burlington Industries while she taught in the Fayetteville school system.

Angus lost Kitty to cancer in 1973. After her death he continued his work with Burlington Industries managing administration and finance. A few years later Dr. Carolyn Brumm settled in Saint Pauls as a physician with the National Health Service Corp after completing medical school at the University of Iowa. Carolyn came from an Iowa farm family and understood Angus’s love for the land.  Angus and Carolyn married in 1975, and Carolyn was a loving mother to three young boys while balancing the demands of a medical practice. Shortly after their marriage, Angus returned to the family farm full time with his brother William where they raised corn, soy beans, cotton and beef cattle. They were ably assisted by their friend George Sykes. Angus and Carolyn adopted Mary Alice and Daniel in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Raising young children kept Angus active and young at heart.

After retiring from farming full time Angus continued to be involved with both the Robeson County Master Gardeners and the Robeson County Genealogical society. He loved Scottish heritage and genealogy and he always enjoyed establishing kinship in conversation. He was a certified Master Gardener who loved to propagate plants, and he had a knack for taking neglected plants and restoring them to health. He was particularly fond of camellias and Japanese maples and loved the people and plants at Master Gardener sponsored events.  He loved the mountains of North Carolina and Iowa farm country.  He loved Tar Heel basketball from the Lennie Rosenbluth era through the time of Phil Ford up through Tyler Hansbrough and Marcus Paige, and he always enjoyed March Madness.

Angus was an active member of the Saint Pauls Presbyterian Church for his entire life. He served the church as an elder and treasurer, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school to many different age groups. He passed on his faith by teaching and leading by example throughout his life.  From fall Ingathering barbeques and auctions, to family night suppers, to church Valentine’s dinners Angus loved to serve and share communion and community. In 2014 the church honored him as an Elder Emeritus.

The family will host a reception in Angus’s memory on Sunday May 19, 12:30 – 1:30 pm in the Saint Pauls Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 228 N. Old Stage Road, Saint Pauls. A memorial service will follow in the church sanctuary at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Saint Pauls Presbyterian Church.

The McCormick family would like to thank Tammy Ivey for her friendship and assistance in recent years and the staff of Liberty Hospice for their compassionate care.