Nancy Irene (Poarch) Mattingly

Nancy Irene Poarch Mattingly, 69, of Statesville, NC went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the VA Hospital in Salisbury, NC.

She was born at home at Kings Creek in Caldwell County, NC and was the daughter of the late Andy and Ruth Craig Poarch and foster parents, Ruth and Carl Bush. She graduated from Statesville Senior High School in 1969 and served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. She was a loving mother and granny. She became disabled as a result of a car accident in May of 1981 and lived as a quadriplegic for 38 years. She loved butterflies and word searches. In 1986, she received a donated van and learned to drive with the use of hand controls. She was elated to receive this gift only to be disappointed by the fact that many local businesses were not handicapped accessible. She founded Barrier-Free Iredell and served as the president for a couple of years to help bring awareness to the challenges faced by persons in a wheelchair. In addition to the advocacy work, she volunteered for Hospice of Iredell and Stop Child Abuse Now in the 1980’s.

She is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Mattingly-Cloer (john) of Statesville; two sisters, Linda P. Hanes, Jobell Watson and two brothers, Floyd and Tommy Poarch and six grandchildren, Jason Cloer (Kim), Brian Cloer, Candie Cloer Johnson (Tripp), Matthew Cloer (Gracie Winthrop) as well as Abby Brown and Bella Riffe; three great grandchildren, Ean, Kailey and Mia. She is also survived by a foster brother, Jerome Bush and foster sister, Sibyl Moffitt and a very special best friend, Nita Kottak from Louisville, KY. The family would like to thank three very special caregivers, Harriet, Lena and Jeanne. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny Poarch, Andy Poarch, Jr and one sister, Imogene Mitchell.

A celebration of life service will be held on 2:00 pm Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Landmark Church of God, 2200 E. Broad St., Statesville, NC 28677. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Salisbury at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Landmark Church of God and online condolences may be made to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family of Irene Mattingly.

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