Oscar Leo Lemonds

Surrounded by family and friends, Oscar Leo Lemonds, age 78, died peacefully on August 31, 2015 at First Health Hospice and Palliative Care of Pinehurst. Oscar was a husband, a father, a Papoo, a brother, and a friend. A native of Montgomery County, he lived in Troy with his wife Carol Seawell Lemonds for almost fifty years. Son of the late Garland and Beulah Richardson Lemonds, Oscar was preceded in death by two brothers, Charlie and Guy. He is survived by his wife Carol; his son Kevin; grandchildren, Briana Lemonds and Greg Broadaway; their mother Jo Ann Lemonds; and one great-granddaughter Aubrey Mae Broadaway. He is also survived by a brother, Lonnie, and one sister Sudie Stoker. Oscar was the original founder and later co-owner of Lemonds Drywall and Acoustical Company located on Lemonds Drywall Road in Troy. In that capacity, he supervised and often designed the construction of fine properties across North Carolina and several other southeastern states. One of his favorite and most creative was the renovation of the original Troy Furniture Building located on Main Street in Troy and now occupied by First Bank. Oscar, a selfless and kind-hearted man, will be remembered by many for his fun-loving spirit and generosity. He had many interests such as sports, arts, magazines, and the list goes on and on. His pottery class at Montgomery Community College, instructed by his friend Mike Ferree, was his favorite past time. During the class he enjoyed freedom in designing unusual and interesting pieces of pottery. He also enjoyed traveling every spring to eastern North Carolina to purchase baskets of strawberries to distribute to family and friends. In the late summer, he headed out toward Myrtle Beach and returned with "the best tomatoes to be found" which, once again, he gave to family and friends. Oscar contributed generously to the community via fundraisers sponsored by Lemonds Drywall and Acoustical and by his donations to various community projects, church programs, and athletic events. A man who loved collectibles, Oscar frequented estate sales, sports events, and, without exception, the annual Labor Day Hillsville, Virginia Flea Market. This time he brought back apples to give to family and friends. His greatest love was bargaining with merchants to get a better price and finding his way behind the scenes to acquire the autograph of the celebrity whose event he was attending! Christmas Day often found him at the Senior Center in Troy helping to serve the turkey family meal to those who had no family with whom to celebrate the day. Weekday mornings usually found him having breakfast at the Better Burger with his buddies who fondly knew him as "Big O." To family, he is remembered as the one who "has always been there for us and to inspire us." As a friend once said, "you had to be under a rock not to know Oscar." He loved everyone and everyone loved him. To say he will be greatly missed is an understatement. A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church, Troy, NC on Sunday, September 13, at 3:00 PM conducted by his friend Dr. Ed Lindsey. The family will greet friends immediately following the Celebration. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Health Hospice and Palliative Care of Pinehurst, 155 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst, NC 28374, the Youth Fund of First Baptist Church, 401 E. Main Street, Troy, NC 27371; the Youth Fund of First Wesleyan Church, 1368 NC Hwy 134N, Troy, NC 27371; or to a favorite charity. Pugh-Troy Funeral Home is serving the Lemonds Family.