Katie Marie Hoffler began the life God assigned to her on March 14, 1924. She was reared by her grandparents Columbus and Emma Greene in the Dry Creek Community of Montgomery County, North Carolina. Her early years were spent in a quiet country setting in a committed Christian home. Marie was educated in the public schools in Montgomery County, and graduated from Peabody High School in Troy, NC. She attended Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC, and Nassau Community College in Garden City, NY, where she was successful in completing the secretarial science program. After an illustrious career as a bank bookkeeper, and a supervisor at AT&T Telephone Co., she retired from Hofstra University as an administrative assistant to the Director of Personnel Payroll and Staff Benefits. During a Christmas break from college, Marie visited her parents in Norfolk, Virginia, where she met the love of her life, Vernon Hoffler. They were married December 25, 1944, and enjoyed over 60 years of matrimony bliss, until Vernon’s death in 2012. Their careers took them to New York City and Hemstead Long Island. After Marie’s sister Alean died, she and her husband opened arms and took Alean’s son in, Michael Elston at the age of four, and raised him as their own. After forty-six years living in the New York area, the Hofflers moved back to Virginia. They were devoted members of the United Methodist Church in Hemstead, Long Island, New York, and the Aldersgate United Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. After the death of her husband, Marie moved to Huntsville, Alabama and then to the Gardens at Wakefield Plantation, an independent living residence in Raleigh, North Carolina. She seldom missed church services there at the Gardens, enjoyed the shopping trips, and often relished in the fellowship of friends. She was an avid reader, designer of beautiful knit and crocheted crafts. She recently developed a passionate love and interest in painting. She will be remembered most by family and friends for her warm thoughts, well wishes, and expressions of love she sent without fail through the many holiday and birthday cards to all. Marie certainly enjoyed family reunions, for which you could always count on her attendance. After returning to North Carolina, she also revived her association with the Peabody High School Reunion. She enjoyed traveling and was a member of the International Red Hat Society. Almost overnight life changed. The pain of a stroke brought her to Clinton, NC, where family and friends surrounded her with love. She stepped out of her body of pain on February 17, 2017 and into the presence of Jesus and loved ones who preceded her in death. Preceding her in death in recent years were her brother, Dr. Alfonzo Greene, Sr.; a sister, Joyce Burke; a niece, Dana Rankin; son, Michael Elston; sister-in-law Margaret Walker; and husband, Vernon Hoffler. Marie left to cherish her memories: Brother: Joe Rankin (Rose), Hickory, NC Sister in law: Estella Greene, Huntsville, AL Grandchildren: Ashley Elston, Terry Lema, and their mother, Elizabeth Lema 2 Great Grands: Michael and Aubrey Devoted Cousin: Hazel Colwell and children (Tonya, Travis and Lisa) Others: A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, and friends

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