Pauline M. stone: September 7, 1930 ~ January 16, 2024
Pauline M. Stone, 93, of Geneseo, passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Hammond Henry Hospital – Long Term Care Unit, Geneseo. Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Kelly Stone will officiate. The memorial service will be livestreamed at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com/live-stream. Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, prior to the memorial service at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational Church Geneseo.
Pauline, along with her twin brother Paul, was born September 7, 1930, the daughter of Emory and Oney (Johnson) Musselwhite in Saint Pauls, NC. As her mother died shortly after childbirth, Pauline and Paul were raised by their aunt Ethel Hayes Musselwhite, who was their mother in every way. Paul passed in their toddler years. She graduated from Milford High School, class of 1948. On October 30, 1948, she married Thomas Stone. He preceded her in death on July 15, 1998. While she claims homemaker and mother as her career, Pauline worked diligently throughout her lifetime in numerous positions, from waitressing to retail. She turned her love of dolls into a successful business, operating a doll and dollhouse store (Jackie’s Doll House) in the 1970’s in Milford and later in Geneseo, IL. After raising their children, Tom and Pauline retired to Holly Hills, FL where they owned and operated a bait shop (The Happy Fisherman) until Toms passing. Pauline collected dolls, loved to crochet and read in her spare time. Family and friends were always welcomed in her home with a hot cup of coffee and offered a sweet treat or meal. She loved spending time with her large family and was a great cook. She was proud member of the United Federation of Doll Collectors, Women’s Fellowship at First Congregational Church and volunteer at Hammond Henry Auxiliary. Pauline will be remembered as someone hardworking, kind and loving.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Thomas (Catherine) Stone Jr. of Geneseo, Wayne (Holly) Stone of Geneseo, Ellenita Lloyd of Williamsport, PA, Rebecca (Sue Lundgren) Derwin of Geneseo, and Jacqueline (Steve) Despain of Geneseo; grandchildren, Melanie (Aubrey) Wilson, Amanda (Frankie) Cuevas, , Thomas J. Stone III, Jason (Anne Marie) Stone, Kelly J. (John Anderson) Stone, Michael (Christie) Stone, Raymond Lloyd, Jessica Lloyd, Tonia (Joe) Ropp, Joseph (Michele) Derwin II, Bonnie Despain, Ellyn Despain, and William Despain; great-grandchildren, Rose Stone Bealer, Emma Stone, Hannah Stone, Annabelle Ropp, Ashley Anderson, Isaac Ropp, Ariella Cuevas, Cameron Wiley, Thalia Cuevas, Jackson Anderson, Lucas Stone, Ryan Stone; brother, Michael (Martha) Musselwhite of Wingate, NC, and sister, Lilly Mills of Wingate, NC.
Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, Emory and Oney Musselwhite; adoptive mother Ethel Musselwhite; her husband, Thomas; siblings, Graham, Glen, Roy, Marvin, JC, Romie, Dorothy, Paul, William, Simon, Cecil, Frank, Elzie, and Martha Ann.