Ida Belle McKinney Bazzarre completed a life abundantly well lived on July 3, 2015, at Croasdaile Village Pavilion in Durham, NC. She was born July 11, 1922 to Thomas Samuel McKinney and Lilly Belle Ashworth McKinney on their family farm in Ghent, WV. The youngest of 13, Ida was a proud West Virginia native and patriot whose heritage traced back to the earliest days of American history.

After graduating from Shady Springs High School in Ghent, she moved to Beckley to study at Beckley College, where she met the love of her life, Major Alfred B. Bazzarre, Sr., known as “Sweets” to family and close friends. They married on Sept. 14, 1944 and had three children – Al, Jr., Terry Lee and Mary Lynn. They lived a wonderful life as an Air Force family traveling around the United States and the world. In each of the nine states and internationally in the Philippines and Germany where her family was stationed, Ida embraced the culture and people she met.

Upon her husband’s retirement from the Air Force in 1964, the family moved from Shaw Air Force Base, SC to Arlington, VA where Ida began her career as an executive secretary working at the Pentagon and for the Federal Power Commission. In 1976, they moved to Fayetteville, NC, where they built the retirement home of their dreams. Ida continued working for the Department of Defense with the Joint Unconventional Task Force at Fort Bragg until her retirement in 1984. As a military spouse, mother of a service member and federal employee, she loved supporting the exceptional warriors and all they did for our nation.

She approached life with passion and was known for saying, “Every day that God gives me is a good day.” She enjoyed many hobbies – sewing, ceramics, doll collecting and gardening – and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. With her great sense of humor, she loved to tease in a kind and playful way.

She was preceded in death by her dear “Sweets” (1988); her son,CW4 Alfred B. Bazzarre, Jr., US Army (2012); her parents and 12 siblings.

She is survived by her children, son, Terry L. Bazzarre of Efland, NC, and daughter, Mary Lynn Schnurr of Fairfax, VA; in-laws Christine Bazzarre, Carla Bazzarre and Rodney Schnurr; five grandchildren, Angie Davis (Chris), Melanie Klotz (Bill), Rae Bazzarre, Ryan Schnurr and Rebecca Bazzarre; four great grandchildren, Colton Davis and Ava, Jake and Cale Klotz; brother-in-law Roy Bazzarre and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service officiated by Mr. Cecil McKinney will be held on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 11:00 AM in Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery, Fort Bragg, NC. The family will receive friends at Adcock Funeral Home from 9:30 to 10:30 AM prior to the service.

The family thanks the staff at Croasdaile for their loving care and support.