Mammoth Crossword puzzle looks back on 2023
DONALD PINKNEY GANTT
Donald Pinkney Gantt passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, after an extended illness, days short of his 84th birthday. And to his final day, he was surrounded by family and loved ones, who gathered at his home for Christmas even without him when there wasn’t enough room at the hospital for them all.
That was typical of a man who welcomed and collected people around him like the fine items he found at the flea market — prolifically and continuously, even when it seemed like there were already plenty and you might not know where to put them all. There was always room for more.
Born in 1939 to the late Floyd Gantt and Willie Hedrick Gantt, he was a lifelong resident of Catawba County and member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where he met his Sunday School sweetheart and faithful wife of 63 years, Sandra Hefner Gantt. The two were inseparable over those years, with his devotion and respect for her matched only by her tireless and meticulous care for him. Their family never had to wonder what it meant to love because they saw what it looked like and how it worked every day.
Don was a decorated volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America for most of his life, as a charter leader of Troop 341 at St. Peter’s, serving two terms as Scoutmaster. He was honored with many of Scouting’s highest honors, including the Silver Beaver, the Lamb Award for promoting Scouting’s religious programs, and the Lakeland District Scoutmaster of the Year. He was also a Vigil Honor member in the Order of the Arrow, which is also known as the “brotherhood of cheerful service.” Those words were central to the life he lived.
Whether it was serving as a member of the Laymen’s League at his home church, Scouting, or the many youth-related activities at St. Peter’s, he freely gave of his time throughout his life, putting the needs of others first.And he always did it with a smile on his face, a quick wit, and an innate sense of humor based on putting everyone at ease rather than excluding anyone.
That was especially true when it came to his family, as laughter flowed at every gathering to the very end. But he’d also eagerly put himself between any of them and trouble, and as easily as he’d laugh, he’d stand on principle. He built a home for his family with his own two hands after his workday was done and provided for his family’s needs and the needs of others generously.
Did we mention he once landed a plane on top of a hardware store?
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Floyd Jr. and Harold Lee, his sister-in-law Judy, and brother-in-law Jim Davis.
He’s survived by his wife Sandra, whom he married on Sept. 11, 1960, and stayed by her side and honored her to the final day of those 63 blessed years together because he knew what she meant to him, the family, and the community that surrounds them now offering the support they provided to so many.
He’s also survived by his three sons and their wives: Mark and Diane Gantt of Conover, N.C., Kevin and Susan Gantt of Hickory, N.C., and Darin Gantt and Katie Fine of Charlotte, N.C.
And fitting with his commitment to collecting former strangers and quickly making them family as he displayed throughout his years, he’s also survived by a vast and everexpanding network of 12 grandchildren. That group includes Jackson Gantt and Madeleine Weider of Portland, Ore.; Carson Gantt, whose mail comes to Conover, N.C. while she’s on world tour; Layton and Anna Gantt of Creedmoor, N.C.; Lauren Gantt of Raleigh, N.C.; Elliott Gantt of Hickory, N.C.; Anna Gantt of Charlotte, N.C.; Sam Gantt of Charlotte, N.C.; David Fine of Raleigh, N.C.; Allison Fine of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Samantha Fine of Charlotte, N.C. Don’t get them started on his great-grandson Henry Gantt of Creedmoor, N.C., unless you have plenty of time.
He’s also survived by his sister-in-law Jeanette Gantt of Conover, N.C.; sister Jean Davis of Conover, N.C.; sister Ruth Hefner and her husband Larry of Claremont, N.C.; brotherin-law Randy Hefner of Hickory, N.C., and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Scout Troop 341 or any of his beloved youth programs at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 6175 St. Peter’s Church Rd. Conover, NC 28613
The funeral will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m., and the family will begin receiving friends at 12:30 p.m. prior to the service.
Condolences may be sent to the Gantt family at www. drumfh-conover.com
Drum Funeral Home of Conover is assisting the family.
With the end of the year approaching, it’s an ideal time to look back at the highs, lows, celebrations and ceremonies of 2023. News pages, websites and social media feeds were filled with hundreds of stories about pop culture events, celebrity updates and eclectic trivia. Those news nuggets became inspiration for clues in the Annual Year-in-Review Crossword Puzzle, appearing today in this edition of the Observer News Enterprise. If you want a sneak peek at some hints for the puzzle, or perhaps just a review of the buzzworthy moments of the year, read on as we recap some highs, lows, memories and milestones of 2023.
For starters, it was a big year for celebrities to release their memoirs and as always, they dropped a few bombshells along the way. Britney Spears ended an early pregnancy, she wrote in her book. Barbra Streisand still gets hurt when people comment on her looks, according to her new book. Paris Hilton wrote about how her Grade 8 teacher inappropriately kissed her. Jada Pinkett Smith revealed she has lived separately from husband Will for seven years. And Prince Harry? He admitted he froze his private bits during an expedition to the North Pole.
Looking back on the year also leads to reflection about those who passed away, including many who seem to be gone too soon. Friends star Matthew Perry was just 54 years old when he passed away in October. That’s the same age as Elvis’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January. Sinead O’Connor was just 56 when she died in July.
Other celebrity deaths in 2023 included: actor Tom Sizemore, 61; actor Paul Reubens (AKA Pee-wee Herman), 70; actress Suzanne Somers, 76; singer Jimmy Buffett, 76; dancer Len Goodman, 78; musician Jeff Beck, 78; TV host Jerry Springer, 79; actor Richard Moll, 80; singer Robbie Robertson, 80; actor Richard Roundtree, 81; singer David Crosby, 81; actress Raquel Welch, 82; actor Michael Gambon, 82; singer Tina Turner, 83; singer Gordon Lightfoot, 84; singer Roger Whittaker, 87; actress Piper Laurie, 91; composer Burt Bacharach, 94; legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett, 96; singer Harry Belafonte, 96; and, former Price is Right host Bob Barker, 99.
On a brighter note, a number of celebrities celebrated milestone birthdays. Heidi Klum turned 50. December marks Brad Pitt’s 60th. Drew Carey and Sharon Stone both hit 65 this year. Cyndi Lauper, Tim Allen and Hulk Hogan turned 70. Robert de Niro celebrated his 80th; so did Mick Jagger and Chevy Chase. And, Willie Nelson and Carol Burnett both turned 90.
Celebrations also occurred for the Denver Nuggets, who grabbed the NBA championship. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers captured the World Series; the Vegas Golden Knights hoisted hockey’s Stanley Cup; and, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl. It was the second time Travis Kelce was on a Super
Bowl winning team, but it was his personal life outside football that became even more buzzworthy as he began dating Taylor Swift.
For Swift, 2023 was a golden year. She launched The Eras Tour, smashing concert and ticket sales records everywhere she’s been and is going. A movie about the concert tour broke even more records and Forbes estimated she’s now worth more than a billion dollars.
Speaking of golden, the Golden Bachelor debuted, proving it’s never too late to find love and that reality show dating isn’t just for the young and thin. The tube also mesmerized millions with The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Abbott Elementary.
It was a good year at the movies, too. Sell-out crowds went to see Barbie and stayed for Oppenheimer.
The year also saw Beyonce reign as queen of the Grammys, as she became the most awarded artist. Another royal coronation? Charles was officially crowned king.
The year 2023 also marked a number of notable anniversaries: The Simpsons had their 750th episode. RuPaul’s Drag Race recorded its 200th episode. Jimmy Kimmel marked 20 years of being a late night talk show host. And, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick celebrated 35 years of marriage -- an anniversary reached by few celebrity couples.
Other good news? The ozone layer improved! The Beatles released a new song. Jeremy Renner survived a bizarre snowplow accident. Harrison Ford brought back Indiana Jones. Pickleball was everywhere.