Dorcas Irene Fender Halsey was born to Mallie Farmer Fender and Grover Cleveland Fender on April
24th, 1925 in the Bridle Creek Community of Grayson County. She was the sixth of seven children raised
on the Fender Farm. Her brothers Paul, Samuel and Ivan and her sisters Rose, Virgie and Catherine were
close to Irene throughout her life. Irene spent her formative years living with her sisters in the Newport
News and Richmond areas, she graduated from Morrison High School in Richmond in 1943. Irene's
lifelong love of the fine arts, ceramics, art glass and fashion culminated at a young age. In 1944, Irene
earned a degree from the National Academy of Dress Design where she had studied fashion, sketching
and pattern design. In the 1950's Irene returned to Grayson County and moved with her parents to a
home located in East Independence. Irene married Bays Merton Halsey of Fox Creek in 1960 and they
enjoyed thirty-two (32) years of marriage until Bays sadly passed in 1992. Irene had a lifelong career in
the garment industry. She began her career at Thalhimers in Richmond during the 1940's. In Grayson
County she worked at Klear-Knit, Inc, Grayson Mills & Hosiery and in the Accounting Office of Grayson
Garment until she retired in 1986. Irene is survived by her son Thomas Bays Halsey of Independence
and her daughter in-law, Elaine Rita Holeton of Independence. She will be greatly missed by her friends
at Grayson Nursing and Rehabilitation, her lifelong friends and acquaintances and her extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Mountain Valley Hospice, 401
Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030, in honor of Irene Fender Halsey. A private
ceremony and scattering of ashes will be held for Irene at her old homeplace in Bridle Creek later this
year.