Lela Mae (Branch) Fish

Lela Mae Fish, age 88 of Shelby, died Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Atrium Health-Cleveland.  She was born on February 9, 1933, in Rutherford County and was a daughter of the late John Sylvester and Maude Lee Morrow Branch. 

Lela was a beautician and was the owner and operator of Lela’s Hair Styling for many years.  She was also a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked at Cleveland Pines Nursing Center where she retired.  She was also a member of the former John Knox Presbyterian Church in Shelby.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Carolyn Kiser and brothers, J. D. Branch and Troy Branch. 

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, James D. Fish, her son, Ricky D. Dobbins and wife Mary Judy Dobbins, her granddaughter, Chrissy Baughman Irvin and husband Guy, her grandson, Eric Jason Dobbins, a great-granddaughter, Candice L. Baughman, and great-grandsons, Chad D. Baughman, Liam Dobbins, and Kuy Irvin.

The funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, in The Padgett and King Chapel, officiated by her brother-in-law, O. A. Fish.  Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at Cleveland Memorial Park, Shelby.  The family will receive friends from 1:30 until the hour of service at the mortuary.

Memorials may be made to South Mountain Christian Camp, Post Office Box 9, Bostic, North Carolina 28139.
The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.