N.W. Midyette

Dr. Norfleet Ward Midyette, age 87 of Elizabethtown, died Monday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He is preceded in death by his parents, Allen L. and Gertrude Ward Midyette; and his wife, Shirley K. Midyette.

He served in the Marine Corps during World War II. After completing veterinary school, Dr. Midyette opened the first veterinary practice in Bladen County fifty-nine years ago. In addition to running his practice, he was a member of the Bladen County Board of Health for more than twenty years, provided mobile rabies clinics in the county for numerous years, and received the Outstanding Chamber Member Award in June 2007. He was also a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Dr. N.W. Midyette was a veritable institution for Bladen County, and during his over a half century as "Doc" he has in one way or another touched the lives of a majority of its residents.

He is survived by two sons, Norfleet W. Midyette, Jr. and Mark Allen Midyette and wife Becky, all of Elizabethtown; one daughter, Debra Kay Midyette of Charlotte; one brother,Allen Lindsay Midyette of Massachusetts; five grandchildren, Christian Alexander and Adam Gabriel Midyette of Elizabethtown, Catherine Midyette Clowers of Haworth, Oklahoma and Virginia Alyson and Amber Leann Midyette, both of Bladenboro; and three great granddaughters and two great grandsons.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home. Services will be conducted on Friday, January 18, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Jay Winston. Burial will follow at Old Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bladen County Animal Shelter, 506 Smith Circle, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 or A Shelter Friend, PO Box 2983, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.