Lily Anita Arneson Pressly of Statesville, N.C., passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2020. She was 98.

Mrs. Pressly was born September 9, 1922, in San Antonio, Texas, and was the daughter of the late Anita Park Arneson and Edwin Percival Arneson. Her father designed the famous River Walk complex, Paseo del Rio in San Antonio. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. On October 6, 1945, she married Dr. David L. Pressly, who passed away in 1990. They moved to Statesville, where they were members of the First ARP Church.

For forty years, Mrs. Pressly was a pioneer in providing services for special needs children and adults in the Iredell County community. She helped to start and establish the Iredell County Day Care Center for handicapped children. She helped to provide recreation services to children in the special education classes in the Statesville City Schools. Later, she helped to start and establish the Adult Learning Center in Troutman to serve clients who had aged out of the public schools but were not well enough advanced for the workshop.

Mrs. Pressly is survived by four children, David Lowry Pressly Jr. and wife Tammy of Statesville, Penelope Pressly of Statesville, Edwin Arneson Pressly and wife Elisa of Statesville, Rebecca Arneson Pressly Inglefield; and six grandchildren, Lowry Pressly, James Pressly, Carolyn P. Ryan, Erica P. Kaplan, Thacher Inglefield and Park Inglefield.

In addition to her parents and husband, Anita was preceded in death by one son, John Laurens Pressly, who died in 1999.

A family graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Phillip McCoy officiating. A memorial service will be held later at First ARP Church.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Anita Pressly.