Ida Mae Bazemore Lehotay

Ida Mae Bazemore Lehotay, age 95, passed away peacefully March 15, 2020. She was born January 28, 1925 in Cradock, Virginia to the late William Jefferson and Anna Leah Bazemore. She married her best friend, Elmer Lehotay, in January of 1946 who preceded her in death in 1980.

Ida cherished her family by volunteering at schools, leading Brownie and Girl Scout troops, being active in her church and working outside the home as a secretary for many places including the Norfolk Naval Yard. She was past Honor Queen in Job Daughters and a current member of the Order of Eastern Star Empire Chapter #251. In her retirement, she loved spending time with family and friends celebrating the joys of life. She treasured watching her family grow with all the additions of great grandchildren. She also loved spending time in her garden maintaining and rooting gardenia bushes. In her later years she loved to travel with cousins and friends to local and foreign destinations. Her favorite trip of all time was when she took a cruise around the world on the Queen Elizabeth II. While she was an avid card player, her recent joy was playing Phase 10 with her friend, Joan.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, George William Bazemore; her sister, Elsie Miriam Bazemore Shannon; her daughter, Elizabeth Lehotay Turner; and her grandson, Andrew Elmer Lehotay.

She leaves behind her loving family to remember all the good times shared: her daughter Anna Leah Lehotay Armstrong (Fred), daughter-in-law Karen Lehotay, son-in-law Donald Turner; five grandchildren: Robert William Armstrong (Cindy), Anna Leah Armstrong Marz (Val), Amelia Jean Gaines (Chris), Andrea Beth McKnight (Tuffy), Elizabeth Ann Butler (Justin); eleven great-grandchildren: Robert William Armstrong Jr, Thomas Cody Armstrong, J Wyatt Armstrong, Caitlyn Mae Armstrong, Isabella Annaliese Marz, Alexandra Merritt Gaines, Carter Drew Gaines, Annabelle Gracin McKnight, Ansley Beth McKnight, Elizabeth Elaine Butler, and William Bennett Butler. She also leaves behind her faithful companion of 12 years, Happy, a black and white Havanese who would sit on the screened porch with her for hours at a time.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 10:00 am at Mauldin United Methodist Church. The Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM in the church Sanctuary officiated by Rev. Dick Herd and Rev. Smoke Kanipe. The Order of Eastern Star funeral service will be graciously given by Empire Chapter #251 of Mauldin as part of the service. Interment will follow in the Mauldin United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Mauldin United Methodist Church, the Order of Eastern Star, and the McCall Hospice House for their loving care and compassion to Ida during her final journey in life. In lieu of flowers, tributes and donations can be given in her honor to one of the following: Mauldin United Methodist Church (100 East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC 29662), Order of Eastern Star Empire Chapter #251 (c/o Nancy Silvers, 103 Harness Trail, Simpsonville, SC 29681), or McCall Hospice House (1836 W Georgia Rd, Simpsonville, SC 29680).