Peggy Ann Robbins Sellers was called home on May 17, 2023. She was 91.

Peggy will be remembered as a pioneer, a woman who charted her course through life the only way she knew how: her way, colorfully.

She was born on July 14, 1931, and raised in Blowing Rock, attending Blowing Rock School. After graduating from high school, Peggy moved to Boston to study dramatic theatre, then began work with National Airlines as a stewardess (that's what they called themselves back then). During those years, a talent scout decided she had nice legs and hired her on the spot as a pantyhose model.

In 1957, she married Charles Sellers, Jr. and started a family, first living in Winston-Salem and later moving to Birmingham, Alabama.

In the 1970s, Peggy moved with her children back to Blowing Rock where she took over supervising one of the Robbins family businesses, The Blowing Rock attraction, which she managed for almost 40 years, well into her 80s.

Peggy had tourism in her DNA. She was the last member of the Robbins siblings who created and promoted tourism in the High Country. It was a family entertainment resume that included development of The Blowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears, the Elk River Club and The Land of Oz on Beech Mountain. As the longtime manager of The Blowing Rock, Peggy Sellers is credited with taking it to a much higher level of tourism focused business.

Her friends describe her sense of humor as "Gracie Allen wit," in the style of the vaudevillian, singer, actress and comedian who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of her husband and straight man, George Burns. Say something and Peggy was quick with her own one-liners, right back at you.

Known by her granddaughters as "Grandma Mountain," Peggy Sellers may have been the original "helicopter mom." She always seemed to know what her kids and grandkids were up to (or into). She loved to cook but, in her younger years, a vivacious Sellers was also known to skillfully "cut a rug" dancing, including the jitterbug, among other popular dance styles of the time.

She was widely regarded as honest, caring and hardworking, instilling a strong work ethic in her children — and that she demanded from her employees.

Peggy Sellers is survived by daughter Sara Miller Sellers; son Charlie Sellers and wife, Deatra; granddaughters Jacquelynn Sellers and Heather Sellers, and seven great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her father, Grover Cleveland Robbins, Sr.; mother Lena Miller Robbins; siblings Grover Cleveland Robbins, Jr., Lena Robbins Brooks, Harry C. Robbins, Spencer Robbins, and Ruth Robbins Botzis.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 2 p.m., at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock. Visitation will be in the church Fellowship Hall from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. For those unable to attend the services in person, they will be streamed live on the church's YouTube channel or accessible on the church website, www.rumplechurch.org

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Peggy Ann Robbins Sellers honor to Amorem Hospice of the High Country, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation or Rumple Presbyterian Church

Online condolences may be sent to the Sellers family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.