Myrtle Gaye (Bennett) Nugen, 70, of Hampton, died September 2, 2023 in the arms of her daughter Rachel and surrounded by her family. Myrtle was born on November 6, 1952 in Abraham, WV to the late Orda William Bennett and Leona Faye (Todd) Bennett. She was the youngest of ten children.  In 1971 she graduated from Shady Spring High School, Shady Spring WV.  During the same year she married Richard Nugen and their union lasted 22 years together, and they had one daughter, Rachel Karen Nugen.  As a young military wife, she lived in Turkey before finally settling in Virginia which has been her home for the last 50 years.  Throughout her life she worked at McDonald's, Western Sizzlin, Red Barn, Ollie's, and Walmart.  She loved her job as a self-check-out clerk at Walmart.  Always greeting people with a smile and going out of her way to help them.  Throughout the years she won many awards for "Outstanding Customer Service".  As a member of Langley Baptist Church she enjoyed church services, singing, and going to the fellowship dinners.  She loved spending time with her friends and family.  Especially going to festivals, craft shows, concerts, movies, line dancing, the beach, yard sales, shopping, and traveling.  For her daughter's 30th birthday, they had the most amazing adventure cruise to Tahiti. Myrtle loved to dress up and she had the most beautiful style for fashion.  She always had a sparkle in her pretty blue eyes and a smile that would light up any room.  She had an incredible sense of humor, the most infectious laugh, and was great at playing jokes.  Her home was open to everyone, and her hospitality undoubtedly made them feel important. Of course, she was a phenomenal cook and made the best peanut butter no-bake cookies which she made for her daughter every year.  She enjoyed her life, living each day to the fullest, and always encouraging others to smile and be happy. The words she lived by were "luv2laff".  She was the most devoted, loving, compassionate, understanding mother and grandmother.  How proud she was to be a grandmother to Myra and Lily.  She taught them so many things and cherished every moment she had with them, making sure she was there for every part of their life. They were her world along with her daughter whom she had the closest bond with.  There was never a day that went by that she did not talk or communicate with her daughter.  She loved her daughter unconditionally and she was so proud of her.  Myrtle had the kindest soul, and she was the most beautiful person inside and out.  She may have been stubborn and onery at times, but she was the strongest person ever.  A precious gift from God and we all were blessed to have had her in our lives.  Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents, Orda William Bennett and Leona Faye (Todd) Bennett), brothers:  Reo, Roy, Arlo, and Ernest, and sisters:  Geneva and Mogene. Survivors include her daughter, Rachel Nugen-Hasson and husband Chris, granddaughters Myra Kathryn Hasson and Lily Madelyn Hasson, former husband, Richard Nugen all of Hampton, VA.  Sisters Ethel (Mervel) Plumley of Beckley, WV, Theda (Ray) Fox of Layland, WV, Wanda Glover of Fort Wayne, IN, Nephew Daris (Anna) Plumley of Beckley WV, Best Friends: Joyce Cole, Patricia Dixon, Barbara Armstrong. Special friend Marian Cotton, her extended family in Singapore, and many other family members and friends.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 3-4pm at Langley Baptist Church.  116 E. Little Back River Rd. Hampton, VA 23669 with a funeral service officiated by Pastor Ben to follow at 4pm.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

Arrangements in Hampton by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. Services in West Virginia are under the care of Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home in Beckley.