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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 1, 2012

William Gilbert McGuire

Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 1, 2012

William Gilbert McGuire, D. July 27, 2012
William Gilbert McGuire, 74, of Edgemont Rd., Collettsville, NC, the Careys Flat Community, passed away on the morning of Friday, July 27, 2012 at his residence.

A native of Watauga County, NC, he was born on March 20, 1938, a son of the late Colfax Millard McGuire and Mae Belle Ward McGuire. He was a retired truck driver and avid outdoorsman. Gilbert was a charter member of the Careys Flat Hunting Club and a member of the New Hopewell Baptist Church. He enjoyed playing his banjo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Irene Gragg McGuire of the home; daughters, Elizabeth and Steve Smith of Careys Flat, Lisa and Lewis Hollars of Careys Flat, Kim and Bart Farmer of Wingate, NC; son, Ricky Lee McGuire of Careys Flat; sister, Lindy Lou Price of Zionville, NC; brother, Jack Otis McGuire of Lenoir, NC; seven grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Gilbert McGuire will be held on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at the New Hopewell Baptist Church, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Lane Hamby, Rev. Carl Osborne, Preacher Lewis Hollars, and Preacher Gary Gragg will officiate. Interment will follow in the New Hopewell Cemetery. The family will gather with friends on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the church, until the service time.

Memorials may be made to the New Hopewell Baptist Church, 5086 Edgemont Rd, Collettsville, NC 28611.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rsfh.net.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the McGuire family.

JD Ellis, D. July 25, 2012
John Dean “JD” Ellis, age 88, of Elk Park, NC, went home to the Lord on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. He was born on December 12, 1923, a son of the late John Wesley and Bessie Hampton Ellis. JD was also preceded in death by his sister, Pauline and brother, Clark.

JD was a proud US Army Veteran of World War II having served in G106th Infantry and being held a Prisoner of War in Germany. He was the last surviving Charter Member of the Pat Ray Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars #4286.

Along with his mother, he owned and operated the Store at Heaton until 1974. He also owned and operated Leon Holder Wholesale.

JD was an avid fisherman and golfer.

He was a life long member and Trustee of Heaton Christian Church. For many years he served the community as a member of the Avery County Board of Education, Avery Development Corporation, Avery County Bank, Banner Elk Bank, Sloop Memorial Hospital, and the Selective Service Draft Board.

JD is survived by his wife of 62 years, Annie Ruth Eller Ellis; children, Pat Edwards, and husband, Gary, of Elk Park, Pam Jameson, and husband, Charlie, of Roan Mountain, TN, David Ellis, and wife, Kathy, of Elk Park, Jane Bumgarner, and husband, Chris, of Heaton; sisters, Mary Evelyn Martin and husband Curtis, Helen Ellis; grandchildren: Meredith Edwards Marinelli, Caroline Edwards Turner, Megan Edwards, Johanna Jameson, Annie Ellis, Katie Ellis, Carter Bumgarner, Cassie Bumgarner, Luke Tatum, Molly Tatum Nelson, Tina Jameson, Scott Jameson; seven great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Services for JD Ellis will be held on Sunday, July 29, at 4:00 p.m. at the Heaton Christian Church with Mr. Durl Jones, Jr., officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 pm Sunday at the church.

Interment will follow in the Elk Park Cemetery on Brooks Shell Rd, with military honors provided by the members of the Pat Ray Post of the VFW.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Heaton Christian Church Building Fund, PO Box 217, Elk Park, NC 28622.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rsfh.net.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Ellis family.

Preacher Collis Sheppard

Preacher Collis Sheppard, D. July 24, 2012
Preacher Charles Collis Sheppard, age 79, of Newland went home to be with his Lord & Savior Tuesday, July 24, 2012.

A native of Avery County, he was born October 19, 1932 a son of the late Roy and Martha Gwyn Sheppard .

Collis was a pastor of several surrounding churches and pastored for several years in Marietta, South Carolina. He was currently the pastor of Blevins Creek Freewill Baptist Church where he was cherished and loved dearly for 9 years. He spread the gospel and showed God’s love totaling a number of 47 years.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, farming, gardening, fishing and most of all spreading God’s word.

Along with his parents, Collis was preceded in death by his: daughter, Linda Sheppard; sister, Margaret Hodges.

A beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend to so many, he has left to cherish his memory his: wife of 58 years, Madeline Palmer Sheppard of the home; children, Rita Boger and husband Bob of Salisbury, NC, Brenda Rupard and husband Tommy of Woodleaf, NC, Stanley Sheppard and wife Liz of Newland, NC, Barbara Shook and husband Lynn of Cleveland, NC, Danny Sheppard and wife Dulcey of Newland, NC, Kathy Shook of Elk Park, NC, Elizabeth Turbyfill and husband Michael of Banner Elk, NC, Loretta Daniels and husband Rex of Newland, NC, Anita Goforth and husband Keith of Banner Elk, NC, Libby Brown and husband Cecil of Newland, NC; brothers, Ed Sheppard of Elk Park, NC, J.D. Sheppard of Lenoir, NC; sister, Lois Latcham of Newland, NC; 30 grandchildren; 59 great grandchildren; 9 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Preacher Charles Collis Sheppard will be conducted on Thursday, July 26th at 2:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Rev. Roy Whitson, Rev. John Stockton and Rev. Elmer Gobble officiating. Interment will follow in the Palmer Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 25th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Sheppard family.

Sanford Greene, D. July 19, 2012
Sanford Larry Greene, age 64, of Newland passed away on Thursday July 19, 2012 at his residence.

A native of Avery County, he was born February 14, 1948 a son of Sue Puett Greene of Pinebluff, NC and the late Bernard Randall Greene.

He had worked as Golf Course Superintendent for Fox Fire Golf Course in Pinehurst, NC and enjoyed playing golf, hunting and looked forward to the Greene family annual Thanksgiving Hunt every year.

Along with his mother, Sanford has left to cherish his memory his: wife Pat Greene of the home; brother, Randy Greene of Carthage, NC; daughter, Hannah Greene of Johnson City, TN; sons, Sanford Greene of Linville, Gary Thomas of Sanford, NC, Bennett Sweat; grandsons, Brent Thomas, Hayden Greene.

Graveside services for Sanford Larry Greene will be conducted on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. at the Tanglewood Cemetery with Rev. Lonnie Barnes officiating.

The family respectfully requests no flowers, but for memorials to be made to: Medi Home Hospice at PO Box 1357 Newland, NC 28657.

Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Greene family.

Listings of Funeral Homes in Avery County:

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland:
296 Ash Street
P.O. Box 215
Newland, NC 28657
828-733-2121
www.rsfh.net/