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Avery, Watauga Obituaries – June 9, 2015

David Allen Shore (Sept. 20, 1956 – June 7, 2015)

Mr. David A. Shore, 58, of Seven Devils Road, Banner Elk, passed away Sunday morning, June 7, 2015, at his residence.

Shore with his wife and daughter
Shore with his wife and daughter

David was born September 20, 1956 in Watauga County, a son of Robert “Bob” Shore and the late Betty Jo Miller Shore. He was a self-employed landscaper and a member of Arbordale Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk.

After Jesus and family, David’s passion was bluegrass music. There was no instrument with strings that he could not play. Inspired by hearing the late “Doc” Watson, on the streets of Boone growing up, David committed himself to learning how to flat pick those great old bluegrass folk tunes. He had mastered the guitar by his twenties and soon learned mandolin, fiddle, and banjo.

Soon afterward, he gathered a group of pickers to form the Smokey Hollow Band and played numerous venues around the High Country. He never forgot his hero “Doc,” and got to know him personally. Through the years, many other bluegrass greats would cross his path and influence his music. David’s church family at Arbor Dale Presbyterian in Banner Elk, where he played in the praise band every Sunday before he got sick, will attest that he will now, undoubtedly, be making a joyful noise of praise to his Lord with a distinctly Blue Ridge version of classic Bluegrass gospel.

Until we all meet again up yonder, David, rest in peace our brother in Christ. We will miss you!

David is survived by his wife, Tina Shore of the home; one daughter, Chelsey Laine Shore of Boone; his father, Bob Shore and wife Jeanette of Blowing Rock; one sister, Janice Shore May and husband Chris of Wilmington. He is also survived by a number of nieces.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Jo Miller Shore.

A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. David A. Shore will be conducted Friday evening, June 12, 2015 at 7:00 o’clock at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Officiating will be Reverend Bud Russell.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 3505 Bamboo Road, Boone, North Carolina 28607 or to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645.

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

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

Captain Robert B. “Bob” Sullivan (June 10, 1925 – June 7, 2015)

Captain Robert B. “Bob” Sullivan, 89, of Old Hartley Road, Valle Crucis, passed away Sunday evening, June 7, 2015, at Watauga Medical Center.

Captain Sullivan was born Sept. 10, 1925 in Worcester, Massachusetts, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Sullivan. He was a retired US Navy Commander and as a pilot for Delta Airlines.

Captain Sullivan is survived by two sons, Bob Sullivan of Valle Crucis, and Jay Patrick Sullivan and wife Katie of Tyrone, Georgia; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and one sister, Patricia Cronin of Worcester, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Davis Sullivan, one brother and two sisters.

A memorial service for Captain Robert B. “Bob” Sullivan will be held at a later date.

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

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

Junior Miller (March 16, 1935 – June 5, 2015)

Mr. Junior Miller, 80, passed away Friday, June 05, 2015 at Wake Forest University Medical Center. Mr. Miller was born March 16, 1935 in Watauga County.

Miller
Miller

Mr. Miller was member of Bessie’s Chapel Baptist Church. He was retired from the US AirForce and G & B Oil Company where he won the Phillip M. Collins Memorial Award in 1999.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Goldie Miller Bryan; step-father, Herman Bryan and sister, Barbara Jackson.

Survivors include: his wife, Frances M. Miller of the home; sons, Dwayne Miller and wife Linda of Garner and Daniel Miller and wife Sarah of Huntersville; daughter, Kim Gaal and husband John of Elkins Park, PA; brothers, John Bryan, Joe Bryan, Terry Bryan, Jim Bryan, Corbit Bryan and Curtis Bryan; sisters, Betty Norris, Peggy Stroup and Lillie Roark; grandchildren, Tiffany Gaal, Josh Gaal, Dwayne “D.J.” Miller, Jr. SPC and wife Emilee, Brandon Miller, and Hope Miller; step-grandchildren, Gennifer Whitehead, Brandon Hudson and Seth Hudson.

A funeral service will be conducted Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Pastor Ralph Grose officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

A second funeral service will be conducted Monday, June 8, 2015 at 3:00 o’clock at Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church with Pastor Delmar James officiating. Military graveside rites and burial, provided by American Legion Post 130, will follow in the Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from Monday from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church, prior to the service.

The family requests memorials be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hopsital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family would like to thank Comprehensive Cancer Center of Elkin, WFBMC Cancer Center and WFBMC 7th & 8th floor Nurses for their care.

Elkin Funeral Service and Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service are in charge of the arrangements.

Stephenie J. Martel (Dec. 28, 1980 – June 5, 2015)

Martel
Martel

Stephenie Jean Martel, Steph, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2015. She was born on Dec. 28, 1980 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Jan Davis Martel and Edward S. Martel. She graduated from CCC with five degrees. Steph was very accomplished in many areas, as well as a published poet. A Yankee at heart, she was a ray of sunshine and love to all she knew.

A friend to all, if you know her you loved her, she will be eternally missed.

Stephenie is survived by her mother, Jan D. Martel, a brother, Jason and wife Donna, nephew Izaiah, niece London Martel, grandmother, Yvonne Davis, all of Boone, an uncle, Randy Davis and wife Stephanie, cousins, Samantha and Cassandra all of Malaysia, uncle James Davis of Indiana, aunts Pat Martel and Joy Martel of Massachusetts, as well as many cousins and very close friends.

Memorial services for Stephenie Jean Martel will be conducted Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 1 oclock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. The family will greet friends following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Watauga County Humane Society, PO Box 1835, Boone, North Carolina 28607.

Online condolences may be shared with the Martel family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Martel family.

Alvin Davis (June 15, 1936 – June 5, 2015)

DavisMr. Alvin Davis, 78, of Naples, Florida, and local resident of Linville Ridge, Cape Coral, Florida and Long Island, passed away Friday morning, June 5, 2015 at the Johnson City Medical Center.

Mr. Davis was born June 15, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Nathan Davis and Frances Resnick Davis. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, and was the manufacturer of the Super Soaker.

Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Fern Sandra Davis of Naples, Florida; one daughter, Missy Davis-Hetznecker and husband Paul of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania; one son, Richard Gary Davis and wife Valerie of Centerport, New York; two granddaughters, Aubrey Hetznecker and Mara Nicole Davis; three grandsons, Zachary Andrew Davis, Bryne Ryan Hetznecker and Kieran Layn Hetznecker; one sister, Ronda Davis Lande of Naples, Florida; one brother, Lowell Davis and wife Beverly of Berlin, Maryland; and his beloved companions, his dogs Bogi and Chanel.

A private memorial service for Mr. Alvin Davis was held Friday evening, June 5, 2015 at Hampton Funeral Service. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.

Online condolences may be sent to the Davis Family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

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

Ronald Jack Donaldson (Jan. 12, 1937 – June 4, 2015)

Dr. Ronald “Jack” Donaldson, 78, of Tyler, Texas and Boone, died Thursday, June 4, 2015.

Donaldson
Donaldson

Dr. Donaldson is survived by his wife, Susan L. Donaldson, of the home, one son, Jack “Whitney” Donaldson, of Tyler, Texas, and three daughters, Sarah Donaldson Jacobi and husband John, of Murchison, Texas, Sandra Donaldson Hipps and husband Chris, of Dallas, Texas and Julie Donaldson Moore, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, three granddaughters, Olivia Whitney Jacobi, of Dallas, Texas, Susanna Elizabeth Jacobi, of Murchison, Texas and Hutton Whitney Hipps, of Houston, Texas, five grandsons, Jack Dixon Vandeventer and wife Nixon, of Dallas, Texas, Grant Whitney Donaldson, of Tyler, Texas, Christopher Marion Hipps, Jr. of Dallas, Texas, John Roger Moore,V and Hamilton Gates Moore, both of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Jack Henry Donaldson and Ruby Marsh Donaldson.

Funeral services for Dr. Ronald “Jack” Donaldson will be conducted Wednesday morning, June 10, 2015, at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas. Officiating will be Reverend Stuart Baskin. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 5:00 until 7:00 o’clock at the Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas.

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

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service and Stewart Family Funeral Home are in charge of the arrangements.

Junior Miller (Feb. 15, 1980 – June 4, 2015)

Miller
Miller

Mr. Kenneth Thomas Miller, Jr., age 35, of Lenoir, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2015 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Born February 15, 1980 in Watauga County he was the son of Ken and Carolyn Coffey Miller. Junior worked in the construction industry.

He is survived by his parents, Ken and Carolyn Miller of Lenoir, one sister, Mary Elizabeth Miller of Boone, his maternal grandparents, Troy and Mary Coffey of Boone, two children, Rose Marie Miller and Troy Thomas Miller of Deep Gap, the mother of his children, Jennifer Holman of Deep Gap, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial services for Mr. Junior Miller will be conducted Saturday evening at 7 oclock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Nathan Caparolie. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 6 oclock until 7 oclock at Austin & Barnes. The family respectfully requests no food or flowers. Memorial contribution may be made to Austin & Barnes Funeral Home, 194 Queen Street, Boone, NC 28607 to assist with funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared with the Miller family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Miller family.

Scott Pritchard (May 19, 1962 – June 4, 2015)

Pritchard
Pritchard

Scott A. Pritchard, 53, of Newland, NC passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015 in the Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care in Lenoir, North Carolina. He was a native of Avery County, NC, born on May 19, 1962, a son of Charles Pritchard and Anita Hopson Pritchard of Frank, NC. He was preceded in death by a niece, Jillian Tess Pritchard and his father-in-law, Roy Lee Johnson.

He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and attended the Vale Freewill Baptist Church. Scott was a loving and a devoted son, husband, brother, and uncle. He was a Field Technician with Utilities, Inc. for 10 years. He enjoyed country and bluegrass music and was an avid golfer.

In addition to his parents, Scott is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Johnson Pritchard of the home; brother, Randy and Sandra Pritchard of Frank, NC; mother-in-law, Blanch Johnson of Newland; brother-in-law, Kevin and Vickie Johnson of Newland; niece, Emily Pritchard; and nephews Justin Pritchard and Cody Johnson.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be conducted at 8:00 pm Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, with Pastor Allen Laws officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the SECU Family House 1970 Baldwin Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or by visiting https://www.familyhousews.org/donate/

Condolences for the family may be sent and viewed by visiting www.rsfh.net.

Christopher Nolan Henley (March 12, 1936 – June 2, 2015)

Christopher Nolan Henley, 79, of Spruce Pine passed away on June 2, 2015 at Watauga Medical Center.

Henley
Henley

He was born March 12, 1936 in Avery County, a son of the late Donald and Agnes Lora Forbes Henley.

Christopher was a member of the U.S. Army.

He was a Charter Member of the Oak Haven Baptist Church in Irving, TX, and a current member of Powder Mill Baptist Church. A Deacon and Sunday School Teacher for several different churches. Music Director at Altapass Baptist Church for 23 years. A NC State Rep for the Jesus Video Project for Campus Crusade for Christ and a founding member of Sowing for the Harvest Mission.

He enjoyed playing golf and basketball along with singing and being outdoors.

Along with his parents, Christopher was preceded in death by his: sister, Dorcas Bartolomedi; brothers, David, Nathan, Donald, Jr. and Rufus Henley.

Christopher has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Gerry Freeman Henley of the home; daughter, Monica Kritz and husband, Jason of Spruce Pine; son, Chris Henley, Jr. of Spruce Pine; sisters, Martha Jackson and husband John of Asheville, Mary Gaddy and husband Everette of McDonald, TN., Priscilla Myers and husband Carl of Morganton, Esther Henley of Morganton; brothers, Pete Henley and wife Mary Helen of Asheville, Dan Henley and wife Jan of Linville.

A Celebration of Life for Christopher Nolan Henley will be conducted on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 8:00 pm at the Grandfather Chapel with Rev. Steve Williams, Rev. Terry Whitson and Rev. Jason Kritz officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until the service. Family, friends and pallbearers will meet at the funeral home on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. to go in procession at Tanglewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Gideons International.

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 Henley family.