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Watauga, Avery Obituaries – March 1, 2016

Hubert Leroy Woodring (March 13, 1952 – Feb. 29, 2016)

BigWoodring, HubertHubert Leroy LEE Woodring, Jr., 63, of Little Creek Road, Todd, the Meat Camp community, passed away Monday morning, February 29, 2016 at his home.

He was born March 13, 1952 in Watauga County. Lee was a member of the Assembly of God Church. He was educated in the Watauga County school system and attended Caldwell Community College. Before his illness, he was employed at Charleston Forge and later, at Goodnight Brothers. His passion was tinkering with and repairing old cars and trucks.

Mr. Woodring is survived by his mother, Lena Taylor Woodring of the home; four uncles, Earl Taylor and wife, Dot, C. L. Taylor and wife, Jane, and James Taylor, all of Lenoir, and Jerry Taylor of Boone; aunt, Corina Woodring of Todd; and a number of cousins, including Vickie and Jay Woodring, both of Todd.

He was preceded in death by his father, Hubert Leroy Woodring, Sr.

Funeral services for Hubert Leroy Woodring will be conducted Thursday afternoon, March 3, 2016 at 2 oclock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Pastor Jerry Moretz. The family will receive friends Thursday afternoon from 1 until 2 oclock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will follow in the Hopewell Community Cemetery.

At other times, the family will be at the home, Little Creek Road, Todd.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Hopewell Community Cemetery Fund, in care of Betty Davis, 4061 Highway 194 North, Boone, NC 28607.

The family wishes to express a special thank you to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care for their care and compassion shown the Woodring family during Lees final days.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Woodring family.

Mrs. Clara H. Phillips (March 13, 1928 – Feb. 28, 2016)

BigPhillips, ClaraMrs. Clara Hartley Phillips, 87, of Boone, passed away Sunday evening, February 28, 2016 at Glenbridge Health & Rehabilitation. Born March 13, 1928 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Rhonda & Leona Young Hartley. Clara was retired from IRC. She was a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church, and attended Rutherwood Baptist Church. Clara enjoyed working in her flowers, cooking, and sewing, but mostly she loved being a mother and grandmother.

She is survived by three daughters, Joan Alderson and husband David of Boone, Kathy Addis of Glen Burney, MD, and Virginia Jeppi and husband Joe of Edgewood, MD, one sister, Lee Brewer of Boone, three brothers, Gwen Hartley of Boone, R. K. Hartley of South Carolina, and Rudy Hartley and wife Margaret of Vilas, seven grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren also survive.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Grady Phillips, one daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Phillips, a son in law, James Addis, two grandchildren, Morgan Elise Lawrence, and Richard Ritchie Whitfield, Jr.

Graveside services for Mrs. Clara Hartley Phillips will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2016 at 3 oclock at the Hartley Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Virginia Peurifoy. The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 12:30 until 2 oclock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Medi Home Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Glenbridge, Medi Home Hospice and Chaplain Virginia Peurifoy for the loving care given to their mother.

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

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Phillips family.

Rev. James W. Shoupe, Jr. (July 20, 1934 – Feb. 26, 2016)

Rev. James William Shoupe, Jr., age 81, of Newland passed away on February 26, 2016 at his residence.

A native of Avery County, he was born July 20, 1934 a son of the late James William and Minnie Stafford Shoupe.

After serving his country during the Korean Conflict in the United States Army, he returned home and farmed. Jim spent 21 years working for Mountain Electric.

Rev. Shoupe served congregations at Johnson’s Chapel, Pittman Gap Community Church, Elk Mountain Free Will Baptist Church, Bean’s Creek Free Will Baptist Church, Bowditch Union Church, Terry’s Fork Baptist Church, and most recently at Lewis Chapel Free Will Baptist Church for over 40 years.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Keith Shoupe; a sister, Belle Hoss.

James has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Ruby Johnson Shoupe of the home; sons, Richard Shoupe, and his wife, Joyce, of Newland, Bill Shoupe, and his wife, Diane, of Newland, Jim Shoupe, III, and his wife, Amelia, of Newland, Joe Shoupe, and his wife, Becky, of Spruce Pine; a sister, Jean Ray of Newland; Eight Grandchildren; and eight Great Grandchildren.

Funeral services for Rev. James William Shoupe will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Johnson’s Chapel. Interment and Military Honors provided by the Pat Ray Post of the VFW will follow in the Hughes Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. till the service hour at the church on Sunday.

The family would like to extend a special thank you the Avery County Chapter of the D.A.V. and to the staff of Medi Home Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Medi Home Hospice, PO Box 1357 Newland, NC 28657.

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

Lucille Idol Wilson (March 24, 1926 – Feb. 24, 2016)

Lucille Idol Wilson, 89, of Wilson Lane, Boone, passed away peacefully to her Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at Watauga Medical Center. Born March 24, 1926 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Anderson and Fleetie Watson Idol.

BigLucille I-1. Wilson - 2Lucille was a graduate of Appalachian High School, Class of l943, and did not miss a reunion until recent years. She was a proud mother and homemaker who enjoyed canning and freezing vegetables and especially loved preparing meals for the family. One of her favorite enjoyments was just riding through the mountains where she grew up. After raising her children, Lucille began a second career as a sales lady at Brendles and Cupboard Casuals/Varsity Mens Wear in Boone. She was a long time, active member of Meat Camp Baptist Church, loved her church family, and special friend, Rev. Delmar James.

Ms. Wilson is survived by one daughter, Karen Winkler and husband, Dennis, of Boone; three sons, Bob Wilson and wife Carolyn, of Boone, Mike Wilson and wife, Ann, of Fleetwood, and Joe Wilson and wife, Bridget Vickery of Seneca, SC;

Four grandsons, Kevin Greene and wife Vladina, of Charlotte, Robert Alex Wilson of Boone, and Preston Wilson and Christian Wilson, both of Fleetwood; five granddaughters, Kim Greene and husband, Ben, of Boone; Denise Cuaycong and husband, Benjamin, of San Diego, CA, Keshia Brannock and husband, Travis, of Boone; Caralee Wilson of Oak Island and Bethany Wilson of Fleetwood; ten great-grandchildren and several special nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alex Wilson, sisters, Vera Hodges, Beulah Phillips and Margaret Cooper; and brothers, John and Dillard Idol.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday,, February 27, 2016 at 2 PM at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Delmar James, Rev. David Clippard and grandson Kevin Greene. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 1 until 2 oclock, one hour prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. At other times, friends may call at the Wilson home, Wilson Lane, Boone.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Meat Camp Baptist WMU, 236 Meat Camp Baptist Church Road, Boone, NC 28607, or to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Lucille Harmon, Peggy Atwood, Brenda Combs and Medi Home Hospice nurse Christie Brown, and to her church family for all their support and prayers during Lucilles illness.

Online condolences may be shared at the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Wilson family.

Rhett Ashley D. July 09, 2015

Rhett Ashley, formerly of Blowing Rock, N.C., passed away July 9, 2015 in Leaburg, Oregon.

Rhett Ashley’s brother-in-law Jerry Brown had this to say about him:

Rhett Ashley was a one-off original character and it is no exaggeration to say they don’t make them like that anymore.

He was a Marine, a teacher, a bus driver, a librarian, an orchardist, a forester & above all an artist. He wrote, painted & sculpted in both wood & stone. His home is full of whimsical works of art. Rhett grew up in Blowing Rock with his Aunt Maude & other Ashley family members. Stone walls & chimneys all around the area still stand as monuments to his stone mason uncle Perry Ashley. Rhett recalled helping his grandfather, James Ashley, rake hay using a horse-drawn rake.

Rhett moved on from the mountains, living in Florida, New Mexico & Arizona before settling in Oregon, but there was never any question that he was from the mountains. Rhett was a great story teller & with his long & interesting life he had a lot of material to draw from. He also liked to make up stuff & see how long he could get away with stretching out a tale. If he got too carried away, his wife Nancy would call him out: “Rhett!” To which he would laugh “Hee, hee, hee, errrrh.”

Rhett was my first wife’s brother, making him my ex-brother-in-law, but he was like a brother. For about five years we lived about three miles apart, both along the beautiful McKenzie River, where we were fishing buddies. Rhett was a dedicated fly fisher, his other passion besides art. He said he had fished more than a hundred rivers. During the season we were out in the river at least a couple of times a week, sometimes late afternoons, but most often in the evenings when we would fish until dark. The McKenzie mostly runs due west, so in many places the sun sets right down the river, turning the water & riffles to molten bronze. I have wonderful memories of us wading out maybe 50 or 100 yards apart, casting & enjoying the zen of the river, cheering when one or the other would get a strike and play in a nice rainbow.

I recall an email from Rhett from not too long ago when he urged me to “Fish, fish! For the long night approaches.” How prophetic! In July 2015, Rhett went out to fish one of his favorite spots on the river and didn’t come home. Nancy found him lying in the grass near the river, rod in hand, waders still wet, looking as if he had just sat down and dozed off. We should all be so fortunate!

Rhett was always convinced he would die early & seemed genuinely surprised to have lived past 50. So by his own reckoning he was blessed with 26 extra years. I believe that every day we are given is a gift. It has been one of my great blessings to have shared so many with Rhett.

Rhett is survived by his widow Nancy Winniford Ashley, in Leaburg, Oregon; first wife Manya Ashley in Hickory, North Carolina; Rhett and Manya’s son and daughter-in-law Rae and Wendy Ashley in Clover, South Carolina and their three children Justin, Raegan, and Carson; Rhett’s daughters Heather and Natasha Ashley in San Jose and Modesto, California and Heather’s son Malcolm; brothers Kermit and Jerry Ashley in Salisbury, North Carolina and Tucson, Arizona; sister Martha Brown in Los Angeles, California; cousin Shannon Ashley in Boone, North Carolina; and many more cousins, nieces and nephews.

An informal memorial for Rhett Ashley will be conducted Saturday afternoon, April 2, at 2:00 o’clock, at the cemetery of the Middle Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, which is within the Tweetsie Railroad Park. Military graveside rites will be provided by the United States Marine Corps and American Legion Post 130.

Online condolences may be sent to Nancy Ashley and the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.