1000 x 90

Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled July 2, 2014

Valentina Maiewskij-Hay (May 14, 1949 – June 30, 2014) 

Valentia Maiewskij-Hay passed away quietly in her sleep June 30, 2014. Val was born in Leoben, Austria on May 14, 1949 to Julia Zinko Maiewskij and Nikolai Mikhail Maiewskij and grew up in Freeport, IL.

After receiving the BA in Russian Area Studies from the University of Illinois, she studied history at the University of Florida receiving both masters and doctoral degrees. Val worked through her career at St. Cloud State University, Kansas State University, Northeastern University and Appalachian State University.

She subsequently left academia to become a corporate historian producing the monograph, Delivering on Values: The story of Alex Lee (2006).

She also worked as a freelance writer specializing in the history of western North Carolina.

Val is survived by her husband, Frederick J. Hay, and son, Nikolai Mikhail Hay. Services will be held at Saint Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church in Lost Lake, IL, on July 7 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to the Blue Ridge Conservancy, P.O. Box 568, Boone, NC 28607 in her honor.

Mrs. Mildred Coffey Hayes (May 16, 1919 – June 29, 2014) 

Hayes
Hayes

Mildred Coffey ‘Granny Mick’ Hayes, age 95, of Laurel Fork Road, Vilas, passed away Sunday evening, June 29, 2014, at her home. Born May 16, 1919 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Jeff and Elsie Mae Hodges Coffey.

Mrs. Hayes was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. She retired from Blue Ridge Shoe and for the past 20 years, worked in the mailroom at the Watauga Democrat.

Mick is survived by her daughter, Joanne Hayes Townsend; four grandchildren, Tommy Cornell and wife, Brenda, of Vilas, Beaver Cornell and wife, Lori, of Mountain City, TN, Jackie Ward and husband, Sonny and Justin Townsend, all of Vilas; seven great-grandchildren, Blaine Cornell and girlfriend, Ali Mcgee, of Apex, Alisha Cornell and boyfriend, Jeremy Reece, and Davy Cornell and wife Marisa, all of Vilas, Taylor Cornell of Mountain City, Mikaela Velazquez and husband, Carlos, of Vilas, and Kortney and Wesley Bodenheimer, both of Mountain City; five great-great grandchildren, Jovie Cornell and A.J. Freeman, Jackson and Colton Velazquez, and Sofi Bodenheimer; three sisters, Agnes Coffey of Hickory, Lillie Ford of Granite Falls, and Christine Morris of Hickory; son-in-law, Jerry Cornell of Vilas; and sisters-in-law, Addie Lewis of Wilkesboro;Shirley Hayes of Taylorsville, NC; and Zelma Coffey of Lenoir; and brother-in-law, Junior Ford of Lenoir. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Blaine Thomas Hayes; daughter, Jeannie Hayes Cornell; son-in-law, Gale Townsend; brother, Bud Coffey; and three sisters, Thelma Wright, Nina Ford, and Ollie Ford.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, July l, at 3 o’clock at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Wynn Greer, Rev. Dale Coffey and Rev. Burl Greer. The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 1:30 until 3 o’clock, prior to services, at the church. Burial will follow in the Adams Cemetery.

The family suggest memorials to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607.

Mr. Maston M. Hodges, Sr. (Feb. 23, 1925 – June 29, 2014)

Mr. Maston Martin Hodges, Sr., age 89, of Vilas passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Glenbridge Health & Rehabilitation.

Hodges
Hodges

Born February 23, 1925 in Watauga County he was a son of the late Bunn and Effie Minton Hodges. Maston was a retired chef, having worked for many years in Boca Raton, Florida. He was a real estate developer and a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.

He is survived by three children, Leonard Hodges and wife Teresa of Plantation Florida, Maston Hodges, Jr. of Florida and Lisa Braman and husband Robert of Deerfield Beach, Florida, five grandchildren, J. W. Hodges, Heather Hodges, Jonah Hodges and Chelsi Hodges all of Vilas, and Candice Parsons of Deerfield Beach, Florida. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Hodges, one son, William Wayne Hodges, one sister, Reba Hodges and one brother, Russell Hodges.

Funeral services for Mr. Maston Hodges, Sr., will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Wynn Greer and Rev. Melvin Hodges. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Gideons International, Boone Camp, PO Box 3602, Boone, NC 28607. The family will receive friends Thursday afternoon from 12:30 until 2 o’clock at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.

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

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

Carolyn F. Benfield (December 6, 1946 – June 28, 2014)

Benfield
Benfield

Carolyn Benfield, age 67, of the Seven Devils Community, passed away Saturday morning, June 28, 2014, at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Lenoir.

Carolyn was born December 6, 1946 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a daughter of Luther Faile and the late Vermelle Carroll Faile. She was a retired Licensed Practical Nurse and a former member of West Main Church of the Nazarene in Rock Hill. Carolyn was a devoted wife of 49 years, loving mother of two, and loving grandmother of four.

Carolyn is survived by her husband, Floyd Benfield, Sr. of the home; one son, Floyd Benfield, Jr. and wife Elizabeth of Wilmington, North Carolina; one daughter, Lori Clarke and husband Donald of Lexington, South Carolina; three granddaughters, Caroline Clarke of Lexington, Grace Benfield and Anna Benfield, both of Wilmington; one grandson, Jackson Benfield of Wilmington; her father, Luther Faile and wife Judy of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and one brother, David Faile and wife Karen of Rock Hill.

Memorial services for Carolyn Benfield will be conducted Tuesday morning, July 1, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock, at Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 436 Taylors Creek Road/Firetower Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina, 29730. Officiating will be Dr. Phil Jones.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 5:00 until 7:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service in Boone.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, North Carolina, 28645, or to Medi Home Hospice, 136 Furman Road, Suite 2, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

Anna Marich Greene (July 23, 1928 – June 28, 2014) 

Greene
Greene

Anna Marich Greene, age 85, of Marich Lane, Boone, widow of the late M.W. Greene, Jr., passed Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2014, at Watauga Medical Center.

Mrs. Greene is survived by two sons, Steve Greene and Dennis Greene and wife Susan, all of Boone; three grandsons, Milton Greene and Andrew Greene and his fiancé Elizabeth Knight, all of Boone, and Zach Greene of Plano, Texas; three sisters, Christine of Detroit, Michigan, Helen of Oklahoma, and JoAnn of Florida, and four brothers, Paul Marich of Cleveland, Ohio, Randy Marich, Mike Marich, and Nicky Marich, all of Detroit, Michigan. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Michael Greene; her father and mother, Nicholas and Mary Baksa Maricich; one sister, Mary Marich, and one brother, George Marich.

A memorial service for Anna Marich Greene will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greene family, in care of Steve Greene, 148 Tarhill Lane, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

Margaret Eury Agle (Oct. 19, 1916 – June 22, 2014)

Margaret Eury Agle passed away June 22, 2014, at the home of her son, Richard. She was 97 years old.

Born October 19, 1916 in Gastonia (NC) to James Walter Eury and Lona Dee Douglas of Bessemer City (NC). She was reared in Bessemer City where she was active in the music program at Odell Methodist Church, serving as a choir member and pianist for many years.

Before entering college, Margaret worked for the Gastonia Daily Gazette and the Charlotte Observer as a correspondent. Mrs. Agle attended Appalachian State Teachers College before leaving to raise her family of five.

She later returned to earn a Bachelors Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in English. Later she taught for several years in the Adjunct Graduate Faculty of Reading at Appalachian State University. She finished her teaching career as an English Teacher at Watauga High School.

In 1938 Margaret married Robert (Bob) Agle. They had five children, all of whom survive: Mollie Kathryn Taylor of Lincolnton (NC); Robert Edward Agle, Jr. of Boone, (NC) James Heath Agle of Ft. Myers, FL; Richard Douglas Agle of Conway, SC and William Eury Agle of Charlotte (NC).

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband Bob…and her granddaughter, Kelly Jane Agle. Surviving are eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Memorial services for Margaret Eury Agle will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at Boone United Methodist Church with Rev. Jason Byassee officiating.

Memorials may be sent to Grandfather Home for Children, PO Box 98, Banner Elk, NC 28604. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Margaret’s and Bob’s ashes will join Kelly’s atop Howards Knob (Boone, NC) in a private ceremony.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory (Boone, NC) is serving the Agle family.