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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 26, 2013

Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Aug. 26, 2013

David Ray Stewart, D. Aug. 21, 2013

David Ray Stewart, age 72, of Newland went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Johnson City Medical Center. 

A native of Avery County, he was born a son of the late Jasper and Dimple Stewart. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Bobby Stewart and Darrel Stewart and sister Lois Cannon. 

He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. 

Surviving are his: wife, Norma Holtsclaw Stewart of the home; three daughters, Teresa Stewart of Pineola, Lisa Edmisten and husband Bill of Newland, Crystal Benfield and husband Jesse also of Newland; seven grandchildren, David Stewart and wife Kristy of Marion, Jennifer Taylor and husband Jason of Newland, Brittney Stewart, Joey Edmisten and wife Sarah of Boone, Casey Deese and husband David of Lick Log Rd., Heather and Jesse Benfield of Newland; 5 great grandchildren, Haley and Jason Taylor, Jr., Kaitlynn Edmisten, Alyssa Deese and Alexis Jones. 

He is also survived by 2 sisters, Glenda Stewart of Boone and Rosa Barker of Lenoir and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services for David Ray Stewart will be conducted on Saturday, August 24th at 3:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Bill Shoupe and Michael Ricker officiating. Interment will follow in the Pisgah Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour. 

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 Stewart family. 

Shelton Linville Clawson, D. Aug. 19, 2013

May 6, 1946 – August 19, 2013 – No Obituary

Rodney Evan Trice, D. Aug. 14, 2013

Rodney Trice
Rodney Trice

Rodney Evan Trice, 58, of Newland, peacefully passed from earthly life and joyfully entered into eternity with his Lord on Wednesday evening, August 14 at his home on Squirrel Creek.

Born October 10, 1954, Rodney was a life-long resident of Avery County. Here, he and his many friends, fished, hunted, camped, tramped through the woods looking for ginseng or a tree to peel—always making the most of the great outdoors of his home. A true “home-body,” and “mountain man,” Rodney would reluctantly go away for only a few days at a time, always eager to return to the mountains and the home he loved in Avery County. 

Rodney leaves his extraordinary wife, ReJeanna, who was by his side through every step of his journey through cancer, not only as his loving wife and best friend, but also as his most thoughtful and tender nurse. She alone knows how much fun these two had in all their years together and will always be comforted by those sweet memories. 

Rodney’s pride and joy, his two sons Evan and Jeremy, along with his daughter Shannon, are left to carry on his legacy. Rodney lived life to the fullest and lovingly cared for others along the way. No one will ever know all the gifts he freely gave others, expecting nothing in return. He passed away as the man he was always meant to be—a prayerful, testimony-sharing man of God. Knowing how he spent his days, the lessons he taught, and how he would have his children go forward with their own lives, will serve them as a worthy role model always. 

Rodney’s parents, Charles and Louise Trice, are eternally grateful to have been blessed with Rodney as their son and with the knowledge that their love and support sustained him throughout his life. From childhood to his final days, Rodney was always their pride and joy. Kathie Massee and Bill Trice, Rodney’s sister and brother, are comforted by a lifetime of fond memories of all the fun they had growing up together in such a special family and of the deep friendship they shared as adults. 
Rodney’s large extended family of great-aunts, aunts, cousins, mother-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces (and their spouses) also includes five grandchildren: Kama, Zack, Eion, Marci and Blaine. 

Rodney is also survived by a host of loving friends who spent hour after hour with him during his illness laughing at the telling of tales of their many adventures together. He loved every minute of those visits; they made his day time after time. 

Rodney will be most missed by those whom he loved best—far too many to be mentioned by name here. You know who you are—have faith that you now have your own special angel watching over you and cheering you on in all you do until you join him in everlasting life. 

As Rodney said regularly and believed with all his heart, “It will be all right.”

Funeral services for Rodney Evan Trice will be conducted on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Nance, Rev. Daniel Nance and Rev. Brent Price officiating. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until the service hour. Graveside services will be on Tuesday, August 20th 11:00 a.m. in the Fork Mountain Cemetery with Masonic Rites by the Linville Lodge AF & AM 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Hospice and Palliative Care of Mitchell County 236 Hospital Dr. Spruce Pine, NC 28777. 

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 Trice family. 

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18 

Clifford Craven, D. Aug. 7, 2013

William Clifford Craven, 94, passed quietly in the evening of August 7, 2013 at Levine and Dickson Hospice House Southminster in Charlotte NC. “Cliff” was born in White County Georgia, March 3, 1919, the eldest son of Genie Warwick and James Robert Craven. 
He was very happily married to Wilsa Ray Craven for 70 years. He served in the US Navy as a pharmacist mate in WW II. He worked in his family’s businesses in Newland and Boone, NC for many years before moving to Kingsport, TN, where he owned a home improvement business until his retirement. He was a man who was greatly loved by family and friends, with a strong love and commitment to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilsa Ray Craven, his brother, Robert Hoyt Craven, of Blacksburg, VA and his sister, Hannah Elizabeth Craven, of Lakeland, FL. He is survived by four brothers: John Watson Craven, of Montreat, NC, Earl Mark Craven, of Blacksburg, VA, Charles Eugene Craven, of Rock Hill, SC, and Talmon Philmore Craven, of Lakeland, FL. 
A graveside service will be held at the Newland Cemetery on Saturday, August 10th at 11:00a.m. with The Rev. Gene Craven will officiate. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home is in charge. 
The family would like to thank Levine and Dickson Hospice House Southminster for their kind, honorable, and professional care of Cliff. 
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 Craven family. 

Chester Morris Benfield, D. July 29, 2013

Chester Benfield
Chester Benfield

Chester Morris Benfield, 73, passed away on July 29, 2013. 

He was born on March 26, 1940, son of the late Dennis and Edna Napier Benfield. 

Chester is survived by his wife Elaine Cole Benfield; son, Dale Benfield and wife Pamela, of Newland, NC; daughter Pamela Benfield Smith and husband Jeff, of Newland, NC; four granddaughters – Loni Benfield Miller and husband Matthew, of Newland; Bridgette and Sierra Smith, of Newland; and Maggie Benfield, of Newland; one grandson, Colby Benfield, of Newland; as well as a sister, Sue Benfield Lewis of Newland, and many nieces and nephews. 

Chester served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1959 – 1960. He retired from Glen Raven/U.S. Textiles and enjoyed growing Christmas Trees at his farm, Santa’s Choice Christmas Tree Farm, on Cole Hollow Road in Newland. Chester was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in Newland, and attended the Vale Freewill Baptist Church in the Vale community of Newland. 

Chester’s favorite hobbies included playing golf with his buddies, playing guitar, and enjoying time with his many friends and family. 

Services will be held at the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland on Wednesday, July 31st. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. with a service at 8 p.m. with Rev. Gary Huffman and Rev. Bud Howell officiating. The graveside services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ Cemetery on White Pine Road on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be: Alvin Ingram, Tim Benfield, Matt Miller, L.D. Vance, Sherman Andrews, Edward Barrier. 

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 Benfield family.  


For more local obituaries in Watauga and Avery, click to www.hcpress.com/obituaries.


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