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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled July 15, 2014

Floy Arnett (March 19, 1928 – July 11, 2014)

Floy Belle Arnett, 86, of Banner Elk passed away on July 11, 2014 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.

A native of Avery County, she was born March 19, 1928 a daughter of the late Wesley and Ruth Cole Arnette.

She was of the Seventh Day Adventist Faith and enjoyed making quilts by hand.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Annie Arnette, Lizzie Arnette, and Lillian Arnette; her brothers, Ford Arnett and Rhonda Arnett.

Floy has left to cherish her memory her: sisters, Edna Townsend, and her husband, Paul, of Banner Elk, Mae Arnett of Banner Elk, Evelyn Bailey, and her husband, Robert, of Crossnore; brothers, Buster Arnette, and his wife, Jane, of Banner Elk, Eugene Arnett of Banner Elk; sister in laws, Dorothy Arnett of Banner Elk, Ruth Arnett of Lenoir; a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Floy Belle Arnett will be conducted on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until the service hour Saturday evening at the funeral home.

Interment will follow on Sunday in the Cove Creek Cemetery.

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

Garry W Aldridge (June 30, 1947 – July 10, 2014)

Aldridge
Aldridge

Garry W Aldridge, 67, of Banner Elk passed away on July 10, 2014 at the James H Quillen VA Medical Center at Mountain Home, TN.

A native of Watauga County, he was born June 30, 1947 a son of the late Mack Donald and Mamie Presswood Aldridge.

Garry proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era and was the Owner and Operator of Garry’s Upholstery in Banner Elk. He had a passion for street rods and his family. He enjoyed reading, writing, and traveling, especially when he was in Alaska. A devoted family man, Garry would take every chance to spend time with family and friends, dance the evening away with his wife and cooking for his family. A supporter of his community, he organized and chaired the Banner Elk Car Show for Hospice for many many years.

Along with his parents, Garry was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenneth Parker Aldridge, Larry Thomas Aldridge, and Jerry Christopher Aldridge.

Garry has left to cherish his memory his wife, Teresa Berry Aldridge of the home; sons, Wesley Aldridge, and his wife, Sirrena, of Mountain City, TN, Wyatt Aldridge, and his wife, Jamie, of Spruce Pine; grandchildren, Connor, Natalie, Jo; sisters, Reba Paige of Valdese, Jean Deal of Valdese, Sandy Brown of Richlands, VA; brothers, Bill Aldridge of Richlands, VA, Mike Aldridge of Richlands, VA, Donald “Duck” Aldridge of French Village, MO; a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Garry W Aldridge will be conducted on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with the Rev. George Wright officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Avery County Shrine Club, 164 Hickory Estate Lane, Newland, NC 28657.

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

Martha Farthing White (March 16, 1940 – July 9, 2014)

White
White

Martha Farthing White, 74, died on July 9, 2014 at her home in Newland, NC.

She was born in Elizabethton, TN, to Mildred and Donald Farthing, Jr. on March 16, 1940. Martha received her undergraduate degree in Teaching from Appalachian State University (ASU) and later went on to receive her Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from ASU. She worked as a middle school teacher for over forty years; and following her retirement from the school system, she supervised student teachers in conjunction with ASU’s Teacher Education Program. As a dedicated educator, Martha devoted her life to her students and lived the philosophy that all children can learn.

She instilled in others her belief that you can be anything you want to be when you set your mind to it. Martha’s love for others was a direct outpouring of her love for God. Her greatest legacy to all who knew her was her unwavering faith in God and belief in the power of prayer. Martha’s life exemplified the verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Martha was survived by her husband Zebulon “Zeb” Wayne White of Newland, NC; her son Matthew Estes and his wife Angela of Puerto Rico; her daughter Ashley Estes Adams and her husband Jeffrey of Glade Spring, VA; her grandchildren Ryan Hedstrom of St. Petersburg, FL, Matthew Ganney, Michelle Ganney, and Richie Ganney of London, England, Natalie Adams, and Raegan Adams of Glade Spring, VA; her brother Donald Farthing, III. and his wife Terri of Crossville, TN; her niece Shannon Farthing Amor and her husband Doug of Chickamauga, GA; and her niece Leslie Farthing of Kihei, Hawaii. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Donald Farthing, Jr. and her first husband Matthew Martin Estes, Sr.

A memorial service will be held at Plumtree Presbyterian Church in Plumtree, NC on Sunday July 13, 2014 with Rev Wallace Wise officiating. Receiving of friends will be held from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm and the memorial service will be immediately following at 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers Martha requested that donations be made to Crosspoint of India. Donations can be made online at crosspointofindia.org or mailed to Crosspoint of India 3714 Gailyn Drive Bartlett, TN 38135.

Thank you to all the family and friends who covered her in prayer and love during these past few weeks. Also, a special thank you to her hospice nurses Vicki and Jennie for taking such good care of her.

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

Mary McClellan Hoilman Hansel (April 3, 1923 – July 4, 2014)

Hansel
Hansel

Mary McClellan Hoilman Hansel, 91, of Chuckey, TN, formerly of Newland, NC passed away on July 4, 2014 at her son’s residence in Chuckey.

A native of Avery County, she was born April 3, 1923 a daughter of the late Stokes and Lizzy Woody McClellan.

She and her first husband, Frank Hoilman, moved to Newland in 1954 as owners of “The Newland Supermarket”, the first full service grocery store in Avery County. After Frank’s death in 1960, she was the owner of “Linville Steakhouse” & “The Hoilman House Restaurant” as well other eating establishments. In 1978 she married Lee Hansel of Cocoa, FL, she was widowed again in 1980.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her: husbands, Frank M. Hoilman and L.G. Hansel; seven brothers, Obie, John, Oscar, Guy, Brown, Joe, and Eli; two sisters, Pearl McClellan and Mae Thomas.

Mary has left to cherish her memory her sons, Rev. Jim Hoilman and his wife, Debbie, of Chuckey, TN, Ken Hoilman and his wife, Audrey, of Jacksonville, FL; grandsons, Andrew and Peter Hoilman, both of Delhi, NY; brother, Clarence McClellan of Spruce Pine.

She will be missed for many reasons, not the least of which, her outrageous laughter.

Funeral services for Mary McClellan Hoilman Hansel will be conducted on Monday, July 7, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until the service hour Monday evening at the funeral home.

Family, friends and pallbearers will gather at the funeral home on Tuesday morning at 10:00 am to go in procession to the McClellan Cemetery for graveside services.

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