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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled May 9, 2013

Avery County Obituaries – Compiled May 9, 2013

Charles David “Babe” Howell, D. May 4, 2013

Charles Howell
Charles Howell

Charles David “Babe” Howell, age 84, passed away Saturday, May 4th, at Mission Hospital-St. Joseph Campus, Asheville, surrounded by his family.

Born in a Mill village in Monroe on June 25, 1928 to Claude and Ollie Howell, Charles left Benton Heights High School at seventeen years of age to join the war effort. He served the United States Navy honorably from 1945 to 1949. Howell was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific, American Theatre and Good Conduct Medal. He commented on his years in the Navy as forever impacting and molding his life. The Navy is where Coach Howell was first introduced to organized football.

Returning home to Monroe he played on a high school championship football team inspired by Coach Jim Gudger. Howell received college football and baseball scholarships to Western Carolina University. Jim Gudger coached Howell again in football and baseball at the collegiate level, along with fellow Monroe native, Tom Young. Howell considered Gudger his greatest mentor in life.

At his beloved alma mater, his years as a left-handed pitcher earned him the nickname “Babe”. Charles “Babe” Howell completed Bachelors and Master Degrees from Western Carolina University in physical education and administration. Howell enjoyed coaching many sports over the years including: football, baseball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, track, and girls’ basketball.

He began his coaching career at Sylva High School in 1954-1957; East Fannin High School, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 1957-1961; Cherokee High School, Canton, Georgia, 1961-1965; Sylva-Webster/Smoky Mountain, Sylva, 1965-1990; and Avery County High School, Newland, 1994- 1997. Babe coached seven state high school championship teams–five in football and two in baseball. He was the first high school coach in NC to win a football and baseball championship in one school year. Coach Howell retired in 1997 as the winningest high school football and baseball coach in North Carolina history. After his retirement he volunteered and mentored numerous teams, coaches, and players until his death. He served as an athletic director over the course of 44 years in Georgia and North Carolina.

Howell was inducted into eleven Halls of Fame in North Carolina and Georgia, including the NC Sports Hall of Fame in Raleigh.

Babe lived a full and adventurous life. He had numerous hobbies including a passion for travel, photography, painting houses, the outdoors, walking and hiking, drinking good coffee, and eating good food. Babe was devoted to his family and made a deeply positive impact in all of our lives.

Howell was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Lou Cowan Howell; two younger brothers, Bruce S. Howell of Monroe and Ottice Lee Howell of Charlotte; one baby sister, Betty Gene Howell, and two infant step-granddaughters, Ansley Claire and Claire Elizabeth Horney. He is also survived by his wife Peggy; one younger brother, Larry M. Howell and his wife Mary, Mint Hill; and, two daughters: Ann Mabry, and husband Mike of Marion, NC; and, Marthe Howell Marlor of Panama City Beach, FL; two grandchildren: Krissy Mabry of Washington, DC and Casey Mabry and his wife, Brooke of Marion, NC; and three stepsons: Martin Horney IV and his wife, Leslie of Newland, NC; Matthew Horney and his wife, Amy, of Cranberry, NC; and, Mitchell Horney and his wife Becca of Crossnore, NC; and, seven step-grandchildren Harrison, Chandler, Ethan, Elli, Maddie, Ayla, Mattux, and one great-grandchild, John Christopher Mabry.

A memorial service for Charles David “Babe” Howell will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at 6:00pm in Avery County High School Gymnasium. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided at 4:00pm at the Town Square in Newland.

On Saturday, May 11, at 4:00pm, a memorial service will be held at Babe Howell Field, located in Carr Hooper Stadium at Smoky Mountain High School, Sylva, weather permitting. Otherwise, services will be held in the Smoky Mountain High School gymnasium. The family will receive friends beginning two hours prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The American Cancer Society at 4-A Oak Branch Dr. Greensboro, NC 27407 or to The American Heart Association at 202 Centre Point Dr. Greensboro, NC 27409.

Maria Jose Gallardo, D. May 4, 2013

Maria Jose Gallardo, infant daughter of Martin and Maria Gallardo passed away on Saturday, May 4th, 2013.

Services will be held on Thursday, May 9th at 4:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with interment to follow in the Wise Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the services.

Robert Ernest Lowery, D. May 3, 2013

Robert Ernest Lowery
Robert Ernest Lowery

Robert Ernest Lowery, age 51, of Newland passed away on May 3, 2013 at Cannon Memorial Hospital.

A native of Avery County, he was born November 24, 1961 a son of the late Cecil and Bonnie Baldwin Lowery.

He worked as a mechanic and enjoyed working on cars and painting.

Along with his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his sister, Cora “Sissy” Andrews.

Robert has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Theresa Lowery of Roan Mountain; daughters, Angie Lowery of Johnson City, April Lowery of Roan Mountain, Nikki South of Boone; sons, Robert “Tiny”Lowery of Newland, Corey South of Boone; brothers, Emanuel Lowery of Newland, Richard Lowery of Newland, James Lowery and wife Dorothy also of Newland; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services for Robert Ernest Lowery will be conducted on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 8:00 pm at the Grandfather Chapel with Mr. Charlie McKinney officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until the service hour.

The Lowery family would like to thank the staff of Cannon Memorial Hospital and a special thanks to Dr. David Yale.

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 Lowery family.


For more local obituaries in Watauga, Ashe or 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