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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Nov. 5, 2013

 Avery County Obituaries – Compiled Nov. 5, 2013

Benjamin Colbert Palmer, D. Nov. 4, 2013

Benjamin Colbert Palmer, age 65, died November 4, 2013 after a long illness.

He retired from Aqua Designs, a plumbing company he established and operated with his son Cobbie. He was a master plumber by trade, a fine musician by heart, and a lover of the outdoors and all things living. He was an avid fisherman on the mountain streams and the coastal waters near his family’s home on Cedar Island.

He graduated from Montreat Anderson Jr. College and North Carolina State University. Following graduation, he worked in Entomology Labs for a number of years before pursuing his dream of playing music all over the south for several years. He then earned a certificate and license as a master plumber. 

He is survived by his beloved wife for 33 years, Pattie Hughes palmer; a son, Benjamin Colbert Palmer II (Cobbie); two daughters, Cindy and her husband Hop Puckett and Jodi and her husband Chris Hurwitz; two grandsons, Logan Norman and Cade Palmer; granddaughter, Brownyn Hurwitz; two sisters, Eva and her husband Alan Hollar of Crossnore and Margaret (Maggie) and her husband Zack Allen of Crossnore; a niece, Selena Lauterer; two nephews, Theron Hollar and Jon Lauterer; aunts, Rachel Deal and Mary Agnes Smith; many cousins and friends. Colbert was preceded in death by his mother Ruth and father Ralph Palmer and step-son, Michael Aldridge. 

Visitation will be Friday, November 8th from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland. The service will be on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Linville United Methodist Church in Linville followed by burial in Tanglewood Cemetery. 

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 Palmer family. 

Charles Edward Hunnicutt, D. Nov. 3, 2013

Services for Mr. Charles Hunnicutt will be private.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Charles Edward Hunnicutt please visit Reins-Sturdivant’s Sympathy Store.

Phyllis Vance Shirley, D. Oct. 31, 2013

Phyllis Shirley
Phyllis Shirley

Phyllis Vance Shirley, age 75, of Newland passed away on October 31, 2013 at Cannon Memorial Hospital. 

A native of Avery County, she was born August 24, 1938 a daughter of the late Stokes and Ruth Cooper Vance. 

She retired from U.S. Textiles and enjoyed music, cooking, reading and visiting with family and friends. 

Along with her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Bobby Eugene Shirley. 

Phyllis has left to cherish her memory her: daughter, Julia R. Berry and husband Shawn of Jonesborough, TN.; daughter, Ruth Ann Shirley of Newland; son, Randy Smith of Candler; daughter, Deb Benfield of Newland; sisters, Elaine Vance of Newland, Gail Banner and husband Charles of Newland; brothers, Gerald Vance and wife Edna of Newland, Gary Vance and wife Pat of Heaton; Grandchildren, Brandon Thompson, Stephanie Thompson, Brandon Smith, Betsy Smith, Sonia Polechio, Becky Burleson; great grandchildren, William and Brendon Polechia, Maekayla, Kimberly, Joshua and Patrick Burleson; beloved CAP worker, Pamela Sells; a host of very special nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services for Phyllis Vance Shirley will be conducted on Friday, November 1, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Pastor Brad Calhoun officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. until the service hour. Interment will be held at a later date in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Crossnore and Freedom Trail Elementary Schools. 

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 Shirley family.