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Avery, Watauga Obituaries – April 7, 2015

Compiled by Jesse Wood

Hall Laws (July 4, 1941 – April 4, 2015)

Hall Laws, 73, of Elk Park, the Heaton Community, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the Life Care Center in Banner Elk.

Hall-Laws-1428328970
Laws

A native of Avery County, he was a son of the late Oscar L. and Hazel Virginia Trivett Laws. Mr. Laws served his country during Vietnam in the United States Air Force, being honorably discharged in 1968 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

A great conversationalist, Hall enjoyed woodworking and bluegrass gospel music. He was a Deacon with the Heaton Christian Church, where he also had taught Sunday school; a member of the Avery County DAV; and was a sworn deputy with the Avery County Sheriffs Department.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Laws.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Frances Townsend Laws of the home; daughter, Angela Greene, and husband, Gary, Jr., of Elk Park; sons, Keith Laws, and his wife, Kim, of Crossnore, Michael Laws, and his wife, Pam, of Marion; sisters, Susie Davis, and her husband, Rick, of Charlotte, Sarah “Bitsie” Collins, and her husband, Al, of Newbern; brother, Charles Laws, and his wife, Irene, of Haslet, TX; ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services for Hall Laws will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Cole officiating. The family will gather with friends beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Interment services will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Heaton Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.rsfh.net. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Laws family.

Mr. Ted B. Eller (July 05, 1927 – April 3, 2015)

Ted Eller, 87, of Zionville, passed away Friday morning, April 3, 2015 at the Mountain City Care Center in Tennessee.

Eller
Eller

Born July 5, 1927 in Watauga County, he was a son of Willard Blaine and Eunice Adams Eller. Mr. Eller was a member of Watauga Baptist Church. He served in the US Air Force during WWII before beginning a career in banking. Mr. Eller retired as branch bank manager from First Union Bank. He loved collecting and repairing old radios, TV sets, and collecting LP records. Ted and Reba made many special memories travelling across America.

Mr. Eller is survived by his wife of 60 years, Reba Reese Eller; two brothers, Carson Eller of Fox Island, Washington, and Harold Eller and wife, Judy, of Boone; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Scott and husband, Edward, of Vilas; and Annie Moody of Lenoir; and brother-in-law, C. B. Reese and wife, Ruth, of Vilas. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard Blaine and Eunice Adams Eller.

Funeral services for Ted Eller will be conducted Monday afternoon, April 6, at 2 oclock, at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Derick Wilson and Rev. R. D. Watson.

The family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 1 until 2 oclock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life, % Kathy Idol, 8821 Hwy 421 South, Deep Gap, NC 28618.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Eller family.

Wayne M. Maltba (June 22, 1936 – April 1, 2015)

Maltba
Maltba

Wayne Mercer Maltba, 78, of Hart Lane, Millers Creek, passed away Wednesday, April l, 2015 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. Born June 22, 1936 in Watauga County, he was a son of Russell and Elma Hodges Maltba. Wayne attended Poplar Grove Baptist Church. After retirement from the Sanitation Department with the Town of Boone, he enjoyed buying and selling at the flea markets.

Mr. Maltba is survived by one son, Russell Maltba and wife, Pamela, of Boone; one daughter, Deborah Maltba Norris and husband, Phil, of Lenoir; three grandchildren, Shane Norris and wife Elizabeth, and Holly Norris, all of Lenoir, and Lauren Maltba of Boone; two great-grandchildren, Anslie and Aubrey Norris, both of Lenoir; sister, Shirley White of Rural Hall; brother, Jim Maltba of Deep Gap; numerous nieces and nephews; and his extended family, Margaret Perkins, and Tim and Kassidy Townsend.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Mast Maltba; two brothers, William and James Maltba; four sisters, Mary Frances Maltba, Helen Shore, Annie Springer, and China Hawkins; and his parents.

Graveside services will be conducted Saturday afternoon, April 4, at 2 oclock, at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens, officiated by Pastor Gordon Noble.

At other times, friends may call at the home of his son, Russell Maltba, 989 Bamboo Road, Boone.

The family respectfully requests no food, and suggests memorials to Sarcoidosis Research, 1820 West Webster Avenue, Suite 304, Chicago, Ill 60614; or to Laurens Chemo Comfort Bags, 989 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Maltba family.

Elnora Hughes Graybeal (Sept. 11, 1922 – April 1, 2015)

Elnora Graybeal, 92, of Newland passed away on April 1, 2015 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.

Graybeal
Graybeal

A native of Avery County, she was born September 11, 1922 a daughter of the late Mack and Della Ollis Hughes.

She was a devout and dedicated member of the Mountain View Free Will Baptist Church on Lick Log, where she taught Sunday School, worked with the Summer Bible School, served as Treasurer, traveled and sang with the church choir. She enjoyed gardening and arts and crafts.

Along with her parents, Elnora was preceded in death by her sisters, Tish Sparks, Anna Ollis, Bertha Gouge, Fannie Massey, Ora Gragg, Aleene Deen; brother, Rex Leslie Hughes.

Elnora has left to cherish her memory her son, Charles Graybeal, and his wife, Linda, of Kingsland, GA; sister, Georgie Carpenter of Morganton; grandchildren, Stephanie Firestone, Cheryl Tveras, Gary Osburn; great granddaughter, Olivia; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

Funeral services for Elnora Graybeal will be conducted on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 10:00 am at the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Rev. Russell Hoilman officiating. Interment will follow in the Slippery Hill Cemetery . The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services Monday morning at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: the Alzheimer’s Association.

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

Burl Woodring (May 8, 1930 – March 31, 2015) 

Woodring
Woodring

Burl Woodring, 84, of Little Creek Road, Todd, passed away Tuesday morning, March 31, 2015, at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation in Boone.

Mr. Woodring was born May 8, 1930 in Watauga County, a son of the late Smith and Minnie Greene Woodring. He was a retired employee of Wilcox Drug Company in Boone.

Mr. Woodring is survived by his wife, Corina Ward Woodring of the home; one daughter, Vickie Woodring of Todd; one son, Jay Woodring and wife Elaine of Todd; one granddaughter, Kayla Yedman and husband Chris of Todd; one grandson, Jason Woodring of Todd; one great-grandson, Devon Yeoman of Todd; one nephew, Leroy Woodring of Todd, and a sister-in-law, Lena Woodring of Todd.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Hubert, Howard, and Earl Woodring.

Graveside services and burial for Burl Woodring will be conducted Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2015, at 2:00 o’clock, at Hopewell Community Cemetery. Officiating will be Pastor Eric Proffitt.

The family will receive friends Thursday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.

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

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

Earl E. Burns, Sr. (Nov. 15, 1928 – March 31, 2015) 

Mr. Earl E. Burns, Sr., 86, of Peoria Road, Vilas, passed away Tuesday morning, March 31, 2015 at his residence.

Mr. Burns was born Nov. 15, 1928 in Littleton, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Charles Burns and Catherine Marie Amspaker Burns. He was a retired plumber.

Mr. Burns is survived by seven sons, Earl Edgar Burns, Jr. and wife Lisa of Darby, North Carolina, Bruce Wade Burns and wife Kay of Patterson, North Carolina, Randy Allen Burns and wife Judy of Granite Falls, North Carolina, Craig Burns and Brent Burns of the home, Mark Burns and wife Terri of Lenoir, North Carolina, and Matt Burns and wife Susan of Butler, Tennessee; and one step-daughter, Gail Guy of Patterson, North Carolina. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Cornett Burns.

A memorial service for Mr. Earl E. Burns, Sr. will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be sent to the Burns Family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

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

Clabert Potter Greene (May 30, 1938 – March 30, 2015)

Clabert Potter Greene, 76, of Newland passed away on March 30, 2015 at his residence.

Greene

A native of Avery County, he was born May 30, 1938 a son of the late Luther and Jody Vance Greene.

Clabert retired from Avery County Schools after working 14 years as custodian of the high school.

He was a member of Blevins Creek Freewill Baptist Church and enjoyed ginseng hunting, fishing, coin collecting, metal detecting and music.

Along with his parents, Clabert was preceded in death by his: brothers, Milas, Ralph, Zeb, Ray, Bobby, Max, Wayne, Timothy, Hilton and Herbert; sisters, Edna and Marie.

Clabert has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Kathy Dugger Greene of the home; daughter, Jody Atkins and husband David of Banner Elk; son, Clayton Greene of Crossnore; sister, Lois Greene of Montezuma; brother, Tony Greene of Elk Park; grandchildren, Katie Benfield, Faith Atkins, Emily Atkins, Weygand Greene, Leah Greene, Kennedy Atkins, David Atkins, III.

Funeral services for Clabert Potter Greene will be conducted on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ in Newland with Brother Dave Atkins and Pastor Michael Sheppard officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 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 Greene family.

Reba Ellen South (April 23, 1950 – March 23, 2015)

Reba Puckett South, 64, of Elk Park passed away on March 23, 2015 at Brian Center of Spruce Pine.

South
South

A native of Avery County, she was born April 23, 1950 a daughter of the late William and Alice Gwyn Puckett.

Reba has left to cherish her memory her: husband, Clint South of the home; sons, Brian South and Shawn South both of Elk Park; brother, Lige Puckett and wife Brenda of Elk Park; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Reba Puckett South will be conducted on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the Grandfather Chapel with Rev. Bryan Griffith and Rev. Reed Callahan officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until the service hour. Family, friends and pallbearers will meet on Friday, March 27, 2015 at 11:00 am at the funeral home to go in procession to McGuire Cemetery for interment services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to help with funeral expenses.

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 South family.