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Avery, Watauga Obituaries – Oct. 13, 2015

Worth Clyde Miller (Feb. 16, 1931
- Oct. 12, 2015)

Worth Clyde Miller, age 84, of Sugarworth Mountain Road, Boone, passed away Monday morning, October 12, 2015 at Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte.

3347788_wlppWorth served in the United States Army and was known by everyone who knew him as an honorable, kind man. He was a longtime member of the Watauga Gun Club. He was loved by many and loved his family deeply. He was a role model for many and has left his family and friends with memories of his joyful smile and kind nature.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Cote Miller of the home; one daughter, Susan Miller of Charlotte; two brothers, Baxter Miller of Boone, and Bobby Eugene Miller of Holly Hill, Florida; eight grandsons, Scott Hanson and wife Lynne of North Liberty, Indiana, Matthew VanHoughton and wife Cynthia of Charlotte, Michael Miller and wife Lauren of Charlotte, Jonathan D. Miller of Maryland, Curtis Miller, and James Miller, both of Lakeville, Indiana, and Nicholas Hanson of Atlanta, Georgia; one granddaughter, Kristin Miller of Nashville, Tennessee; three great-grandchildren, Opal Jackson, and Aiden; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and a special friend and great-nephew, David Miller of Boone.

He was preceded in death by his son, Donald Miller; his father and mother, Joe and Clemmie Miller; four brothers, Glenn, Howard, Ralph, and Herbert, and three sisters, Annabelle, Verlee, and Edna. 

Funeral services for Mr. Worth Clyde Miller will be conducted Sunday afternoon, October 18, 2015, at 2:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend Chris Reynolds. Military graveside rites and burial, provided by United States Army, American Legion Post 130, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90, will follow in Bethelview United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon, from 5:00 until 7:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service. 

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Howard’s Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 240 Howard’s Creek Road, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

Online condolences may be sent to the Miller family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com. Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Reta K. Presnell (May 22, 1957 – Oct. 9, 2015)

Mrs. Reta Kay Presnell, 58, of Presnell School Road, passed away Friday morning, Oct. 9, 2015 at Blowing Rock Rehabilitation. Born May 22, 1957 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Charles and Virgie Presnell.

She is survived by her husband James Eddie Presnell, one son, Stephen James Presnell, one daughter, Heather Witte, two grandchildren, Jeremy Trinity Witte, and one brother, Michael Presnell.

Graveside services and burial for Mrs. Reta Kay Presnell will be conducted Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 11 oclock at the Presnell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared with the Presnell family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Presnell family.

 

Buchanan
Buchanan

Reba Buchanan (May 21, 1936 – Oct. 9, 2015)

Reba Buchanan, 79, of Banner Elk, passed away on Oct. 9, 2015 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.

A native of Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Stuard and Edna Norwood. She worked for many years as a housekeeper and served for several years on the housekeeping staff at Life Care Center in Banner Elk.

She was a member of the Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Mama loved flowers, she loved to read, music and going out with her family. SHe especially loved and enjoyed being with her grandchildren.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her daughters, Denise Morton of Banner Elk, Denita Stevens of Banner Elk; her grandchildren, Lucas Morton, Ricky Stevens, Cody Stevens, and Josh Stevens, all of Banner Elk.

Funeral services for Reba Buchanan will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Rev. Brent Price Officiating. Interment will follow in the Matney Cemetery. The family will receive freinds one hour prior to the services on Monday at the funeral home.

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

Georgia Greene Ray (Dec. 12, 1927
- Oct. 8, 2015)

Georgia Greene Ray, 87, of Old 421 South, Deep Gap, passed away Thursday evening, Oct. 8, 2015, at Watauga Medical Center.

Ray
Ray

Mrs. Ray was born Dec. 12, 1927 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Squire Bynum Greene and Lottie Edmisten Greene. She was a homemaker and a member of Laurel Springs Baptist Church.

Mrs. Ray is survived by one daughter, Patsy Welborn and husband Wayne of Marshall, Illinois; three sons, Ronnie Ray and wife Jean, Tony Ray and wife Robin, and Ricky Ray and wife Debra, all of Boone, and one brother, Conley Greene of California. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronda D. Ray; one sister, Mary K. Cook, and one brother, Hoye Greene.

Funeral services for Georgia Greene Ray will be conducted Sunday afternoon, October 11, 2015, at 3:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 1:00 until 3:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend Tim Lynch. Burial will follow in Laurel Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 1:00 until 3:00 o’clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Medi Home Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 102, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

Catherine D. Turbyfill (Oct. 8, 1926 – Oct. 8, 2015)

Catherine D. Turbyfill, RN, 89, of Newland passed away on Oct. 8, 2015 at Courtland Terrace in Gastonia, NC.

Turbyfill
Turbyfill

A native of Catawba County, she was born October 8, 1926 a daughter of the late Clarence and Pearl Amos Deal.

She was a life long Registered Nurse, retiring from Cannon Memorial in Banner Elk after a 40 year career. She was a member of the Elk Park Christian Church.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her: husband, Bynum Hodge Turbyfill.

Catherine has left to cherish her memory her: daughter, Linda Brown, and her husband, Fred, of Cranberry; son, David Turbyfill, and his wife, Retha, of Gastonia; grandchildren, Charlie and Tina Brown, Kevin and Ann Brown, Jason and Melissa Brown, Katelyn Turbyfill, Dustin and Mandi Trice; nine great grandchildren; Brothers, Carl and Sandy Deal, Bill and Brenda Deal; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Mountain Home, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Gaston Hospice 258 East Garrison Blvd Gastonia, NC 28054

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

Mary I. Miller (April 23, 1958 – Oct. 7, 2015)

Mary Irene Miller, age 57, of Meat Camp Road, Todd, has gone to Heaven to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, October 7, 2015. Born April 23, 1958 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Charles Miller and Grace Potter Miller. Irene was full of life, and never met a stranger. We will miss her dearly.

She is survived by one daughter, Angel Wellman and husband Jeff, eight grandchildren, Josh, Jonathan, Jasmine, Donovan, Zackery, Faith, Daquan and Jayden, all of Boone, her mother, Grace Miller, three brothers, Ralph Miller and wife Diann, Johnny Miller and wife Janet, and Dale Miller and wife Annette, five sisters, Sylvia Coffey, Bernice Potter, Louise Greer, Jane Miller and husband Mike and Peggy Miller and fiancé Jimmy Price, all of the Meat Camp Community and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Miller.

Graveside services for Mary Irene Miller will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 oclock at the Miller Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Jerry Moretz and Dr. Sonny Younce. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family in care of Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 7 oclock until 9 oclock at Grace Millers residence, 4684 Meat Camp Road.

Online condolences may be shared with the Miller family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Miller family.

Dr. William Howard “Bill” Mast (June 9, 1937
- Oct. 6, 2015)

On the morning of Tuesday, October 6, 2015, Dr. William Howard (Bill) Mast passed peacefully in a cabin in Rominger, North Carolina, on the land where he was born on June 9, 1937.

Dr. Mast was a beloved educator and a devoted member of his community. He graduated from Cove Creek High School and was an active member of the alumni organization there. He served in the US Navy from 1957 until 1962 before leaving to pursue a career in academia. He received his B.A. in Industrial Arts from Appalachian State University in 1968 and was awarded a Master’s Degree from North Carolina State University in Vocational and Technical Education in 1969. In 1980 he graduated with honors from the postgraduate program at Texas A&M with a Doctorate in Electronics.

Dr. Mast spent 20 years as a professor of Industrial Arts at Appalachian State University retiring in 1999 having received the status of Professor Emeritus. Dr. Mast touched many students during his career. Never one to rest on his laurels Dr. Mast continued to work during his retirement building and renovating houses as well as crafting the Bible into a volume of poetry. He was a brilliant man, a stout and honorable friend, and a model of Christian integrity. The world is a lesser place for his passing.

He is survived by his wife Manxie Mast, his daughters Cherie Mast Davis and husband Larry, Ann Ma Mast, and Bonni Wynn Mast, his sons Capt. Gregory Lee Mast USMC Ret.) and wife Vernie, Andrew Benjamin Mast and wife Tina, two sisters, Janieve Williams of Boone, NC and Ruby Dietrich of Zionville, NC, granddaughter Rachel Borton and husband Alvah, grandson James Davis and wife Lauren, and great-grandchildren Elijah James Borton and Addison Grace Davis. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, friends and former students.

He was proceeded in death by his parents James “Bud” Mast and Bonnie Yates Mast and Brother Robert Mast. 

Special recognition goes to the extended family, brother-in-law Jinglong Wang, sister in law, Chang Xie, and nephew Yuan Wang.

Funeral services for Dr. William Howard “Bill” Mast will be conducted Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2:00 o’clock at Piney Grove Community Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00. Officiating will be Reverend Robert Williams and Reverend David Testerman. Military graveside rites and burial, provided the United States Navy, American Legion Post 130 and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 90 will follow in the Piney Grove Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00, prior to the service, at Piney Grove Church. 

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Mast request that donations be made to the David A. Rigsby Scholarship Fund, c/o Appalachian State University Donor Services, ASU Box 32156, Boone, North Carolina 28608.

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

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

Mary Nell McQueen Folk Wells (Aug. 27, 1927 – Sept. 21, 2015)

Mary Nell McQueen Folk Wells, 88, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away Monday morning, September 21, 2015 at Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. She was the widow of Howard Lee Folk and Edward Thomas Wells.

Born at home in the Junaluska Community in Boone, North Carolina, on Aug. 27, 1927 she was the daughter of Herbert Horton and Jennie McQueen Horton. Her Grandparents were Jim McQueen and Bettie Shearer. Mary and husband Howard Folk moved to Monroe County, Pennsylvania in 1958 with their four sons to pursue careers in the growing tourism industry in the Poconos.

Mary worked at Shaw plastics where she met many dear friends. She was a member of the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church. She had a generous and loving spirit and was accepting of everyone she met. An avid gardener, Mary would spend winter hours in her greenhouse, and summer days caring for her plants. She grew an extensive vegetable garden, a small fruit orchard, and hundreds of varieties of flowers. She loved designing new cat- and squirrel-proof birdfeeders to keep her feathered friends safe. Mary was an accomplished home cook and loved hosting holidays as much as her family enjoyed attending. Her loss will be felt for generations, but so will the love of life and dedication to friends and family that she instilled in all of us.

Surviving are three sons: Michael Folk of Saylorsburg, Keith Folk of East Stroudsburg, and Dean Folk of North Carolina; three stepchildren: Edie Wells, Talitha Wells, and Nick Wells; 12 Grandchildren: Jennifer Durick Urie, Julie Folk Pickett, Alison Folk, Tori Folk, Tanya Marie Folk, Mary Elizabeth Folk, Jessica Smiley Vandervlit, Rebecca Smiley, Dana Wells, Travis Wells, Nick Wells, Abby Wells, and Many Great-Grandchildren.

The viewing was held at 10AM, followed by funeral service at 11AM on Wednesday, Spetember 30, at William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St, Stroudsburg, PA. Pastor Ted Good officiated the service. Burial followed at Stroudsburg Cemetery, www.wmhclarkfuneralhome.com.