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Watauga, Avery Obituaries – April 27, 2016

Mr. Ben Chappell (Jan. 16, 1947 – April 25, 2016)

Mr. Benjamin Franklin “Ben” Chappell, age 69, of Boone, passed away Monday afternoon, April 25.

He is survived by his wife, Anita Norris Chappell, his children, Ivy Chappell and Benjamin Chappell both of Raleigh, and one sister, Linda Mohr and husband Chris of Raleigh.

Funeral services for Mr. Ben Chappell will be conducted Saturday, April 30th at 1 o’clock at the Boone United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5 o’clock until 9 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

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

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

Bill Gragg (April 16, 1936 – April 22, 2016)

Bill Gragg, age 80, of the Hughes Community, passed away on April 22, 2016 at the Johnson City Medical Center.

A native of Avery County, he was born one of four sons to the late Harold William Gragg and the late Madie Daniels Gragg.

Bill-Gragg-1461515972Bill proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict in the United States Navy, being Honorably Discharged with the rank of Boatswains Mate Third Class.

He was a Charter member of the Fellowship Presbyterian Church of Crossnore and currently attended the Roaring Creek Missionary Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, and growing Christmas trees, and loafing with his family and friends; he had served as a leader with the 4-H program and the Boy Scouts of America and was a big part of his community throughout his life.

Bill was a jack of all trades. He lived his life on a small farm where he raised his family. He worked at Spruce Pine Hospital for many years where he worked in the O.R. and talked often about it with a sparkle in his eyes. Bill was always a big part of his son’s lives where he was co-founder of Gragg Construction & Design Inc., where he served as Vice President; as well as Radio Shack/ Highland Electronics, where he also served as Vice President.

Along with his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold Davidson Gragg, Phillip Mack Gragg, and Bobby Lee Gragg.

Bill has left to cherish his memory his wife, Glenda Burleson Gragg of 55 years of the home; son, Mike and wife Lisa Gragg and grandsons Jaren, Justin and Josh Gragg of Newland, Son Doug and wife Kelly Gragg and granddaughter Karmen Gragg of Newland; sister, Betty Smith of Elk Park; a host of extended family and friends.

Funeral services for Bill Gragg will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 from the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Hughes Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Pat Ray Post of the VFW. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon until the service hour at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Roaring Creek Missionary Baptist Church

Christine “Chris” Phillips Lewis (Jan. 18, 1946
- April 22, 2016)

Christine “Chris” Phillips Lewis, 70, of Brownwood Road, Deep Gap, passed away Friday morning, April 22, 2016, at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation in Boone.

3674827_wlppChris was born January 18, 1946 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Willie and Ruby Carlton Phillips.

She was retired from IRC/TRW in Boone, and a member of Hardin Road Baptist Church.

Chris is survived by one daughter, Lora Carlton of Boone; one son, Jack Allen Lewis and wife Lena of Fleetwood; two grandsons, Dalton Lewis and fiancée Callie Barker, and Dylan Lewis, all of Fleetwood; one brother, Johnny Phillips of Deep Gap, and three sisters, Mary McGuire of Lexington, Linda Mast and husband Doug of Beech Creek, and Martha Phillips Hawley of Deep Gap.

She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Jack Lewis; her second husband, James “Buzz” Caudill, and one brother, Silas Phillips.

Funeral services for Christine “Chris” Phillips Lewis will be conducted Sunday afternoon, April 24, 2016, at 2:00 o’clock, at Hardin Road Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 12:30 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend Guy Testerman and Reverend Charles McCoy.

Burial will follow in the Hardin Road Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 o’clock, at the church, prior to the service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Lewis family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Mary Gwyn Hodges (Jan. 12, 1928 – April 22, 2016)

Mary Magdalene ( Gwyn) Hodges, 88 of the Curtis Creek Road Community passed away at home surrounded by her family on April 22,2016 after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

Mary-Hodges-1461343595Mary was a lifelong, devoted member of the Curtis Creek Freewill Baptist Church. She was born, lived and died on the creek surrounded by the people she loved, and the people that loved her. She taught Sunday school for over 25 years. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was a woman of strong faith with a servant’s heart. She touched many lives with her encouraging words and killer pots of chicken and dumplings. She was a renowned cook, expert seamstress and master gardener. Mary was always the first on the scene with food when there was a death or illness in the community. She retired from Baxter’s

Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Jimmy R. Hodge, her parents, Charlie and Pearl (Cable) Gwyn grandsons-Marshall and Jason Gwyn and brothers-William, Henry, Elbert and Charles Gwyn. She is survived by brothers-Jimmy (Nina) Gwyn and Sampson Gwyn and sisters-Voreta Carroway, Bertie Gwyn and Rosie Cable. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Bobby (Wanda) Gwyn, Marilyn(David)McKinney, Benny(Brenda) Hodges and Penny (Steve) Hodges-Goetz, grandchildren-Travis (Brooke) Crowder, Christopher Crowder, Amanda Gwyn and Brandon Hodges, great-grandchildren –Tylor and Katie Gwyn, Addison, Taylor, and Olivia Crowder and Lilly Stapleton.

Arrangements—Visitation: Saturday April 23 from 6pm-8pm at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home 296 Ash Street, Newland , NC. Funeral Services: Sunday April 24 at 1100 at the Curtis Creek Freewill Baptist Church, Curtis Creek Road, Heaton, NC, with lunch to follow. Graveside Services: April 24 at 2:30 Holy Communion Lutheran Church cemetery Clark’s Creek , Foscoe, NC

The family extends a special acknowledgement to the members of the church, Juanita Davis, Vergie Gwyn, Bertie Gwyn, Aleshia Dugger, & the Nurses and Staff of Medi Home Health & Hospice. Your unwavering support allowed us to honor mother’s wishes and keep her at home. Act 20:35 “ ….It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Curtis Creek Freewill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. c/o Juanita Davis 1612 Curtis Creek Road, Elk Park, NC 28622

Martha “Etta” Johnson (Dec. 24, 1921 – April 21, 2016)

Martha “Etta” Johnson, age 94, of Newland passed away on April 21, 2016 at Blowing Rock Rehabilitation & Davant Extended Care Center.

A native of Avery County, she was born December 24, 1921 the daughter of the late Robert and Sara Burleson Deaton.

Martha-Johnson-1461332612Etta was a CNA and worked 36 years at Sloop Memorial (Garrett Memorial) Hospital, working until she was 72.

She was lovingly known as “Mother”.

Etta attended the Peoples Church of Roaring Creek and was very devoted to her faith and her Savior.

Along with her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her: husband, Guy Johnson and daughter, Carolyn Loven.

A giving soul and compassionate caregiver who loved her family, Martha has left to cherish her memory her: daughter, Connie Johnson Hartley of Linville; granddaughter, Carol Lynn Loven Holtsclaw and husband Mike of Pineola; great grandson, Carey Lynn Holtsclaw also of Pineola.

A special thank you to a niece Sabra Deaton and caregiver Darlene Townsend.

Graveside services will be Sunday, April 24th at 3:00 p.m. in the Pineola Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

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

Page Lynn Campbell (Oct. 1, 1961
- April 21, 2016)

Page Lynn Campbell, age 54, of Blowing Rock, died Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Blowing Rock Hospital.

Page is survived by her father, Joe Campbell and wife Lynn of Blowing Rock, one sister, Brittney Campbell and husband Jeff Beeleart, one niece, Anna Beeleart, and one nephew, Andrew Beeleart all of Alexandria, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Jo Wells Campbell.

A private memorial service for Page will be held at a latter date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Blowing Rock Library, Community Club of Blowing Rock, P.O. Box 166, Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605.
Online condolences may be sent to the Campbell family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

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

Carson Dale Roark (Sept. 13, 1952
- April 20, 2016)

Mr. Dale Roark, age 63, of Farthing Street, Boone, passed away Wednesday morning, April 20, 2016, at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Hudson.

3673428_wlppDale was born September 13, 1952 in Watauga County, a son of the late Russell John Roark and Jeanette Johnson Roark. He was a retired extension agent for Watauga County and North Carolina A&T University, and was a member of Boone Advent Christian Church. Dale served for 17 years with the Boone Volunteer Fire Department, and briefly served with the US Forest Service.

Dale is survived by his wife, Lillie Bryan Roark of the home; one son, Michael Roark and wife Amanda of Albemarle; grandchildren, Cooper Roark and Paityn Roark of Albemarle, and Karsyn Lee and Eli Lee of Boone; two sisters, Marie Cole and husband Tommy of Hudson, and Linda Harmon and husband Tommy of Sugar Grove; one brother, Russell “R.D.” Roark of Belleville, Illinois; one sister-in-law, Becky Roark Haney and husband Averette of Boone, and his extended family, Michele Lee and Kendra Sink, both of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Roark.

Funeral services for Mr. Dale Roark will be conducted Saturday morning, April 23, 2016, at 11:00 o’clock, at Greenway Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 10:00 until 11:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend Gordon Noble and Reverend Richard Stroup. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boone Advent Christian Church, in care of Joyce Sherrill, 413 Shady Bark Lane, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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