1000 x 90

Watauga, Avery Obituaries – Feb. 17, 2016

Rona Ledford (Feb. 22, 1921 – Feb. 13, 2016)

Rona-Mamaw-Ledford-1455456960Rona “Maw Maw” Ledford, age 94 of Newland, N.C. went home peacefully to be with her Lord on Feb. 13, 2016. Rona was born February 22, 1921, the daughter of the late Alvin and Dollie Franklin Shell.

She was a member of Elk Mountain Free Will Baptist Church and spent her life farming with her loving husband of sixty-six year, Jack “Paw Paw” Ledford who passed away March 27, 2007.

She was also preceded in death by three sisters Vida Shell, Arlene Wright, Pansy Huffman a brother Ray Shell; two brother-in-laws, Thomas Wright, C.W. Huffman; one sister-in-law Blanch Shell; and a daughter-in-law Emma Jean Ledford.

She is survived by son, Jack “Toby” Ledford Jr. of Newland; daughter Betty Ledford Taylor and husband Don of Newland; four grandchildren, Randy Ledford and wife Beckye of Newland, Donna Taylor Jones of Spruce Pine, Katina Ledford Street and husband Ronnie of Roan Mtn. TN, Rodney Taylor and wife Samantha of Newland; seven great grandchildren, Johnny Montgomery and wife Emma of Utah, Kevin Ledford and wife Megan of Newland, Katelyn Wagner and husband Nick of Asheville, Mckenzie Ledford of Newland, Cade Jones of Spruce Pine, Logan Street of Roan Mtn. TN, Courtney Jones of Spruce Pine; three great great grandchildren, Vera Wagner of Asheville, Ryder Taylor of Newland, Evelyn Montgomery of Utah; and several nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. with funeral services to follow at 7:00 PM in the Grandfather Chapel. Interment services will be held at the Daniels Cemetery at 12:00 PM on Thursday, February 18, 2016. Family friends and pallbearers will gather at the funeral home on Thursday morning at 11 to go in procession to the cemetery.

The Ledford family would like to give a special thank you to Chick Aldridge, Medi Home Hospice of Newland, Dr. Robert Clark and staff.

Gaye Bryan Norris (Dec. 13, 1948
- Feb. 13, 2016)

Mrs. Gaye Bryan Norris, age 67, of Ball Branch Road, Boone, passed away Saturday evening, February 13, 2016, at her home, after a long illness.

3599016_wlppGaye was born December 13, 1948 in Boone, North Carolina, a daughter of the late William Sherman Bryan and Agnes Josephine Grogan Bryan. Gaye was a homemaker, and a former employee of Rose’s Department Store. She was a member of Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church.

Gaye is survived by her husband, Bud Norris of the home; one son, Carl Norris and wife Savannah; one grandson, Raylan Scott Norris, all of Boone; one sister, Ethel Pope of Zionville; and three brothers, Sam Bryan and wife Ellouise (Easy), John Bryan and wife Pansy, and Jeffrey Bryan, all of Boone. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Lester Bryan and Glenn Bryan, a sister Virginia “Jenny” Durham, a nephew Grayson Bryan, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Audna and Chloe Norris.

Funeral services for Gaye Bryan Norris will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, February 16th, at 1:30 PM at Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 12:00 until 1:30. Officiating will be Reverend Delmar James. Burial will follow in the Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon, from 12:00 o’clock until 1:30 at the church, prior to the funeral service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, North Carolina, 28645.

The family respectfully requests no food.

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

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

Mr. Norman F. Gustaveson (April 6, 1930 – Feb. 12, 2016)

Norman Francis Gustaveson, 85, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina died on Friday, February 12, 2016 at Carol Woods Retirement Community. He was born on April 6, 1930 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Francis Gustaveson and Hazelle Hyndman Gustaveson.

BigGustaveson, NormanAs a lifelong scholar and social advocate, Norm completed his undergraduate degree at Drake University in Iowa in 1956 and received a Masters of Divinity from the University of Chicago in 1959. He continued to do postgraduate work at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1960. He served as the Secretary of the Campus Y at the University of North Carolina from 1964 to 1976. Norm was the faculty advisor to the UNC chapter of Students for a Democratic Society during the Speaker Ban controversy, 1965-1966. He was nominated as a member of the honorary society, Order of the Golden Fleece, for his lasting contributions to the University. He later served as an Orange County commissioner from 1974-1982. He was passionate about social justice, land conservation, the environment, and energy consumption. He was a charter board member of the Triangle Land Conservancy and was also active in the Eno River Association.

Norm is survived by his wife, Nancy Scaief Gustaveson. He is also survived by his sons, Eric Gustaveson and wife Kathy of Boone, NC, Mark Gustaveson of Greensboro, NC, and daughter, Amy Robbins and husband Mark of Charlottesville, VA; granddaughters, Anna Gustaveson and husband Daniel Bullock, Kelsey Gustaveson, and Kara Gustaveson; grandsons, Will Gustaveson, Luke Robbins, Chase Robbins, and Jack Robbins; and extended family, Mark Durway, Lindsey Durway, and Kristin Whitesides and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 28 at the Carol Woods Assembly Hall at 2pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eno River Association at enoriver.org or the Triangle Land Conservancy at triangleland.org.

Robert S. Morgan (Oct. 22, 1946 – Feb. 11, 2016)

BigMorgan, RobertRobert Samuel Morgan, age 69, of Wintergreen Drive, Boone, and formerly of Blowing Rock, passed away Thursday, February 11, 2016 at his home. Born October 22, 1946 in Somerville, New Jersey, he was a son of Samuel Titus Morgan, Jr. and Alice Marie Ford Morgan. Bob, a Purple Heart veteran of the U.S. Army, served during the Vietnam Era and retired as a Captain from the US Army Reserves. During his years in Blowing Rock, he was active in the Blowing Rock American Legion. He loved the outdoors, especially horseback riding. When living in South Carolina, he enjoyed participating in Civil War re-enactments.

Bob is survived by his wife, Geneva Cornett Morgan of Streetsboro, Ohio; and locally, his brother-in-law, Allen Cornett, and special niece and nephew, Linda and Jeff Cornett, all of Zionville. He is also survived by his very special niece and nephew, Dakota and Tyler Cornett, who he considered his own.

Memorial services for Robert Samuel Morgan will be at a later date.

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

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

Clyde T. Cole (April 29, 1916
- Feb. 11, 2016)

Clyde T. Cole, age 99, of Davidson County, a former resident of the Valle Crucis Community, and more recently Hickory, passed away Thursday evening, at Alston Brook Assisted Living Facility in Lexington.

3597770_wlppMr. Cole was born April 29, 1916 in Watauga County, a son of the late Benjamin Franklin Cole and Nancy Winebarger Cole. He retired from United States Marine Corps, after 20 years of service, and was an employee of the Sears-Robuck Company, in Greensboro, in the customer service department. He was a member of Valle Crucis United Methodist Church, where he had served in many capacities.

Mr. Cole is survived by one son, Robert E. “Bob” Cole and wife Ann of Winston-Salem; two granddaughters, Cammey Cole Manning and husband Thomas of Raleigh, and Katrina Cole Romblad and husband Jason of Lexington; two great-granddaughters, Olivia Romblad and Elise Romblad, both of Lexington; one brother, Arlton Cole and wife Harriet of Lawrenceville, Georgia, one sister, Betty Jo Stanbery and husband Alvin of Boone, and care-givers Roger and Jackie Townsend of Hickory. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice Hutto Cole; two brothers, Charlie Cole and Willie Cole; two sisters, Pearl Garland and Faye Miller; one step-brother, Lester Warren, and two step-sisters, Rose Edna Green and Chloe Cole.

Funeral services for Clyde T. Cole will be conducted Saturday afternoon, February 20, 2016, at 2:00 o’clock, at Valle Crucis United Methodist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 12:30 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend Elaine Hall and Reverend Bob Roten. Military graveside rites and burial, provided by the United States Marine Corps, will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 o’clock, at the church, prior to the service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Valle Crucis United Methodist Church, Post Office Box 643, Valle Crucis, North Carolina, 28691, Bethel United Methodist Church, 80 28th Street NW, Hickory, North Carolina, 28601, or to a charity of the donors choice.

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

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

Dorothy Blank Archambault (May 2, 1923
- Feb. 9, 2016)

Dorothy Blank Archambault, age 92, of 287 Bamboo Road, Boone, passed away Tuesday morning, Feb. 9, 2016, at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living in Boone.

Dorothy was born May 2, 1923 in Sandborn, Minnesota, daughter of the late George and Elty Essig Blank. She was a retired elementary school teacher.

Dorothy is survived by five sons, Bill Stromberg of Thailand, Jan Stromberg and wife Lauren of Anchorage, Alaska, Larry Stromberg of Idaho, Rick Stromberg and wife Juanita of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, and Terry Stromberg of Derwood, Maryland. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Dorothy Blank Archambault will be conducted at a later date in Minnesota.

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