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Watauga, Avery Obituaries – Sept. 13, 2016

Wanda Maude Farthing (May 8, 1944 – Sept. 11, 2016)

Miss Wanda Maude Farthing, 72, of Frozenhead Ridge Road, Sugar Grove, went home to be with her Lord on September 11, 2016.

Wanda was born May 8, 1944 to the late C. Shaw and Maude B. Farthing in Banner Elk.

wanda-farthingShe was a member of Meadow View Baptist Church, and had a great faith in God. Wanda retired from the Watauga County School System in 1995 after thirty years of service. During this time, she gained many friends as the secretary at Watauga High School. She enjoyed spending quite time at her cabin with her parents and family near Watauga River. She would tell you, “If you wish to feel near to God, take a walk in the woods and enjoy all His beautiful creation.”

She is survived by one sister, Joyce Phillips, of Sugar Grove; one brother, Robert Taylor Farthing and wife Sandra Kay, of Butler Tennessee; three nephews, Terry Ward and wife Chrystal, of Wilkesboro, Brian Farthing, of Morristown, Tennessee and Kevin Farthing and wife Debra, of Seneca, South Carolina; one niece, Robin Farthing Stout and husband Bobby, of Mountain City, Tennessee; a very close friend, Nora Mae Presnell, and many more family and friends.

Funeral services for Wanda Maude Farthing will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, September 14, 2016 at 2:00 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 12:30 until 2:00. Officiating will be Reverend Richard Jones and Reverend Ray Greene. Interment will follow in the Farthing Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 at Hampton Funeral Home Service, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Farthing Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Robin Stout, 134 Lefler Street, Mountain City Tennessee, 37683.

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

Fay Justice Vance (April 13, 1922 – Sept. 10, 2016)

fay-vance-1473694137Fay Justice Vance, 94, of Pineola passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter Paula Fitzgerald on September 10, 2016. Fay was preceded in death by her husband Paul Vance, her mother Susie Justice, and brothers Jim and Pat.

Fay is survived by her daughters, Barbara Boardman and husband Fred of Laurel Springs, NC; Paula Fitzgerald and husband Mike of Morganton, NC; and Debbie Yates and husband Ronnie of Newland, NC. Grandchildren, Fred and Phaedra Boardman, Suzy, Mike, and Sally Fitzgerald, and Bradley Yates, ten great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.

In her youth, Fay attended Plumtree Presbyterian Church and Crossnore School, where she loved to play basketball. After she was married and moved to Pineola, she attended Pineola Baptist Church. She had an extraordinary work ethics and worked daily with her husband in the nursery business both in North Carolina and New York. Fay loved to travel. She had been to Europe and the Caribbean, and traveled extensively across the United State with her family. She was a wealth of knowledge about everything from when to pickle corn to generations of history of the families of Avery County. Fay loved birds, and knew the name of every wildflower across America. Fay loved life and living and doing, she was always planning for the future. Her greatest love though was her family. More than anything she loved getting together with the people she loved, being close, and sharing our lives. She was our precious gift.

Funeral services for Fay Justice Vance will be conducted on Wednesday, September 14th at 11:00 a.m. at the Pineola Baptist Church with Rev. Rufus Biddix officiating. Interment will follow in the Cuthbertson Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 13th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.

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

The care of Fay and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland.

Greg Mathieson (Jan. 13, 1949 – Sept. 10, 2016)

Gregory Robert Mathieson, age 67, of Banner Elk passed away peacefully with family and friends by his side on September 10, 2016 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.

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Mathieson

Greg was born in Silver Spring, Maryland on January 13, 1949, the son of the late George Price and Audrey Jane Mathieson.

Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Andrews Presbyterian. He held a number of interesting jobs including driving a school bus, driving an ice cream truck, and selling used cars. In 1978, when he was making a regular trip back to Silver Spring to join his parents and sister for a Washington Redskins game, the train he was riding on derailed. Greg was severely injured in the accident. Despite his injuries, Greg enjoyed a remarkable life. He had many dear friends and was a loyal fan of the Redskins and Baltimore Orioles.

Left to cherish his memory: Lynn Cogliano (Sister), Doris Matthews (Aunt) Fred Brettell, Jr., (Uncle), Michael, Catherine, and Tiffany (Nephew/Nieces), and Judy, Janice, and Joyce (Cousins).

Visitation will be held Friday evening, September 16th at 6pm followed by a memorial service at 7pm at Reins-Sturdivant. Interment will occur at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Maryland on Sunday, September 18th.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Medi Home Health & Hospice, Newland Office, 1955 Newland Highway, Newland, NC. 28657.

Mona Dare Johnson McGinnis (Feb. 17, 1930 – Sept. 9, 2016)

Dare Johnson McGinnis, 86, of George’s Gap, Vilas, passed away Friday, September 9, 2016 at Watauga Medical Center. Born February 17, 1930 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of George Mack and Fairy Fletcher Johnson. Dare was a Baptist and a homemaker.

bigmcginnisMrs. McGinnis is survived by two sons, Larry McGinnis and wife, Karen and Gary McGinnis and wife, Martha, all of Vilas; five grandsons, Matthew McGinnis and wife, Tracy, of Bass Lake, CA., Mitchell McGinnis and Kim Baumgardner, Aaron McGinnis and wife, Kristen, Joshua Trivette and wife, Marcy and Adam Trivette and wife, Kayla, all of Vilas; nine great-grandchildren, Mollie, Emma, Mason and Silas McGinnis, and Madison, Lily, Cole, Emma and Weaver Trivette; brother-in-law, Ted McGinnis and wife Deanna of Vilas; and sister-in-law, Joy Canter and husband, Jerry of Sugar Grove. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews and special friend and caregiver, Mary Ward.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray McGinnis; and sister, Jeanette Roark.

Funeral services for Dare McGinnis will be conducted Sunday evening, September 11, at 5 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Ray Greene, Rev. Thomas Brown and Rev. Bill McGuire. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 4 until 5 o’clock, one hour prior to services, at Austin & Barnes.

Graveside services will be conducted Monday morning, September 12, at 11 o’clock at Forest Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Forest Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of John Warren, 1801 Joe Shoemaker Rd., Vilas, NC 28692.

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

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

John C. Banner (Oct. 23, 1935 – Sept. 8, 2016)

John Carson Banner passed away peacefully at his San Ramon, Costa Rica home, Thursday evening, September 8, 2016.

John was best known as a star basketball player for Cove Creek High School and was a favorite of the community. His business interests relocated him to Edgefield, South Carolina, where he owned and operated Nu-Way Finance for more than twenty-five years. He was a member of First Baptist Church and Concordia Lodge #50.

He was an avid golfer for many years and enjoyed volunteering for Meals on Wheels.

John is survived by his wife, Flootie Banner of San Ramon, his children, William Steven Banner and wife Dava of Crouse, Starla White and husband Murray of High Point, Robin Owen and husband Charles of Charlotte, and Lura Alice Dye and husband Mark of Greenville, South Carolina. He is also survived by grandchildren Neal, Dean, and Ross Banner, Amber Owen and Derrick Owen, of Phoenix, Arizona, Murray White IV, of High Point, and four great grandchildren, two sisters, Charlotte Martin and husband Wiley of Boone, Eva Nell Alexander of Newland and one brother Martin Banner of the Foscoe Community. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Arthur McTyre and Alice Combs Banner, eight sisters Ethel Banner, Blanche Phillippi, Susie Henson, Helen Williams, Ruth Warren, Josephine Joines, Toni Edmisten Paris, and Edith Catherine Banner and five brothers, William Combs “Bill”, Jim, Joe, Bob and Mac Banner.

A Memorial Service will be conducted Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2016 at 4:00 o’clock at Cove Creek Baptist Church. 

The family will receive friends, at the church, following the service with a covered dish dinner.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Hebron Colony, http://www.hebroncolony.org/, or to Edgefield First Baptist Church, 212 Church Street, Edgefield, South Carolina 29824.

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

Louise Harmon Beshears (Aug. 2, 1938 – Sept. 8, 2016)

Mrs. Louise Harmon Beshears, 78, of Charlotte and Blowing Rock, passed away Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the Blowing Rock Hospital Extended Care.

Mrs. Beshears was born August 2, 1938 in Butler, Tennessee to the late Stanley and Bina Henson Harmon.

She was a member of the Sunset Road Baptist Church in Charlotte.

Survivors include, one sister, Gladys Harmon Gragg and husband Edward, of Nashville, Tennessee; three half-brothers, Wade, of Tazewell, Virginia, Eddie of Boone and Bill, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and one half-sister, Sue, of Akron, Ohio; and extended family, Jerry Harmon and wife Sarah, of Raleigh, Jeannie Harmon of Boone and Peggy Harmon Shore and husband Gary of Blowing Rock. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Henry Clay Beshear and one brother, Willard Harmon.

Funeral services for Mrs. Louise Harmon Beshears will be conducted Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 3:30 P.M. at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum. Officiating will be Reverend Steve Bass and Dr. Jim R. Wadford. 

The family will receive friends following the service at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum.

The family respectfully request no food. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Sunset Road Baptist Church, 2317 Sunset Road, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28216.

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

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

Ralph Miller (Nov. 13, 1944 – Sept. 8, 2016)

Ralph E. Miller, 71, well known photographer and woodworker died peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016.

Donations may be made to the Beech Mountain Fire Department. P.O. Box 436: Beech Mountain, NC 28604.

Mrs. Lori Parsons Hampton (May 22, 1971 – Sept. 7, 2016)

bigparsonsLori Parsons Hampton, 45, a native of Boone and a resident of Fredericksburg, Virginia passed away, unexpectedly, at her home Sept. 7.

Surviving are her husband, Brandon Hampton, of the home; son, Nate Littlejohn of Asheville, NC; daughters, Madison Hampton of Brevard, NC, and Shaylyn Hampton of the home; her mother, Tudy Pearson of Boone; sister Marie Robinson of Lenoir and brother, Ashley Parsons (and wife Amy) of Boone; 2 nieces, 1 nephew and several loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by twin sons, Gavin and Graydon Hampton, her father, Gwyn Parson and her step-father, Shep Pearson.

Memorial Services for Lori Parsons Hampton will be held at 2:00 PM on October 20, 2016, at Advent Christian Church with Rev. Gordon Noble officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Kidney Foundation or the Watauga Humane Society.

Carole Jean Bartlett Appleby (May 23, 1942 – Sept. 7, 2016)

Carole Jean Bartlett Appleby, 74, of Jonas Ridge passed away peacefully while listening to Elvis’s “Peace in the Valley” with her children by her side on September 7, 2016 at Grace Heights Health & Rehab Center in Morganton.

carole-appleby-1473433427She was born in Dade County, Fl. on May 23, 1942 the daughter of the late Edward H.and Irene Alma Norton Bartlett.

Carole was a CNA and enjoyed sewing, being a care giver and traveling to see her family. She had many dear friends and enjoyed computer classes at the Senior Center.

Along with her parents, Carole was preceded in death by her husband, William David Appleby, Sr.

Carole has left to cherish her memory her: children, Judie Appleby-Bowman and Randal of Jonas Ridge, William David Appleby, Jr. and wife Melissa of Jonas Ridge, Nancie Appleby Taylor and husband Roger of Lenoir; brother, Raymond Bartlett and wife Christine of Jonas Ridge; grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Kaitlin Bowman of Jonas Ridge, Daniel Bowman of Jonas Ridge, Hannah Hyatt of Asheville, Hayden Appleby of Jonas Ridge, Jonathan Clark of Johnson City, TN., Holley Clark of Boone; special nephews, Robert Roberts of Asheboro, Raymie Bartlett of Jonas Ridge, Robert Appleby and Edward Appleby of Pennsylvania; beloved cousins; her two fur babies, Puppy & Sugar.

Funeral services for Carole Jean Bartlett Appleby will be conducted on Sunday, September 11th at 3:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel. Interment will follow in the Jonas Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends from for one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

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

The care of Carole and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland.

Robert C. Dancy (Aug. 25, 1935 – Sept. 6, 2016)

Mr. Robert Clayton Dancy, 81, of Vanderpool Road, Vilas, passed away Tuesday morning, September 6, 2016 at his home. Born August 25, 1935 in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Conard and Edna Isaacs Dancy. Robert was retired from Blue Ridge Electric.

bigdancy1He is survived by his wife, Shirley Brown Dancy, two daughters, Kathy Massengill and Ruth Ann Harmon and husband Randy all of Vilas, two sons, Kenneth Dancy and Robert Allen Dancy and wife Agnes Irene Dancy all of Vilas, seven grandchildren, Herman and John Massengill, Steve Allen Dancy, Earl Dancy, Leslie McCracken, Amy Cass and Ericka Harmon, eleven great grandchildren, three sisters, Susie Adams and husband Walter of Freeland, MD, Kathleen Campbell and husband Gary of Zionville, and Patsy Henderson and husband Bud of West Jefferson, six brothers, Glenn Dancy of Lenoir, Jack Dancy and wife Ellen, Lloyd Dancy and wife Karen all of Vilas, Billy Dancy and wife Virginia, Gene Dancy and wife Evelyn, and Ted Dancy and wife Janie all of Zionville, and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Conrad and Edna Isaacs Dancy, an infant great grandson, one brother, Charlie Dancy, one sister, Vertie Teague and one sister in law, Shirley Dancy.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Dancy will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 oclock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Thomas Brown. Burial will follow in the Vanderpool Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday afternoon prior to the service from 1 until 2 oclock at the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared with the Dancy family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

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

Sampson Gwyn (April 4, 1934 – Sept. 4, 2016)

Sampson Gwyn, 82, of Crossnore passed away on September 4, 2016 at Johnson City Medical Center.

A native of Avery County, NC, he was born April 13, 1934 a son of the late Charlie Elbert and Pearl Edith Cable Gwyn.

He was retired from the Department of Corrections as a Guard and was a member of Curtis Creek Freewill Baptist Church.

Along with his parents, Sampson was preceded in death by his: daughters, Shelia Ward, Debbie Robbins; brothers, Bobby, Earnest, William, Henry, Elbert and Charles Gwyn; sisters, Dolly Gwyn, Mary Hodges.

Sampson has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Nancy Gwyn; daughters, Teresa Ward and husband Larry, Renee Ingram and husband Roy, Jane Toon and husband Billy; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; sisters, Rosie Cable, Voreta Carroway, Bertie Gwyn; brother, Jimmy Gwyn and wife Nina.

A celebration of the life of Sampson Gwyn will be conducted on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until the service hour.

Stephen Lacy Sammons (Aug. 22, 1955 – Sept. 4, 2016)

smallsammons1Stephen Lacy Sammons, age 61 of Robin Lane, Boone, passed away September 4, 2016 at the Blowing Rock Rehab and Davant Extended Care facility. Stephen was born August 22, 1955 in West Grove, Pennsylvania to Lacy and Pauline Coy Sammons.

In addition to family in Pennsylvania, he is survived by his extended family, Jennifer Cash and Kim and Jeremy Ward; and all his friends at the Watauga Village Apartments.

Memorial services for Stephen Lacy Sammons will be private.

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

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