Ms. Jo Rita Wise (Jan. 01, 1937 – Aug. 26, 2014)
Ms. Jo Rita Wise, 77, of Storie Lane, Newland, NC; died, today, Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at Roan Highlands Nursing Center, Roan Mountain, Tennessee.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Mrs. Lura P. Fox (Jan. 16, 1917 – Aug. 25, 2014)
Lura Price Fox, 97, of the Clarks Creek Community passed away Monday morning, August 25th, 2014, at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. Born January 16, 1917 in the Creston Community of Ashe County, Lura was a daughter of the late Milburn Franklin and Eugena Molonia Roark Price. Mrs. Fox was baptized at Rock Creek Baptist Church in Creston and later joined and attended the Clarks Creek Seventh Day Adventist Church. She enjoyed her winter quilting, loved feeding the birds from her porch and tending to her annual flower gardens.
Mrs. Fox is survived twenty-seven nieces and nephews, including special friends & caregivers, Don & Sue Fox of Banner Elk, and long-time friend and physician, Dr. Alfred Earwood. She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Loy Fox; three sisters, Ruth Roark, Ester Allen and Verta Griffin; and four brothers, Roea Price, Joe Price, infant twins; and a special niece, Alice Tweety. Following Mr. Fox’s death, her constant companions were her faithful dogs and friends, Buddy #1 and Buddy #2.
Funeral services for Lura Price Fox will be conducted Sunday afternoon, August 31st, 2014, at 3 o’clock, at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Elder Mark Heisey and Elder Kenneth Hodges.
The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 2 until 3 o’clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial will follow in the Fox Family Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International, Boone Camp, Post Office Box 3602, Boone, NC 28607, or to the Banner Elk Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1551 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk, NC 28604.
Online condolences may be shared with the Fox family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Fox family.
Roger Watson (Sept. 18, 1940 – Aug. 24, 2014)
Roger Watson, 73, of Valle Crucis, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2014, at Watauga Medical Center.
Roger was born September 18, 1940 in Watauga County, a son of the late Walter and Effie Hayes Watson. He was a retired machine operator for Sealed Air Corporation and attended Mount Ephriam Baptist Church.
Roger is survived by his wife, Annamae Watson of the home; one daughter, Dorothy Fogle and husband Michael of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; two sons, Steve Watson and wife Misty of Blowing Rock, and Larry Watson and wife Angela of Valle Crucis; one granddaughter, Madison Watson of Blowing Rock; one grandson, Benjamin Watson of Blowing Rock, and two sisters, Nina Davis of Boone and Joyce Greene and husband Ronnie of Lenoir. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Carolyn Lyons, and three brothers, Edwin, Herbert, and Bobby Watson.
Funeral services of Roger Watson will be conducted Thursday morning, August 28, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 10:00 until 11:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Reverend James Ballew. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Watson family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Thomas L. Gragg (March 27, 1923 – Aug. 22, 2014)
Thomas L. Gragg, 91, of Shipmaster Court, Lake Wylie, passed away peaceably Friday morning, August 22, 2014, at Hospice and Community Care in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Born March 27, 1923 in Caldwell County, he was raised in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Following graduation from high school, he moved to Washington, DC to begin a career in Sales. His career was quickly interrupted when World War II began. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and served as a Communications Specialist while stationed both ashore and overseas.
Following the war, he returned to North Carolina and secured a job with Southern Railway as a sales and freight agent in Chester, South Carolina. He quickly rose to positions of authority as he was transferred to Hickory, North Carolina, and then to Washington, DC. In 1955, Tom was promoted to Traffic Manager and transferred to Asheville, North Carolina.
After almost 15 years with the railroad, he was hired by American Enka Corporation in Asheville to assume the position of Director of Materials and Traffic Management, reporting directly to the President. He held that position until his retirement in 1981. While at Enka/BASF, he attended and graduated from Harvard Business School. In 1982 he returned to work at North American Rayon, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, as Production and Distribution Manager.
After 10 plus years he retired a second time. Returning to his beloved North Carolina mountains in the early 1990’s, he moved to Linville, spending time on the golf course, gardening, and landscaping.
In 2004, the Graggs moved to River Hills on Lake Wylie, South Carolina to further enjoy retirement with their friends and family close by. Tom will be remembered for his quick wit, love of life, gardening, and “can do” spirit. He was most successful in every endeavor he undertook.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sondra, three children and three step children, nine grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Cabell Gragg and one sister, Martha Norris, both of Boone.
Memorial services for Thomas L. Gragg will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, August 27, 2014, at 4:00 o’clock, at Ephphany Lutheran Church, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
A family graveside service will be held in Blowing Rock at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Community Care, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, South Carolina, 29732, or to Epiphany Lutheran Church, PO Box 4763, Rock Hill, South Carolina, 29732.
Online condolences may be sent to the Gragg family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. William T. Weaver (June 06, 1928 – Aug. 21, 2014)
William Thomas Weaver, 86, of Valley Hill Drive, Vilas, passed away Thursday morning, August 21st, 2014 at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living in Boone.
Born June 6, 1928 in Watauga County, he was a son of Squire Elzie and Grace Church Weaver. William was a member of Laurel Fork Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving in Germany during the Korean Conflict. William was a carpenter by trade and enjoyed farming, raising cattle, tobacco and vegetables.
Mr. Weaver is survived by four brothers, Johnnie Weaver of Verndale, Minnesota, Squire Weaver, Jr., Roby Weaver and wife, Margaret, and Roy Weaver and wife, Pat, all of Boone; and three sisters, Lois Weaver Triplett, Doris Weaver Greer and husband, Richard, and Louise Weaver Davis, all of Boone. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. William was preceded in death by his wife, June Harmon Weaver; one sister, Joyce Holder; and his parents, Squire Elzie and Grace Church Weaver.
Funeral services for William Thomas Weaver will be conducted Saturday afternoon, August 23rd 2014, at 2 o’clock, at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Rev. Brian Cornell. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 1 until 2 o’clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial will follow in the Weaver Family Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28215.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Weaver family.
Robin Eugene Bledsoe (Nov. 1, 1965 – Aug. 20, 2014)
Robin Eugene Bledsoe, 48, of Three Top Road, Todd, passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2014, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
Robin was born November 1, 1965 in Davie County, a son of the late Darrell Bledsoe, Sr. and Joyce Elizabeth Rash Bledsoe. He was a dump truck and logging truck driver for independent trucking companies.
Robin is survived by two daughters, Natasha Bledsoe of Pooler, Georgia, and Kendra Bledsoe of Charlotte; one son, Jacob Bledsoe of Jefferson; one sister, Terry Lynn Bledsoe of Grassy Creek; one brother, Thomas “Jack” Bledsoe and wife Rosetta of Todd, and a special cousin, Helen Cobb of Todd.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Darrell “Mole” Bledsoe, Jr.
Graveside services and burial will be conducted Sunday afternoon, August 24, 2014, at 2:00 o’clock, at the Woodford Cemetery (Formerly the Jones-Greer Cemetery) in Todd.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family, in care of Thomas Bledsoe, 6993 Three Top Road, Todd, North Carolina, 28684.
Online condolences may be sent to the Bledsoe family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.
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