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Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Oct. 14, 2014

Judy Winebarger Ahrenberg (Jan. 10, 1955 – Oct. 10, 2014) 

Ahrenberg
Ahrenberg

Judy Winebarger Ahrenberg, 59, of Bob Campbell Road, Vilas, the Bethel community, passed away Friday afternoon, Oct. 10, 2014 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Born Jan. 10, 1955 in Watauga County, she was a daughter, Carl and Irene Winebarger. Ms. Ahrenberg was a lifetime member of Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She retired from Appalachian State University and, most recently, was employed by Boone Dermatology.

Judy is survived by her daughter, Emily Ahrenberg of Vilas; and her extended family, Grace, Nathan and Kohen Pitts, all of Vilas. A number of nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Bobby Dean and James Howard Winebarger.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m., at Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Thomas Brown. In keeping with Judy’s wishes, the casket will remain closed. Burial will follow in the Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday evening, Oct. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Forest Grove Church Mission Fund, in care of Charles Isaacs, 775 Forest Grove Road, Vilas, NC 28692.

The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Dagher and staff at the Watauga Surgical Group for their wonderful care and kindness provided to Judy.

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

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

Rev. Robert Eugene Seatz (Nov. 5, 1929 – Oct. 10, 2014) 

Seatz
Seatz

Reverend Robert Eugene Seatz, 84, of 2142-A Todd Railroad Grade Road, Todd, went home to be with the Lord Friday evening, Oct. 10, 2014, while surrounded by his family at the home of his sister.

Reverend Seatz was born Nov. 5, 1929 in Ashe County, a son of the late Roby Wilburn Seatz and Barbara Ellen Moretz Seatz. He was a minister, a pastor, a carpenter and a building contractor.

Reverend Seatz is survived by one daughter, Ellen Norris and husband Eddie of Boone, two sons, Don Seatz of Bakersville, and Jim Seatz and wife Debbie of Todd, one granddaughter Brittany Norris of Boone, three grandsons, Christopher Seatz of Greensboro, Aaron Norris of Boone and Billy Ray Melton of Charlotte, an honorary son, Dennis Ledford and wife Pam of Danville, Ky., and one sister, Grace Wagoner of Todd. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Bailey Seatz; a grandson, Steve Youngblood; and nine brothers and sisters.

Funeral services for Reverend Robert Eugene Seatz will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, at 4:00 o’clock at South Fork Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 2 to 4 p.m. Officiating will be Reverend Homer Murdock, Reverend Jim Rice and Pastor David Cooper. Burial will follow in the Norris/Tabernacle Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the church, prior to the service.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to South Fork Baptist Church, Post Office Box 27, Todd, North Carolina 28684.

The family respectfully requests no food.

Special thanks is extended to great-nephew Paul Widener for the exceptional loving care he provided to Reverend Seatz.

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

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

Susan Shapiro Miller (Jan. 23, 1948 – Oct. 10, 2014) 

Miller
Miller

Susan Shapiro Miller, 66, a retired attorney who practiced law in Pikesville, Md., for 38 years with her husband, Frederick Wm. Miller, died of complications from breast cancer on Friday evening, Oct. 10, 2014, in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Susan, daughter of Dr. Norton and Lillian Shapiro, was born and raised in Niagara Falls, N.Y. She attended Goucher College, Towson, Md., where she graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Thereafter, she attended the University of Maryland School of Law, where she graduated with honors, Order of the Coif. Upon entering the private practice of law with her husband, she specialized in family law. She was active in the bar associations of Baltimore City and County and the State of Maryland. She retired in 2011 and moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In 2012, she built a second home on Beech Mountain in North Carolina, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was an artist and traveler of the world, a friend to everyone she met, and she never met a stranger.

Susan is survived by her loving husband, Frederick; two daughters, Elizabeth Rachel Miller of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Paula Miller Weil of New York, New York, and her husband, Eric Weil; a brother, Dr. Stuart Shapiro, his wife, Regina, and their children, Carlyn and Nolan, of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

A celebration of Susan’s life will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at 12:00 p.m., at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel in Boone. The family will greet friends and family beginning at 11:30 a.m. Officiating will be Rabbi Mark Strauss-Cohn. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

Contributions in Susan’s memory may be sent to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or at www.bcrfcure.org.

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

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

Frank L. Oneal (Aug. 15, 1939 – Oct. 10, 2014) 

Frank L. Oneal, 75, of Eustis, Florida and Banner Elk, passed away Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn.

Funeral arrangements for Frank L. Oneal are incomplete at this time.

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

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

Opal Lewis Castle (March 15, 1920 – Oct. 9, 2014) 

Castle
Castle

Opal Lewis Castle, 94, of Jordan V Cook Road, Boone, passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 9, at her home.

Born March 15, 1920 in Clinchfield, W.V., she was a daughter of Charles and Minnie Gross Lewis. Mrs. Castle was a member of Middle Fork Baptist Church and sang in the church choir. Opals’ passion was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and spending time with family, adopted neighbors and friends. She loved flower and vegetable gardening, creating flower arrangements, oil painting and quilting. Mrs. Castle was a retired employee of Appalachian State University.

Survivors include her children, Ellen Potter of Charlotte, Verna Eller and husband, Bill Bardos, of Cooley Springs, SC, Lewis Castle and wife, Carolyn, of Zionville, and Barbara Robinson of North Myrtle Beach, SC; sister, Maxie Geer of Charlotte; grandchildren, Risa Graiger and husband, Mike of Murfreesboro, TN, Christian Waters of Destin, FL, Chasten Waters of Murfreesboro; Shannon Potter Nejeschleba and husband, Guy, and their son, Sage of Fort Mill, SC, Amy Castle Davis and husband, Mike of Zionville, Megan Davis of Zionville, Deva Potter Chirico and husband, Martin, and their son, Dominick, of Fort Mills, SC, and Jessica Hailey Siplon of Charlotte; Scotty Couturier, wife Elizabeth, and their children, James and Grace Couturier, all of Matthews; special niece and caregiver, Marie Lewis Price; and other caregivers, including Linda Hopkins and Kristi Brown Norris.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Archie Castle, and siblings, Annie Blackburn, Della Combs, Dare Carlton and Isaac Lewis.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Peter Vandenberg. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m., prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 400 Shadowline Dr., Suite 102, Boone, NC 28607.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Castle family.

Marie Coffey Broyhill (July 21, 1926 – Oct. 8, 2014) 

Broyhill
Broyhill

Marie Coffey Broyhill, 88, of 703 Middle Fork Road, Blowing Rock, passed away Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, 2014, at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City.

She was born July 21, 1926 in Blowing Rock at her parents home, a daughter of the late Leon Coffey and Marion Norris Coffey. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Broyhill had worked at IRC in Boone.

Survivors include her two daughters, Glenda Broyhill Messer and husband Donald of Travelers Rest, S.C., and Brenda Dawn Broyhill of Boone, one granddaughter, Cassandra Church King, and two great-granddaughters, Heather and Summer King, all of Greenville, S.C., three sisters, Irene Woods of Lenoir, Jewell Moody and Helen Triplett Carroll both of Blowing Rock, and one brother, Wayne Coffey, of Blowing Rock. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Junior Broyhill, one sister, Thelma Deal, and three brothers, Homer Coffey, Wade Coffey and Owen Coffey.

Funeral services for Marie Coffey Broyhill will be conducted Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12, 2014, at 3 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 2 to 3 p.m. Officiating will be Reverend Derek Boggs. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 3 p.m., at the church, prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 115 East King Street, Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

William Joseph “Wild Bill” McMorrow (Nov. 25, 1945 – Oct. 7, 2014) 

"Wild Bill"
“Wild Bill”

William Joseph “Wild Bill” McMorrow, 69, of 518 Don Hayes Road in Boone, passed away Tuesday morning, Oct. 7, 2014, at his home.

Survivors include, his wife, Kimlyn Hawn McMorrow, of the home, two sons, Mitchell and Michael Mcmorrow and one granddaughter.

There will be no service for Mr. William Joseph “Wild Bill” McMorrow.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Brian Barker, 411 Daniel Drive, Boone, North Carolina 28607.

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

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

Mrs. Margaret P. Mitchell (July 30, 1917 – Oct. 7, 2014) 

Mitchell
Mitchell

Mrs. Margaret Perry Mitchell, 97, of Silverstone Road, Zionville passed away Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2014. Born July 30, 1917 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late John Wesley and Rosa Belle Green Perry. Margaret was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She retired from IRC/TRW after many years.

She is survived by two daughters, Louise Goad and husband Landon of Naperville, Illinois, Betty Belle Boyd and husband Wil of Mountain City, Tenn., five grandchildren, Ronald D. Gore and wife Cindy, Dale Goad and wife Elizabeth, Darlene Greene Caudill and husband Jeff, Brian Goad and wife Lisa and Jeanette Ziegler and husband Michael, six bonus grandchildren; Kathy Greene Jones and husband Phil, Karen Greene Lerch and husband Bert, Barry Boyd, Roxanne Martinez and husband Juan, Gary Boyd, and Suzanne Martinez and husband Tino; 12 great grandchildren, 12 bonus great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and 18 bonus great great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Wesley and Rosa Belle Green Perry, her husband Emory Mitchell, two sisters, Pauline Greer and Grace Hart and five brothers, Charles, Clay, Tom, Woodrow and Odell Perry.

Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Perry Mitchell will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 2 to 3 p.m. Officiating will be Rev. Herbert McCoy and Rev. Steve LeaShomb. Entombment will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Hand in Hand Building Fund, in care of Linda Hollar, 1584 Silverstone Road, Zionville, NC 28698.

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared with the Mitchell family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Mitchell family.

Beatrice McCain Hudson (Aug. 31, 1924 – Oct. 6, 2014) 

Hudson
Hudson

Beatrice McCain Hudson, 90, of Blowing Rock, passed away Monday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2014, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

Mrs. Hudson was born Aug. 31, 1924 in Washington, Ind., a daughter of the late Alva and Blanche Gillick McCain. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Hudson is survived by one daughter, Donna Crabtree and husband Ronald of Casar, North Carolina, and one daughter-in-law, Virginia Hudson of Boone. She is also survived by four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and fourteen great great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Radis J. Hudson; one son, Gary Hudson; four brothers, Earl, Eddison, Kermit, and Junior McCain, and one step-brother, Donald Grow.

Funeral services for Beatrice McCain Hudson will be conducted Friday afternoon, Oct. 10, 2014, at 1 p.m., at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state at the chapel from 12 to 1 p.m. Officiating will be Preacher Boyd Coffey. Burial will take place in Auburndale, Fla.

The family will receive friends Friday afternoon, from 12 to 1 p.m., at the funeral home, prior to the service.

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

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

Steve Clayton (February 22, 1949 – October 6, 2014) 

Mr. Joseph Stephen “Steve” Clayton, 65, of Jefferson passed away Monday morning, Oct. 6, 2014 at home.

Clayton
Clayton

Born Feb. 22, 1949, in Raleigh, he was a son of the late Joseph F. and Dorothy Starnes Clayton. Steve graduated from East Carolina University and later when on to receive his Master Degree at Gardner Webb University. Steve retired from the US Army Military Intelligence after 20 years, as a Master Sergeant and fought in Desert Storm. After the army he became a professor at Wilkes Community College.

He is survived by one daughter, Mary Clayton of Gresham, Ore., one son, Dave Clayton of Reno, Nev., one grandson, TJ Janes of Sandy, Ore.; three sisters: Beverly Clayton of Fleetwood; Barbara Huddler of Jefferson, Ga.; and Janet Goodman of Todd and two brothers: David Clayton of Charlotte and Ronald Clayton of Mint Hill and several nieces and nephews.

Steve enjoyed telling stories with friends, cooking, gardening, model trains and recently began collecting fishing lures.

A private service will be held at a later date.

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

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

Leonard Ybarzabal Cosmo (Sept. 27, 1935 – Oct. 5, 2014) 

Cosmo
Cosmo

Leonard Ybarzabal Cosmo, 79, of Boone, passed away Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, at his home.

Memorial services for Leonard Ybarzabal Cosmo will be private.

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

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

Nellie Mae Trivette Probst (Oct. 4, 1937 – Sept. 7, 2014)

Nellie Mae Trivette Probst was born at home to Blanche Rose and Marion Franklin Trivette on Oct. 4, 1937 in the mountains of Western North Carolina near Boone in Wautagua County. She passed away on Sept. 7, 2014 in Los Angeles, Cal.

Probst
Probst

In 1958, Nellie graduated from nursing school at Grace Hartley Memorial Hospital in Banner Elk. She became a licensed practical nurse in 1959 and moved to Washington DC. In Washington she worked as a secretary at the Republican National Committee. She returned to the medical profession after the birth of her daughter. She worked in all areas of medicine but later specialized in geriatric and hospice care.

After living in Arlington, Virginia for over 35 years Nellie retired to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter. She was an avid gardener, a voracious reader and had a deep love of animals and nature. She did extensive volunteer work as both a career and advocate for animals in Virginia and California. Nellie will always be remembered for her natural beauty, sparkling eyes, wry wit, fighting spirit and grace under pressure.

Nellie is survived by daughter Danielle Probst, brother Marion Franklin Trivette, Jr., daughter’s father, Johannes Probst, sisters Ruby C. Drobkiewicz and Virginia M. Herring, 14 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her brother, Jack Carl Trivette.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park, Md., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.