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Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Oct. 29, 2014

Virginia Norris Carroll (Dec. 12, 1929 – Oct. 27, 2014) 

Carroll
Carroll

Virginia Norris Carroll, 84, of 972 North Pine Run Rd., Boone, passed away Monday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2014, at Watauga Medical Center.

Mrs. Carroll is survived by two daughters, Nancy Hicks and husband Jerry, and Betsy Cox and husband Donnie all of Boone; two sons, Roger Carroll, and Michael Carroll and wife Mary, all of Boone; two granddaughters, Lindsey Miller of Sylvia and Jessica Harris of Butler, Tenn.; three grandsons, Tony Hicks of Boone, Keith Carroll of Vilas, and William Cox of Deep Gap; eight great-grandchildren; and one brother, Joe Norris, and wife, Georgia, of Boone. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Jones Carroll, one son, James Carroll, her father and mother, Granville Norris and Pansy Greene Norris, one sister, Hazel Bumgardner and one brother, Kelly Norris.

Funeral services for Virginia Norris Carroll will be conducted Thursday afternoon, Oct, 30, 2014, at 2 p.m., at Rutherwood Baptist Church. Officiating will be Doctor Gary Lawrence, Reverend James McKinney and Reverend Herbert McCoy. The body will lie in state from 1 to 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Rutherwood Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service, at the church.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Rutherwood Baptist Church, 142 Don Hayes Rd., Boone, North Carolina, 28607 or to the Virginia Carroll family, 2850 Hardin Rd., Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

Ruth Hardy Lewis (June 20, 1963 – Oct. 26, 2014) 

Lewis
Lewis

Ruth Hardy Lewis, 51, of Nikanor Road, West Jefferson, passed away Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014.

Leona Ruth Hardy was born June 20, 1963, a daughter of B.J. Hardy Jr. and the late Jean Miller Hardy. Ms. Lewis was a member of Bibleway Baptist Church. She was formerly employed at American Wicker and Goodnight Brothers. Ruth’s love in life was her son Derek, her family, raising her flower gardens, and in her spare time, enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

Ms. Lewis is survived by her son, Steven Derek Eggers of West Jefferson; her father, B. J. Hardy, Jr. and his wife, Barbara, of Deep Gap; sister, Debra Presnell and fiancé, Gene Blakeman, of Todd; brother, Jerry Wayne Hardy and wife, Treva Annette, of Todd; grandfather, Clayton Miller of Meat Camp; nephews, Michael Hardy and fiancé, Becky Norris of Todd, Brandon Presnell and wife, Kenseitha, of Valle Crucis, and Brent Presnell and fiancé, Deanna, of Todd; step-sister, Dina Rose Carlton of Deep Gap; niece, Nicole Blakeman of Todd; and great-nephew, Lane Presnell of Valle Crucis. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jean Sharon Hardy; and grandmother, Ruth Greer Miller.

Funeral services for Ruth Hardy Lewis will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Delmar James. The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial will follow in the Proffitts Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

At other times, the family will be at the home of her sister, Debra Presnell, 2339 Long Hope Rd. in Todd.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Austin & Barnes Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses.

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

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

Dan Church (April 16, 1940 – Oct. 25, 2014) 

Church
Church

Preacher Wiley Dan Church, 74, of The Church Road, Vilas, passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 25, 2014 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.

Born April 16, 1940 in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Robert “Bob” and Carrie Walls Church. Dan was the founding Pastor of Vilas Valley Baptist Church where he served for 30 years. He had been a Preacher for 39 years. Dan retired from Singer Furniture. He enjoyed chickens, goats and collecting pocket knives. Dan enjoyed laughing and joking, but was serious when it came to God’s work. His motto was: “Preach the whole word to the whole world.”

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Norma Neartherly Church, four daughters, Sandra Norris and husband Rick of Statesville, Marcia Baxley and husband David of Rossville, Georgia, Linda Greer and husband Norman of Boone, Brenda Church of the home and Danny Church of Vilas, four grandchildren, Hannah Blackman and husband John of Fayetteville, Melody Burleson and husband Ryan of Stony Point, Jonathan Baxley of Chattanooga, Makaila Hite and husband Lee Hite, III of Decatur, Georgia, six great grandchildren, three sisters, Ruth Sheffield of Texas, Grace Coffey of Lenoir, and Emogene Brown and husband Gene of Vilas, a very special brother, Russell Gragg, a special friend, David Harmon, and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert J. “Buck” Church and an infant sister, Bonnie Lou Church.

Funeral services for Preacher Dan Church will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Vilas Valley Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Allen Younce, Rev. David Baxley, Rev. T. J. Jackson, Rev. David Ward and Brother Danny Church. Burial will follow in the Old Adams Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vilas Valley Baptist Church. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the family.

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

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

Baxter Smith James (April 22, 1944 – Oct. 24, 2014) 

James
James

Baxter Smith James, 70, of Long Street, Boone, passed away Friday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2014, at his home.

Baxter was born April 22, 1944 in Watauga County, a son of the late Wesley Smith James and Lula Bertha Matheson James. He was a retired car dealer and a member of Westview Baptist Church.

Baxter is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Dawn James of Phoenix, Arizona; two sons, Randall Smith James of Boone and Ricky Allen James of Greenville, S.C.; two granddaughters, Brittany Nicole James and Courtney Austin James of Greenville, S.C.; one grandson, Cody Anthony Carroll of Dallas, Tex.; former daughter-in-law, Paula Michelle James of Greenville, S.C.; and two sisters, Tressie Greene of Boone, and Joyce Skeen and husband Charlie of High Point. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Frank James, and two sisters, Anne Vargachek and Carrie Lewallen.

Memorial services for Baxter James will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28, 2014, at 2 p.m., at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Reverend Delmar James.

The family will receive friends following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospitality House of Boone, 338 Brook Hollow Rd., Boone, North Carolina, 28607.

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

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

Margaret Shrewsbury Brooks (July 23, 1925 – Oct. 23, 2014) 

Brooks
Brooks

Margaret Shrewsbury Brooks, 89, of Phillips Branch Road, Vilas, passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 23, 2014, at her home.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Raymond T. Brooks of the home; two daughters, Mary Brooks Friedman and husband Nick of Vilas, and Bobbi Viehman and husband Eric of Marathon, Fla.; one son, Raymond T. Brooks, Jr. and wife Gretchen of Clermont, Fla.; three grandsons, Nicholas Friedman of Vilas, Capt. Kevin Brooks and wife Lauren of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Clinton Viehman and wife Karen of Niceville, Fla.; two granddaughters, Caley Brooks of Atlanta, Ga. and Erica Viehman of Picayune, Miss., and two great-granddaughters, Zoe and Hailey Viehman, both of Niceville, and one Great-grandson Maddox Malone of Picayune, Miss.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, W.E. and Wava Hager Shrewsbury; one sister, Virginia Mason, and one brother, George Linville.

Funeral services for Margaret Shrewsbury Brooks will be conducted Monday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2014, at 2 p.m., at Willow Valley Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Officiating will be Reverend Ray Greene. Burial will follow in Willow Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday afternoon, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the church, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Marshall University Foundation, Margaret Brooks Education Endowment, 519 John Marshall Dr., Huntington, West Virginia, 25703.

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

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

Gladys Hicks Ward (July 2, 1931 – Oct. 22, 2014) 

Gladys Hicks Ward, 83, 250 Alex Wellborn Rd. in Deep Gap, passed away Wednesday evening, Oct. 22, 2014, at Watauga Medical Center.

Gladys was born July 2, 1931 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Albert and Flora Hicks. She was a retired seamstress for Shadowline, Inc. and a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Deep Gap.

Gladys is survived by one daughter, Patricia Shatley of Lenoir; one son, Larry Ward and wife Dianne of Sugar Grove; four granddaughters, Terri Gragg and husband Mike of Lenoir, Dena Barnett and husband Todd of Lenoir, Sarah Wallace and husband Eric of Mountain City, Tenn. and Sytiva Perry and husband Rick of Zionville; five great-grandsons, Andrew Greene of Boone, Cody Campbell and Zachary Perry, both of Zionville, Matthew Gragg of Lenoir, and Connor Wallace of Mountain City, Tenn.; three great-granddaughters, Linzie Greene of Mountain City, Anna Gragg and Megan Barnett, both of Lenoir; one great great-granddaughter, Madison Greene of Mountain City, Tenn. and three sisters, Nancy Vannoy of Todd, Ellen McGuire of Sugar Grove, and Mary Norris of Zionville. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Robert Ward; two sons, Robert Eugene Ward and Gary Lynn Ward; one daughter, Sandra Marie Ward; one grandson, Morris Allen Ward; her father and mother, Albert and Flora Hicks; four sisters, Ruby Presnell, Mildred Leonard, Josephine Church, and Francis Moretz, and one brother, Waldo Hicks.

Funeral services for Gladys Hicks Ward will be conducted Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25, 2014, at 2 p.m., at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 1 to 2 p.m. Officiating will be Pastor Mike Gragg. Burial will follow in Trinity Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon, from 1 to 2 p.m., at the funeral home, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, North Carolina, 28645.

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

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

Christmas C. Pettiford (Dec. 25, 1920 – Oct. 21, 2014) 

 

Pettiford
Pettiford

Mr. Christmas C. Pettiford, Sr. 93, of Boone, passed away Tuesday night, Oct. 21, 2014 at Glenbridge Health & Rehab.

Born Dec. 25, 1920 in Person County, he was a son of the late Dallas and Pearl Jennings Pettiford. Chris was retired from the Department of Corrections. He was a WWII Veteran, having served in the Army. Prior to coming to Boone, Chris worked and farmed in Roxboro and Greensboro.

He is survived by his children: Harvey Pettiford and wife Edna of Greensboro, Cleva Pennix of Greensboro and Christmas C. Pettiford, Jr., and wife Johnnie of Morven, six grandchildren; Monica Pettiford of Charlotte, Vonette Collins of Durham, Devin Pettiford of Morven, Davetta Dunlap of Cary, David Dunlap and wife Lisa of Greensboro, and Ramona Dunlap of Brooklyn, N.Y., and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dallas and Pearl Jennings Pettiford and his wife Sadie Whittington Pettiford.

Services for Pettiford will be private. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Glenbridge Health & Rehab Activity Account, 211 Milton Brown Heirs Rd., Boone, NC 28607.

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

Dr. Jack Martin (Aug. 06, 1917 – Oct. 21, 2014)

Dr. John (Jack) Gentry Martin passed away on Oct. 21, 2014, in Manassas, Va, at the age of 97.

Jack lived in Boone from 1941 to 2011, when he moved to Virginia to be closer to his son.

Martin
Martin

He is predeceased by his parents, Thomas Herman Martin and Rhea Esta Gentry, by brothers Lauren and Theron, and by his first wife Nina McGuire, and second wife Ruth Martin. He is survived by his sister Eloise Chappell, son John Christopher (Chris) Martin (wife Susan) of Reston, Va., and daughter Peggy Martin McGuire of Regina, Saskatchewan, and by Ruth’s sons Scott and John Coe and their children Bower and Corbin. He has five grandchildren: Lara White, Amanda Dickerson, Alexa George, Jacob Brizinski, and Wyatt Brizinski, and three great-grandchildren: Emanuella, Kaylin, and Owen – with two more on the way.

Jack Martin was born in Gordo, Ala., on Aug. 6, 1917. He travelled to Auburn, Ala. in 1934 to go to college, and enrolled in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. By the time he graduated a veterinarian, he had become a dedicated fan of the Auburn football team and remained so all his life. In 1941 he moved to Boone, and left only for a stint in WWII testing cattle in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1943, he married Nina McGuire and in 1945 they returned to Boone, where they made their home and had two children, Chris and Peggy.

Dr. Martin became the town veterinarian and moved his practice to the New River Animal Hospital in 1957 and his hospital design was featured in the national veterinary magazine. He had a large animal practice for many years, and transitioned the practice to small animals specializing in surgery. He developed new surgical techniques to prevent paralysis in back injuries involving disk herniation, particularly among dachshunds.

In 1973, Jack married Ruth Coe, having been through a divorce. He retired from practice in 1978. The years of his retirement were filled with travel, entertaining, grandchildren, and golf. He was a co-founder of the BenGay Golf group, a group of avid golfers in Boone, and continued to shoot his age until he was 92 years old, when health issues forced him to retire. Golf and football were his sports passions for many years, and he kept up his interest in veterinary medicine until his death.

Arrangements are in the care of Austin and Barnes Funeral Home. The service for Jack Martin will be on Nov. 12, 2014, with the arrangements currently being finalized. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Capital Caring (Hospice and Palliative Care), 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.

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