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Avery County Obituaries – Compiled April 17, 2012

Ralph Beam

Ralph Beam, D. April 15, 2012

Ralph Beam, age 67, of Jonas Ridge passed away on Sunday April 15, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville. He was born August 19, 1944 a son of the late Frances and Thelma Franklin Beam, Jr. Ralph was a member of Jonas Ridge Baptist Church where he served as Deacon for several years. He had retired from the NCDOT and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Ralph was known to always give a helping hand to anyone in need and enjoyed witnessing to everyone about the Lord. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Leslie Dawn Beam.

A very loving husband, father and paw-paw, Ralph has left to cherish his memory his: wife, Ann Beam of the home; daughter, Lisa Daniels and fiance Ned Guinn of Linville Falls; and the light of his world, his very special granddaughter, Rylie Dawn Daniels; two sisters, Kathleen Clark and husband Wesley of Jonas Ridge, Juanita Poteat and husband Dean of Morganton; two brothers, Donald Leroy Beam and wife Cindy of Jonas Ridge, Joe Beam and wife Ethel of Nebo; granddaughter, several nieces and nephews; and a very special friends, Dr. Michael J. Messino and family.

Funeral services for Ralph Beam will be conducted on Tuesday, April 17th at 8:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with pastor Glenn Burrell and pastor Donald Gragg officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until the service hour. Interment will be Wednesday, April 18th at 1:00 p.m. in the Jonas Ridge Cemetery.

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

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Beam family.

Irene Huffman Smith, D. April 10, 2012

Irene Huffman Smith, age 82, of Elk Park passed away peacefully and was ready to go, on Tuesday April 10, 2012 at her residence.

A native ofAveryCounty, she was born December 20, 1929 a daughter of the late Rom and Thelma E. Braswell Huffman.

She was a member of First Baptist Church Newland and was a life long republican.

Irene was a retired School Teacher and had worked with the Avery County School System for 23 years. She was a member of the North Caroina Association of Educators.

Along with her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her sister, Ozalene Huffman-Coffey.

Irene has left to cherish her memory her: son, Daryl Smith and wife Loretta of Elk Park; grandsons, Cale Smith and wife Amber, Jay Smith and wife Kelly all of Cranberry; great grandchildren, Lane Smith, Jordan Smith, Katie Grace Smith, Nolan Smith; step grandchildren, Davina Denny and husband Ryan of Mission Viejo, CA., Lynn Poovey and husband Tommy of Vale, NC., James Smith of Crossnore; step great grandchildren, Ashlyn Denny, Wryston Denny, Irelyn Denny, Cody Smith, Kelsie Smith.

Funeral services for Irene Huffman Smith will be conducted on Thursday, April 19th at 8:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel of Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home with Dr. Bill Jones officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Medi Home Hospice of Avery County at PO Box 1357 Newland, NC 28657.

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

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Smith family.

Florence Hudson, D. April 8, 2012

No information available at this time.

Richard Westmoreland

Richard Westmoreland, D. April 7, 2012

Richard Neal Westmoreland, of Boone, NC, died Saturday, April 7, 2012 in Banner Elk after an extended illness. He was born July 16, 1928 in Winston-Salem, NC, and was preceded in his death by his parents, Charles A. Westmoreland and Bess Martin Westmoreland, his brothers Albert Westmoreland and Russell Westmoreland and his sisters Gladys Westmoreland and Helen Orton. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Lucinda “Cindy” Darby Westmoreland; three sons, Rick Westmoreland and his wife Janet of Riverview, FL; Brad Westmoreland and his wife Holly of Altamonte Springs, FL; Doug Westmoreland and his wife Barbara of Richmond, VA; and his daughter, Lindy W. Adams and her husband Mark Adams of Banner Elk, NC; eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Neal graduated from Harding High School in Charlotte, NC in 1946 and attended Clemson University on a football scholarship, where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Textile Chemistry degree. After two years in the US Army, he was employed by DuPont in the textile fibers division for 35 years until his retirement in 1985, when he moved with his wife to Boone, NC. Memorial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harding High School J. R. Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Fund at ASU, checks payable to J. R. Hawkins Fund, Current Account 92481, mailed to ASU Foundation, Inc., P. O. Box 32007, Boone, NC 28608 or a charity of your choice.

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

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Westmoreland family.

Listing of Avery County Funeral Homes:

 

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland:

296 Ash Street

P.O. Box215

Newland, NC 28657

828-733-2121

www.rsfh.net/