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Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Sept. 18, 2012

Watauga County Obituaries – Compiled Sept. 18, 2012

Billy Dean Hodges, D. September 18, 2012
Billy Dean Hodges, age 81, of Life Care Center of Banner Elk, died Tuesday morning, September 18, 2012, at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.

Funeral arrangements for Billy Dean Hodges are incomplete at this time.

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

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

Lillian Eleanor Imeson, D. September 16, 2012
Lillian Eleanor Imeson, age 81, of Clearwater, Florida and Blowing Rock, died Sunday, September 16, 2012, at Watauga Medical Center in Boone.

Lillian was born June 24, 1931 in Rudyard, Michigan, a daughter of the late Matti and Ida Haapala Kujala. She was a retired owner and operator of the Blowing Rock Inn, and a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Florida.

Lillian is survived by her husband, Loren G. Imeson of Clearwater and Blowing Rock; one son, Larry Imeson and fiance Janet Cone of Blowing Rock and Naples, Florida; one daughter, Loreen K. Hewitt and husband Timothy of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; four granddaughters, Brittany Hewitt, Amanda Moore and husband Nate of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Caitlin Hewitt of Los Angeles, California, and Abigail Hewitt of Greensburg; one great-grandson, Joshua Moore of Pittsburgh, and two brothers, Ernest and Albert Kujala of Rudyard, Michigan.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Lena Piirainen, and two brothers, Wilho Kujala and Emil Kujala.

A memorial service for Lillian Eleanor Imeson will be conducted Sunday afternoon, September 23, 2012, at 3:00 o’clock, at St. James Lutheran Church, in Rudyard, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, 11118 3rd Street, Rudyard, Michigan, 49780, or to the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania, 134 Shenot Road, Wexford, Pennsylvania, 15090.

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

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

Juanita Shomaker

Juanita Shomaker, D. Sept. 14, 2012
Mrs. Juanita Inez Glenn Shomaker, 92, of Banner Elk, NC passed away on Friday, September 14, at Life Care Center of Banner Elk. Born on June 24, 1920, in Watauga County, she was the youngest daughter of Conley and Bessie Osborne Glenn.

After completion of Business College in Richmond, VA, Juanita returned to the mountains of North Carolina and, after her marriage in 1941, settled in Banner Elk where Lee’s family had lived for four generations.

Juanita loved the business world and was a pioneer in the professional life of women in her early days. She began work at Grace Hartley Memorial Hospital, later renamed Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital. This was the beginning of a long and much loved career in healthcare. She retired from her job as administrator of Cannon Memorial Hospital in 1986 after 44 years of service. After her retirement, she returned to the hospital and started the small hospital gift shop; from 1986 until 2002, she worked each day in the hospital gift shop.

In 1986 Juanita was honored with lifetime membership in North Carolina Hospital Association for “distinguished service rendered in the field of hospital administration.” She served in many professional organizations during her career. In 2011, she was honored by Avery County as a citizen of the century, for her outstanding contributions to the people of Avery County. In 2012, Juanita was inducted into the first Martha Guy Hall of Legends for her contributions in the medical field.

Juanita always expressed her love for learning anything new. She was devoted to her study of the Bible and was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years, worked with you, and served on many committees. She quietly treasured her faith.

Juanita is survived by a daughter, Jackie and husband Buster Burleson of Banner Elk.; by two grandchildren: Michelle Aldridge of Parkville, MD, and Brad Burleson and wife Kathryn of Fairview, NC. She was also blessed with five great-great grandchildren: Holden Glenn Burleson, Riley Aldridge, Payton Aldridge, Bailey Aldridge and Reagan Aldridge. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Lee J. Shomaker; a sister, Ruby Greene and a brother Cecil Glenn.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 10:00 AM officiated by Rev. George Wright. Immediately following, the family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall. Interment of ashes will be a private time for family in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorials to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church for church renovations or to the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees McRae College, PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC, which has a mission to improve the personal and educational circumstances of low-income Appalachian women.

Trusty B. Hughes

Trusty B. Hughes, D. Sept. 14, 2012
Trusty Buchanan Hughes, age 82, of Jerry’s Creek Road, Newland, died Friday
evening, September 14, 2012 at her sisters’ home, Trula Hughes. Born March 3, 1930 in Avery County, she was a daughter of Decatur and Joda Burleson Buchanan.

Mrs. Hughes was a member of the Roaring Creek Freewill Baptist Church, and was a housewife and homemaker.

She is survived by three brothers, Moil Buchanan, Coy Buchanan, and Franklin Buchanan and wife, Alveda, all of Newland; and three sisters, Trula Hughes, and Brooksey Young, both of Newland, and Joyce Catron, of Navarre, Ohio. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Earl William Hughes.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hughes will be conducted Tuesday evening, September 18, 2012, at 7 o’clock at the Roaring Creek Freewill Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Jody Almond, Rev. Roger Boone, and Rev. Troy Smith. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 until 7 o’clock, one hour prior to services, at the church.

Graveside services will be conducted Wednesday morning, Sept. 19, at 11 o’clock at the Hughes Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory in Boone is serving the Hughes family.

Listings of Funeral Homes in Watauga County:

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory
194 Queen Street
Boone, NC 28607
828-264-8888
www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Hampton Funeral Service
683 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, NC 28607
828-264-7100
www.hamptonfuneralnc.com