March 25, 2005

Debra Kaye Isaacs Hodges

Mrs. Debra Kaye Isaacs Hodges, 40, of 600 Church Hollow Road, Boone, died Tuesday evening, March 22, 2005, at Glenbridge Health Care.

She was born Oct. 19, 1964, in Boone, Watauga County, to James Clark and Mildred Ruth Yates Isaacs.

Mrs. Hodges was a former housekeeper at Hillwinds Motel in Blowing Rock and a member of Foscoe Christian Church.

Survivors include one son, J.W. Hodges; and one daughter, Heather Hodges, both of Vilas; her fiance, Jeff McCurry of Boone; her father and mother, James and Ruth Isaacs of Vilas; three brothers, Jimmy Isaacs and wife, Carol, of Boone, Roger Isaacs of Vilas, and Jerry Isaacs and wife, Robbie, of Gainesville, Ga.; one sister, Ms. Shirley Ward of Pickens, S.C. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Wayne Hodges; three brothers, Harold Isaacs, Kent Isaacs and Johnny Isaacs; and a sister, Barbara Isaacs.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Foscoe Christian Church, with Pastor Lance Hostetter and the Rev. Elliott Hayes officiating.

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

Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Louise Greene Marshall

Mrs. Betty Louise Greene Marshall, 69, of 4068 Beach Road, Hudson, a native and former resident of Watauga County, wife of the late Allan Marshall, died Wednesday afternoon, March 23, 2005, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir.

She was born Jan. 27, 1936, in Stony Fork, to Lola Mae Golds Greene and the late Norman Isaac Greene.

Mrs. Marshall was a retired weaver and loom operator from Snyder Mills in Taylorsville. She was a member of Mtn. View Baptist Church in Deep Gap.

Survivors include one step-daughter, Darla Stephens and one step-son, Danny Marshall, both of Conover; her mother, Mrs. Lola Mae Greene of Deep Gap; three sisters, Monetia Wilcox of Millers Creek, Afta Meade and husband, William,  of Wilkesboro, and Joyce Robbins and husband, Harold, of Lenoir; three brothers, Benny Greene and wife, Peggy, of Purlear, Granville Greene and wife, Jewel, of Fleetwood, and Dean Greene and wife, Wilma, of Deep Gap. She is also survived by two step-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Billy Foster and Keith Foster; three brothers, Eddie Greene, Ravon Greene and Donald Ray Greene; and two sisters, Annie Shepherd and Shelby Sheets.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Mtn. View Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 10-11 a.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Mike Barfoot. Burial will follow in the Mtn. View Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marshall family, in care of Joyce Robbins, 2474 West Lenoir Road, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Geraldine Miller Phillips

Mrs. Geraldine Miller Phillips, 65, of 147 Roberts Drive, Boone, died Wednesday afternoon, March 23, 2005, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

She was born May 15, 1939, in Meat Camp, Watauga County, to the late William Ferd and Hazel Canter Miller.

Mrs. Phillips was a homemaker and attended the Church of Deliverance in Meat Camp.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Lee Phillips; one son, Roger Phillips and wife, Valerie, and one grandson, Brandon Phillips, all of Boone; one step-grandson, Brad Norvell and wife, Erica, of Vilas, and one step-granddaughter, Emily Norvell of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; five sisters, Verlee Miller, Mary Bell Main and Carolyn Hollifield, all of Boone; Olvie Reece and husband, Dale, and Wanda Hicks, all of Todd; and one brother, Bruce Miller and wife, Gloria, of Todd. She is also survived by five step-great-granddaughters; three sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Anita Phillips; and a brother, Dow Miller.

Services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Church of Deliverance in Meat Camp. The body will lie in state at the church from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be Pastor Bruce Miller and the Rev. Sonny Hagaman. Burial will follow in Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening (Friday) from 6-8 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the Phillips residence.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

March 23, 2005

William P. Blood

Mr. William P. Blood, 27, of Delray Beach, Fla., and formerly of Boone, N.C., died suddenly Tuesday, March 22, 2005.

He was born Oct. 13, 1977 in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was a 1996 graduate of Watauga High School in Boone, and a 2000 graduate of UNC at Wilmington, N.C., where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He returned to Delray Beach to work in the family business, Blood’s Hammock Groves.

Survivors include his father, James Blood and wife, Rosalie, of Delray Beach; his mother, Margie Talbott of Boone, N.C.; a sister, Mary Heather Verzaal and husband, Shea, of Lake Worth; his paternal grandfather, Norman W. Blood, Jr. of Boynton Beach; a niece, Riley Verzaal; a nephew, Dylan Verzaal; soul mate, Christine Leonhardt, and beloved pet, Little Bit.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 26, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach.

Friends may call on Friday, March 25, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, 745 NE 6th Ave. (N. Fed. Hwy.), Delray Beach.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your local Hospice organization.

In his last hour, he gave a lifetime through the organ recovery program.

Lorne & Sons Funeral Home in Delray Beach, Fla., are in charge of the arrangements.

Charles Griffin Krider

Mr. Charles Griffin Krider, 85, of Todd, died Monday night, March 21, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born in Ashe County, April 7, 1919 to the late VanBuren Krider and Ada Wilcox.

Mr. Krider served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was an Agricultural Farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Mae Houck Krider; a son, Jimmy Krider and wife, Diane, of Todd; three brothers, James Krider of Los Angeles, Calif., Jasper Krider of Battleground, Wash., and Jack Krider of Todd; four sisters, Irene Miller of Todd, Joann Weaver and Nell Eller of West Jefferson and Betty Hayes of Boone; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Priscilla Walker officiating. Graveside services will be held Thursday morning at 11 a.m. at the Krider Family Cemetery with military rites.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.boonefuneralhome.com.

Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of the arrangements.

Eleanor “Ellie” Bruchalski Obrist

Mrs. Eleanor “Ellie” Bruchalski Obrist, 71, of Deer Valley Drive, Boone, died Tuesday morning, March 22, 2005, at home, surrounded by her family, after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Fairfield, Conn., Feb. 14, 1934, a daughter of the late Joseph Chester and Mary Helen Zepko Bruchalski.

Mrs. Obrist was a former resident of Chapel Hill, having lived there for 40 years, where she worked as an elementary school music teacher. She was actively involved at St. Thomas More Church, where she served as an organist and choir director for 18 years.

Mrs. Obrist was active in Girl Scouts, serving as a leader, consultant, and trainer. She was an active member of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church in Boone, where she served on the Parish Pastoral Council. She was a Lector, Eucharist Minister, member of the Worship Committee, SEHI Committee, and was Chair of the Stewardship Committee. She professed as a Secular Franciscan.

Survivors include two daughters, Lynne Mason and husband, Andrew, of Boone, and Barbara Filajdic and husband, Nenad, of Gurnee, Illinois; one son, Philip Obrist and wife, Monica, of Roanoke, Va.; seven grandchildren, Philip Obrist, Jr., Carolyn Mason Ward and husband, Richard, John Paul Mason, Natasha Obrist, Julia Duerig, Tatiana Filajdic, and Nikola Filajdic; one brother, Chester Bruchalski; and one brother-in-law, Walter Obrist.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul A. Obrist; one daughter, Kathleen Duerig; and two sisters, Agnes Bruchalski and Lucy Saunderson.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted Thursday morning at 11 o’clock at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, officiated by Father John Schneider. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock. The family will receive friends Thursday, immediately following the service, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1052, Boone, N.C. 28607.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Matt Brown, Dr. Tim Edmisten, the nursing staff at Watauga Medical Center, and the staff at Hospice for their compassionate care and support.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Obrist family.

Ronda Hardin Teems

Mr. Ronda Hardin Teems, 80, of Dade City, Fla., formerly of the Bethel community, died March 13, 2005, in Dade City.

He was born Jan. 26, 1925 to the late Goss and Martha Storie Teems of Foscoe.

Mr. Teems was retired from the U.S. Air Force where he proudly served his country for 22 years. He was a Charter Member of the Calvary Baptist Church in the Bethel community.

Survivors include two sisters, Eva Nell Miller and husband, Bill, of Vilas, and Dollie Dotson and husband, Bob, of Kannapolis; three brothers, Ray Teems and wife, Juanita, of Columbia, S.C., Jay Teems and wife, Jean, of Vale, N.C., and Bob Teems and wife, Mary Ann, of Pawley’s Island, S.C.; a sister-in-law, Crystal Teems of Cleveland, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Stephen Coggins of Florida; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne Teems; a sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Dean Swift; and a brother, Earl Teems.

Memorial services were held March 19th in Chapel Hills Bell Tower Mausoleum in Dade City, Fla.

Oakley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Icie Tester Ward

Mrs. Icie Annabelle Tester Ward, 93, of Collettsville, a native and former resident of Watauga County, wife of the late Johnny Marshall Ward, died Monday, March 21, 2005, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir.

She was born Jan. 6, 1912, in Sugar Grove, to the late George Bynum and Mary Ward Tester.

Mrs. Ward was a homemaker and a member of Green Valley Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Howard Ward of Lenoir; and three daughters, Bernice Mast and husband, David, of Patterson, Pauletta Greene and husband, Allen, of Collettsville and Katie Watson and husband, Roy Lee, of Lenoir. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 21 great-great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sons, William Robert Ward and Bynum Ranzo Ward; a brother, Taft Tester; three sisters, Mae Hicks, Francis Dollar and Alma Ward; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one step-grandchild; six step-great-grandchildren and nine step-great-great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Wednesday morning at 11 o’clock at Pendry’s Funeral Home Chapel in Lenoir, officiated by the Rev. David Gragg. Graveside services and burial followed at 2 p.m. at the Ward Cemetery in Vilas.

Pendry’s Funeral Home in Lenoir was in charge of the arrangements.

Gladys Ellen Younger

Mrs. Gladys Ellen Younger, 78, of Fort Myers, Fla., died Thursday, March 17, 2005, following an extended illness.

She was born March 8, 1927, in Sedalia, Missouri, and moved to Fort Myers in 1957.

Mrs. Younger was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing and quilting but mostly enjoyed the time spent with her family and friends.

Survivors include her loving husband of 60 years, Richard Evans Younger, a prominent wildlife artist; three sons, Steven K. Younger and wife, Colleen, of Federal Way, Washington; Richard E. Younger II and wife, Maureen, of Fort Myers; and John “Randy” Younger and wife, Debbie, of Charlottesville, Va.; one daughter, Laura J. Herndon and husband, Reed,  of Fort Myers; grandchildren, Steven, Tamara, Leslie, Hayley, McKenzie, Michelle, Evan, Les, Kylie and Julie; and two great-grandchildren, Bryce and Mark.

A private memorial service will be conducted April 3 at 1 p.m. at the residence of Richard E. Younger II, 6905 Highland Park Circle, Fort Myers, Fla. 33912.

Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, is handling the arrangements.

March 21, 2005

Vern Henderlong

Mr. Vernon Earl “Vern” Henderlong, 60, of 237 Briarcliff Road, Banner Elk, died Tuesday, March 15, 2005, in Boone.

He was born July 12, 1944, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Raymond Jacob and Garnet Irene Myers Henderlong.

Mr. Henderlong was a graduate of Redford (Michigan) High School and a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a former corporate accountant in Farmington, Mich.

Survivors include his former wife and mother of their children, Christine Dowell, of Hudson, Fla.; one daughter, Angela H. Hammond of Homosassa, Fla.; and one son, Steven Henderlong of New Port Richey, Fla.; three brothers, Raymond Henderlong and wife, Jeanette, of Peekskill, New York, Emanuel Henderlong and wife, Connie, and Harold Henderlong and wife, Rosemary, all of Michigan; three sisters, Norma McLellan and husband, Don, Betty Simmons and Shirley Sherman and husband, Mike, all of Michigan; three grandchildren, Charles, Christa and Cody Hammond, all of Homosassa, Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Geraldine Henderlong of New Port Richey, Fla.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Calvin Henderlong and Donald Henderlong.

A memorial service was conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Pastor Glenn McConkey.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Audrey Ann Ellis Hunnicutt

Mrs. Audrey Ann Ellis Hunnicutt, 55, of 167 Holleth Road, Linville, a former resident of Banner Elk, the Foscoe community, wife of the late Stewart Edward Hunnicutt, died Friday morning, March 18, 2005, at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.

She was born April 4, 1949, in Boone, Watauga County, to the late Andrew and Jennie Aldridge Ellis.

Mrs. Hunnicutt was a former clerk and cashier at Scotchman Store in Newland. She was a member of Watauga Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Stewart Edward Hunnicutt Jr.; two grandsons, Jonathan Hunnicutt and Alex Hunnicutt, all of Linville; one step-granddaughter, Dana Hunnicutt of Morganton; five sisters, Rosa Auton and husband, James, of Boone, Ms. Jean Ellis of Connelly Springs, Faye Calloway and husband, Kenneth, of Hudson, Laura Jane Brown and husband, Melvin, of Morganton, and Miss Elaine Ellis of Banner Elk; three brothers, Paul Ellis and wife, Della Mae, of Morganton, Elmer Ellis and wife, Patti, of Roan Mountain, Tenn., and Larry Ellis and wife, Peggy, of Banner Elk (Foscoe). She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Tom and Rose Etta Smiley Ellis; and maternal grandparents, Davis and Bertha Mae Moody Aldridge.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Zane Tester. Burial will follow in Tanglewood Cemetery in Linville.

The family will receive friends this evening (Monday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the home of Rosa and James Auton, 312 George Wilson Road, Boone.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Cook Moretz

Mrs. Ruth Marie Cook Moretz, 86, of 3077 Roby Greene Road, Boone, wife of the late Herman Y. Moretz, died Saturday night, March 19, 2005, at Mountain House Assisted Living in Champion, N.C.

She was born Sept. 11, 1918, in Zionville, Watauga County, to the late Harley and Leota Bolick Cook.

Mrs. Moretz was a homemaker and a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Johnny Moretz and wife, Helen, of Boone; one grandson, Roger Moretz of Boone; and one granddaughter, Susan Burns and husband, Matt, of Butler, Tenn.; four great-grandsons, Eric Moretz of Boone, Simon Burns, Jeremy Burns and Jonathan Burns, all of Butler, Tenn.; one brother, H.P. Cook, Jr. and wife, Alberta, of Zionville; and three sisters, Mrs. Ora Lee Winebarger and Mrs. Ethel Moretz, both of Boone, and Reba Farthing and husband, Baxter, of Manassas, Va. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs. Edna Pardue and Mrs. Earlene Henson; and four brothers, Allen Cook, Stanley Cook, Boyd Cook and Dean Cook.

Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Gary Watson. Burial will follow in the Moretz Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6-9 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the home of Johnny and Helen Moretz, 3077 Roby Greene Road, Boone.

The family has respectfully requested no food. Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church Building Fund, in care of Judy Hampton, 3004 North Pine Run Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.