June 24, 2005

Barbara Gaither Hagaman

Mrs. Barbara Gaither Hagaman, 77, of East Glendale Drive, Boone, widow of the late Dr. J.B. Hagaman, Jr., died Thursday morning, June 23, 2005 at home.

She was born in Pemiscote County, Missouri, Dec. 9, 1927, a daughter of the late Abraham M. and Freddie O. Kelley Gaither.

Mrs. Hagaman was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Diane Blair and husband, Richard, of Asheville; one son, John Bartlett Hagaman, III of Boone; and one brother, Bill M. Gaither of Dyersburg, Tenn.

Graveside services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 2-3 p.m. at their residence, 220 East Glendale Drive.

The family respectfully requests no flowers and suggests memorials to the Hagaman-Rivers Intensive Care Unit at Watauga Medical Center or to the Seby B. Jones Cancer Center, both at P.O. Box 2600, Boone, N.C. 28607, or to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Hagaman family.

Marie Crane Nations

Ms. Marie Crane Nations, 64, of Sylva, died Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Skyland Care Center after a period of declining health.

She was born in Swain County, moving to Jackson County at age four. She married Venoy Nations at age 17 and moved to the state of Washington, living there for 25 years before moving to Miami, and then moving to Boone eight months ago. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and sister. She was a photographer for Sears and member of Greenway Baptist Church in Boone.

She was the daughter of the late Jason William and Ivery Herron Crane.

Survivors include her daughter, Sandy Gill of Sylva; son, Gary Veroy Nations and wife, Kathy, of Arizona; sister, Annie Moore and husband, Jack, of Sylva; lots of nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Michael Edward Nations; and four brothers, J.B., Edd, Lee and Leonard Crane.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home in Sylva. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home are in charge of the arrangements.

William James “Jimmy” Pospisil

Mr. William James “Jimmy” Pospisil, 28, of 10 Lake Shore Dr., Key Largo, Fla., died Sunday, June 19, 2005, in Douglas County, Kansas.

Jimmy was a happy free spirit who loved to travel across the country, making many friends and touching many hearts. He had a smile that could warm you like the sun; and eyes that shined with laughter. His passion for music led him to the farthest reaches of this nation, and everywhere in-between. If life is the best teacher, then Jimmy was a true scholar. Absorbed in many cultures in his travels, he was adept and comfortable in his new surroundings. But, no matter how far away Jimmy was, his heart was always at home with his loved ones. Jimmy’s love of music was surpassed only by the love for his family. His love for music enabled him to learn the lessons in life that he believed was needed for his personal and spiritual growth. He will always be loved and remembered in all our hearts.

Survivors include his parents, Mike and June Vander Wyden of Key Largo, Fla. and William and Pam Pospisil of New Hampshire; his sister, Gina; brother, Michael; life partner, Brandie; son, Cody; and brother-in-law, Jerry. He is also survived by his grandfather, Charles Cerase; grandmother, Constance Vander Wyden; and his many aunts, uncles, and dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 26, between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. at Beyer’s Funeral Home with a gathering of friends and family to follow at 10 Lake Shore Dr., Key Largo, Fla.

Junior Presnell

Mr. Artemas Junior Presnell, 76, of Travelers Rest, S.C., a former resident of 253 Elk Park School Road, Elk Park, died Tuesday night, June 21, 2005, at Spartanburg Regional Health Care.

He was born May 22, 1929, in the Rominger community of Watauga County, to the late Nathan Talbert and Dollie Hicks Presnell.

Mr. Presnell was a retired self-employed builder of lawn ornaments. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his wife, Nell Hicks Presnell of Elk Park; two sisters, Rilda Southerlin and husband, Johnny, and Frances Brassell and husband, Wilson, all of Elgin, S.C.; and two brothers, Weldon Presnell of Elgin and N.E. Presnell and wife, Christine, of Travelers Rest. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Services were conducted this afternoon (Friday) at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Richard Trivette. Burial followed in the Ray Hicks Cemetery in Banner Elk.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

Freddie Lee Watson

Mr. Freddie Lee Watson, 65, of 1127 Shawnee Road, Banner Elk, died Wednesday night, June 22, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born August 9, 1939, in Banner Elk, Watauga County, to the late Norman Lee and Vertie Ward Watson.

Mr. Watson was a retired farmer and was of the Protestant faith.

Survivors include one son, Richard Watson and wife, Deborah; one granddaughter, Ashley Watson; and one grandson, Aaron Watson, all of Ferguson; two sisters, Ms. Reba Milton of Mooresville and Reatha Barnes and husband, Joseph, of Banner Elk; three brothers, Earl Watson and wife, Ruth, of Taylorsville, Darrell Watson and wife, Ellen, of Deep Gap and Clyde Watson and wife, Audrey, of Banner Elk; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Barbara Watson of Banner Elk; and his friend and companion, Dorothy Lee, of Newland. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his former wife, Rosie Leola Yates Watson; and a brother, Burl Watson.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Derick Wilson and the Rev. Sherrill Wellborn officiating. Burial will follow in the Watson Family Cemetery in Banner Elk.

The family will receive friends this evening (Friday) from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the Watson residence in Banner Elk.

Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1820 East 7th Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28204.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

June 22, 2005

Lynn H. Matheson

Mr. Lynn H. Matheson, 65, of Anderson, Ind., died June 18, 2005, at his residence, following an extended illness.

He was born Jan. 14, 1940 in Boone, N.C. He lived in this area since July 1998.

Mr. Matheson served in the U.S. Army for 24 years as a Sergeant-Major. As a civilian, he served at Ft. Harrison as a Financial Systems Analyst for 14 years, retiring in 1998. He was a member of the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon K. Gibbs Matheson, whom he married April 13, 1975, in Anderson, Ind.; a daughter, Theresa Jo Ann Khrybeh of Greenville, N.C.; a step-daughter, Terri Lynn Neuendorf of Anderson, Ind.; a brother, Harold D. Matheson and wife, Joyce, of Jamestown, N.C. and Vilas, N.C.; a sister, Evelyn Styan, and husband, George, of Montreal, Canada and Franklin, Vermont; nieces, Diane Hylton of Summerville, N.C., and Mary Beth Gilbert of Greensboro, N.C.; and a nephew, Dean Matheson of Jamestown, N.C.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gardner D. and Ruth Holt Matheson.

Services will be conducted Friday morning, June 24, at 11:30 a.m., at Robert D. Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel, 200 W. 53rd Street, Anderson, Ind. with Pastor Ralph Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Anderson, Ind.

The family will receive friends Friday morning from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Military rites will be by the VFW Post #266 and the U.S. Army.

Robert D. Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel, in Anderson, Ind., are in charge of the arrangements.

Margaret Moretz McLean

Mrs. Margaret Moretz McLean, 83, of Possum Hollow Road, Blowing Rock, died Monday morning, June 20, 2005, in Bel Alton, Md.

She was born Dec. 11, 1921 in the Meat Camp community of Watauga County, a daughter of Forace and Ethel Moretz.

Mrs. McLean was of the Baptist faith. She loved spending time with family and friends, reading, quilting, gardening and canning.

Survivors include four daughters, Earlene Formanek and husband, Ray, of San Antonio, Texas, Margie Reid and husband, Karl, of Orange Park, Fla., Libby Goldsmith and husband, Jack, of Bel Anton, Md. and Effie Phelps and her friend, Wayne Willett, of White Plains, Md. Thirteen grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Forace and Ethel Moretz; her husband, Jay McLean; and two sons, Mansfield and Bern Hodges.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11:30 at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Gary Shew. The family will receive friends Saturday morning from 10-11:30, prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the McLean family.

Jean Shuford

Mrs. Jean Shuford, 88, of Banner Elk, died Monday, June 20, 2005, at Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.

The second of four children, she was born Oct. 11, 1916 in Belhaven, N.C. to William David Morrison and Lura McKay Morrison.

Mrs. Shuford spent her early school years in Lake Junaluska, where she roamed the woods finding birds nests and discovering wildflowers, for which she developed a life-long love. After graduating from high school in Waynesville, she attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she received a BA and MA in English.

She took a job teaching English in Hickory, where she met her late husband, Lindsay Mortimer Shuford, to whom she was married for 36 years. They moved to Massachusetts in 1951, living mainly in Andover. Upon retirement in 1973, they moved back to Blowing Rock, where they operated a gallery for Lindsay’s handcrafted pewter and limited edition collector’s prints of wildlife artists. Subsequently, she lived at Brian Estates in Boone and lastly in Banner Elk, with her daughter and grandchildren.

Mrs. Shuford derived great pleasure from gardening, reading, handwork, volunteering at the Blowing Rock Community Club Library, knitting baby caps for Cannon Hospital and other charities, and particularly, her family. She was a life-long learner and an advocate of education.

Survivors include two sons, Lindsay Morrison Shuford and his wife, Heather, ot Tualatin, Ore., and W. David Shuford of Inverness, Calif.; a daughter, Susan Jean Shuford of Banner Elk; and grandchildren, Kristin Shuford Foster of Rohnert Park, Calif., and Laurel Jean Wilde and Sean Michael Wilde of Banner Elk.

A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in the Shuford family plot in Hickory on Wednesday, June 22, at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blowing Rock Library or to Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory, N.C. are in charge of the arrangements.

June 20, 2005

Warren Bruce "Possum" Coffey

Mr. Warren Bruce “Possum” Coffey, 51, of West Hillcrest Drive, Mountain City, Tenn., and former resident of Watauga Country, died Friday afternoon, June 17, 2005, at his home.

He was born May 11, 1954 in Watauga County, a son of Truett and Joyce Greene Coffey.

Mr. Coffey was a member of Clark’s Creek Baptist Church and was a truck driver for Lovett Trucking Company in Wilkesboro.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Samra Renfro and husband, David, of Elizabethton, Tenn., Sarah Richardson of Lenoir and Elaine McGuire and husband, Eugene, of Vilas; one niece, Nila McGuire of Vilas; and five nephews, Steven Ward of Boone, Michael Ward of Sumter, S.C., Truett Ward of Lenoir, Chad McGuire of Banner Elk and Jason McGuire of Vilas. A number of great-nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Harston and Nila Coffey; his maternal grandparents, Robert and Lillie Greene; one niece, Sandra Ward; and one great-nephew, Aaron Bradley Ward.

Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Zane Tester, the Rev. R.D. Watson, and the Rev. Mike Townsend. Burial will follow in the Clark’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Clark’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Bill Townsend’s, 2840 Clark’s Creek Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Coffey family.

Lloyd Victor “Vic” Howell

Mr. Lloyd Victor “Vic” Howell, 54, of 211 N. Goldsboro Street, Pikeville, N.C., died Saturday, June 18, 2005.

A native of Wayne County, he was the son of the late Loyd and Doris Sauls Howell.

Mr. Howell was a planner and supervisor at Waukesha Electric Systems and was a member of Pikeville PFWB Church. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was an avid Harley-Davidson rider.

Survivors include his wife, Regina Alford Howell; a daughter, Gina Howell of Boone; a son, Stewart Howell and wife, Kristie, of Pikeville; a granddaughter, Courtney Howell; a sister, Jeanette Sasser and husband, Larry, of Nahunta; brothers, Clark Howell and wife, Judi, of Fremont, Bobby Howell and wife, Terry, of Fremont, and Gene Howell of Pikeville; his mother-in-law, Janice Alford of Pikeville; and a special pet, Marshall.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant twins.

Services will be conducted Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Pikeville PFWB Church with Dr. Don Sauls and the Rev. Ottis Penny officiating. Interment will be Wednesday morning at 10 a.m in Pikeville Cemetery.

Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be made to Pikeville PFWB Church, P.O. Box 910, Pikeville, N.C. 27863.

The family will receive friends  following the service Tuesday night and will be at the residence at other times.

Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of the arrangements.