December 2 , 2005

Lucy Cheek Peterson

Mrs. Lucy Cheek Peterson, 73, of 575 Schaffer Road, Boone, died Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at home.

She was born Feb. 28, 1932, in Greensboro, to the late Thomas J. and Lucy Finch Cheek.

Mrs. Peterson graduated from UNC-Greensboro in 1954 with a B.S. degree in Primary Education. She attended classes in deaf education at Lenoir-Rhyne College and completed a course in Comparative Education and British Infant Education at the University of London in England in 1973. She received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from ASU in Boone in 1974. She took courses in Communicative Disorders at Utah State University in 1978 and also took many other classes, including sign language, during her life time.

Mrs. Peterson was a long time member of the N.C. Association for the education of young children, having served as president and as a member of the governing board. She also served on the governing board of the National Association. Mrs. Peterson became the western director of the North Carolina School for the Deaf Preschool Satellite Program in 1973 and served until her retirement in 1996, after which she continued to serve young children by working in her church preschool program in Boone. Her dedication to and compassion for young children was life long.

Survivors include her husband, Tom C. “Tom” Peterson; two daughters, Kim Meeks and husband, David, and Lucy Bowen and husband, Jeff, all of Charlotte; one son, Tom Peterson, Jr. and wife, Holly, of Ghent, West Virginia; one grandson, J.T. Sim of Boston, Mass.; three granddaughters, Caitlin Meeks and Ashley Meeks, both of Charlotte; and Presley Peterson of Ghent, West Virginia; one sister, Nancy Mitchell and husband, Robert, of Winchester, Va.

A memorial service was conducted this afternoon (Friday) at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, officiated by Dr. Ronald L. Bowie. Burial will be in New Garden Friends Church Cemetery in Greensboro.

Memorial contributions may be  made to First Presbyterian Church/First Morning Out, 663 Howard Street, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to the N.C. Association for the Education of Young Children, 3733 National Drive, Suite 115, Raleigh, N.C. 27612, Attn: Roshi Bull-Turner.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Hugh M. Pyatte

Mr. Hugh McDonald Pyatte, 76, of 307 Seven Devils Road, Banner Elk, the Foscoe community, died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born April 9, 1929, in Avery County, to the late Earl and Louise Fox Pyatte (Cobb).

Mr. Pyatte was a retired sawmill worker from Dock Byrd Sawmill and was a member of Watauga Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Zenna Yarber Pyatte; one daughter, Deborah Duckworth and husband, Ronnie, of Foscoe; three sons, Hughie Pyatte and wife, Hazel; Eddie Pyatte and wife, Teresa, and Nolan Pyatte, all of Banner Elk (Foscoe); one sister, Eloise Johnson and husband, Herman, of Newport News, Va.; one brother, Ed Pyatte and wife, Rose, of Marion.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William Earl Pyatte; and his step-father, George Cobb.

Services were conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., at Watauga Baptist Church with the Rev. Zane Tester and the Rev.  Burl Greer officiating. Burial followed in the Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of David Shook, 314 Park Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Megan Camille Thomas

Megan Camille Thomas, 3-year-old daughter of Kenneth  and Sabrina Thomas, died Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born July 7, 2002, in Lenoir, Caldwell County, to Kenneth Edward and Sabrina Wagner Thomas.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by two brothers, Samuel Thomas and Kenneth E. Thomas, Jr.; paternal grandparents, Larry and Janice Whisnant of Lenoir; maternal grandparents, Charles and Brenda Wagner and maternal great-grandmother, Alice Kestner, all of Kingsport, Tenn.

Services were conducted Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Tim Green. Burial followed in the Flat Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Mae Belle Thomas Wallace

Mrs. Mae Belle Thomas Wallace, 83, of 150 Rocky Mountain Road, Boone, died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, at home.

She was born June 13, 1922, in Zionville, Watauga County, to the late Adolphus Newton Thomas and Osie Belle South Thomas.

Mrs. Wallace was a graduate of Cove Creek High School and was a homemaker. She was a member of Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church in Trade, Tenn.

Survivors include her husband, Argus Glenn Wallace; one sister, Ms. Betty Little of Deep Gap; and one aunt, Mrs. Ella Mae McCall of Hampton, Va.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Irene Snyder.

Services were conducted Thursday morning at 11 a.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bud Russell  and Robert S. Ellison officiating. Burial followed in the Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607 or Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 3505 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral

November 30, 2005

Barbara Storie Burns

Ms. Barbara Storie Burns, 67, of Meadowview Drive, Boone, died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005 at her home. 

She was born Dec. 13, 1937 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of William Turner and Chloe Triplette Storie. 

Ms. Burns retired from Food Services at Appalachian State University.  She was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include one brother, Gary Turner Storie and his wife, Donna, of Greenville, N.C.; two nieces, Robin Owens of Matthews and Starla Banner White of High Point; and two nephews, William Steven Banner of Crouse and Timothy Craig Ross of Eden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Turner and Chloe Triplette Storie.

The family received friends Tuesday evening at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.  Private Entombment will be at the Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Burns family.

November 28, 2005

Stuard Aldridge

Mr. Stuard Ronald Aldridge, 93, of 267 Sawmillers Way, Banner Elk, died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 9, 1912, in the Foscoe community of Watauga County, to the late Roy and Gladys Taylor Aldridge.

Mr. Aldridge was a retired sawmill owner and operator and a member of Watauga Baptist Church.

Survivors include four sons, Earl Aldridge and wife, Lois, of Marion; Elmer Aldridge and wife, Glenda, of Vilas; Hugh Aldridge and wife, Carolyn, of Foscoe and Charles Aldridge and wife, Helen, of Roan Mountain, Tenn.; two daughters, Janice Taylor and husband, Joe, of Newland and Karen Church and husband, Mike, of Vilas; six sisters, Mrs. Carmelee Ellis, Mrs. Bernice Byrd and Blanche Byrd and husband, Howard, all of Foscoe; Mrs. Verlene Roark of Boone; Mary Wilcox and husband, James, of Vilas, and Jean Gragg and husband, Bobby, of Globe; one brother, Wade Aldridge and wife, Ann, of Morganton; four sisters-in-law,  Mrs. Hazel Aldridge of Boone, Mrs. Virginia Aldridge of Foscoe, Mrs. Zelma Aldridge of Hudson and Mrs. Joann Aldridge of Jacksboro, Tenn. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marie Johnson Aldridge; two sons, Tommy Aldridge and an infant; an infant daughter; five brothers, Lon Aldridge, Marl Aldridge, Clell Aldridge, Marsh Aldridge, and Jim Aldridge; one sister, Prince Aldridge; and three brothers-in-law, Edgar Ellis, Ernest Roark and Dock Byrd.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Watauga Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Zane Tester and Pastor Lance Hostetter. Burial followed in Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of David Shook, 314 Park Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Dr. H. Thomas Brown

Dr. H. Thomas Brown, 76, of Venice, Fla., died Nov. 24, 2005.

He was born July 6, 1929 in Douglaston, Long Island, New York. He moved to this area in 1970 from Miami, Fla. Dr. Brown was a dentist in Venice for 22 years.

Dr. Brown attended Epiphany Cathedral; served as a U.S. Navy Lieutenant; was a member of the American Dental Society; member of the Doberman Pincher Club of America; Breed Top Doberman Winner in America; member of the Greater Venice Dog Club; and was a member of the Kiwanis Club.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia A. Brown; one son, Glenn T. Brown of Sarasota, Fla.; two daughters, Lisa Bard of Ft. Myers, Fla. and Donna Leigh Brown of Massachusetts; a grandson, Ryan Thomas Brown of Sarasota, Fla.; one sister, Sister Jeanne Brown, O.P. of Columbus, Ohio; and a brother, James G. Brown of Naples, Fla.

A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. at Epiphany Cathedral.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fla. 34238.

Arrangements by Farley Funeral Home & Crematory on Venice, Fla.

Angelo John Cerchione

Retired Major Angelo John Cerchione, 70, of Lawrence Greene Road, Deep Gap, died Wednesday evening, Nov. 23, 2005 at the Watauga Medical Center. 

He was born Jan. 11, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York,  a son of Angelo and Emilie Ost Cerchione. 

Mr. Cerchione served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, and served in the U.S. Air Force for over 25 years, including the conflict in Vietnam.  Considered a national expert on environmental impact statements, he authored ten books on the environment.

During his retirement, Mr. Cerchione placed prominent articles in various newspapers and major gardening and landscaping magazines about a flower he was testing, the daylily. As a result, the daylily moved from great obscurity to rivaling the popularity of the rose.  Mr. Cerchione was also instrumental in bringing together the task force that brought the Internet to the Boone area, and he adapted extraordinarily well to computers.  In addition to establishing a number of websites, he also founded the hi-tech corporation Maritime Watch.  He was a member of the local Baha’i community.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Speer Cerchione; his son, Ralph Angelo Cerchione of Deep Gap; his daughter, Chandra Cerchione Peltier and her husband, Christopher; his granddaughter, Anastasia Isolde Peltier, all of Nashville, Tenn.; and his sister, Arline Andros and her husband, George, of Clifton, New Jersey.

Graveside services were conducted at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

A celebration of his life will take place Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4th from 2 until 4 o’clock at the Fellowship Hall of the Stony Fork Baptist Church.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Cerchione family.

William R. “Bill” Jones

Mr. William R. “Bill” Jones, 70, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and a native and former resident of Watauga County, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Jones; one son, Richard Jones of San Diego, Calif.; two daughters, Pam Wickens and Debbie Hescock, both of Roseville, Calif.; four sisters, Ramona Hardie of Lewisville, Frances Greene and husband, J. B., and Pat Greene and husband, Larry, all of Boone; and Rebecca Holloway of Fleetwood; and one brother, Roland Jones and wife, Sandy, of Boone.  Ten grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Louise Christian Jones; and a brother-in-law, James Holloway.

Memorial services will be conducted at a later date in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Irene Edmisten Meyers

Mrs. Irene Baird Edmisten Meyers, 82, of 1143 Rominger Road, Banner Elk, died Saturday evening, Nov. 26, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born August 23, 1923, in the Matney community of Watauga County, to the late Henry and Ency Dollar Baird.

Mrs. Meyers was a retired housekeeper from Valle Crucis Mission School and a member of Liberty United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, James Martin Meyers; two sons, J.D. Edmisten and wife, Carmen, of Petaluma, Calif. and Jerry Edmisten and wife, Harriet, of Hickory; two daughters, Evelyn Yates and husband, Ralph, of Boone and Anita Presnell and husband, Rev. Harvey Presnell, of Deep Gap; one sister, Mrs. Jeanette Hoss of Johnson City, Tenn. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Marvin Baird and Dean Baird; a sister, Mrs. Lillie Tester; two grandsons, Ricky Yates and Randy Yates; an infant son; and a great-granddaughter, Lauren Wilson.

Services were conducted this morning (Wednesday) at 11 a.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Harvey Presnell. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty United Methodist Church, in care of Vanessa Rupard, 1078 Upper Crab Orchard Road, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Edna Glenn Shepherd

Mrs. Edna Glenn Shepherd, 83, of U.S. Hwy. 321 North, Sugar Grove, died Friday evening Nov. 25, 2005, at Blowing Rock Hospital. 

She was born in Watauga County, June 28, 1922,  a daughter of the late Nat and Kimmie Presnell Glenn. 

Mrs. Shepherd was a member of Antioch Baptist Church, and was retired as a clerk from the U.S. Postal Service. 

Surviving include two daughters, Mayselle Glenn Hagaman and husband, Rev. James D. Hagaman, of Zionville and Leta Kay Glenn Cornett and husband, Blaine, of Vilas; one son, Henry Frank Glenn and wife, Claire, of Bozeman, Montana; three granddaughters, Sue McGinnis of Sugar Grove, Pam Johnson and Lori Greene of Zionville; six grandsons, Jeff Hagaman and Glenn Cornett of Vilas, Everett Cornett of Marion, Dillon Glenn of Charlotte, Frank and Charles Glenn of Bozeman, Montana; one step-grandson, Tori Cours of Bozeman, Montana; one step-granddaughter, Christian Cours of Bozeman, Montana; two sisters, Ruby Norris of Julian, N.C., and Carlene Willis Cooper of Sugar Grove; three sisters-in-law, Rosa and Clara Glenn, both of Boone, and Lena Glenn of Sugar Grove. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Frank L. Glenn; her second husband, Melvin L. Shepherd, Jr.; one sister, Ruth G. Hicks; five brothers; Leonard, Howard, Edgar, Ralph, and Raymond Glenn;  an infant sister, Floy Glenn; and one great-granddaughter, Christa Dawn Cornett.

Services will be conducted Monday morning at 11 o’clock at Antioch Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Carl Wilson and the Rev. Eric Cornett.  Burial will follow in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Class of 55 Scholarship Fund, in care of Jeanette Lawrence, 3361 Hwy. 88, Zionville, N.C. 28698.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Shepherd family.