January 6, 2006

Edna Greer Bumgarner

Mrs. Edna Greer Bumgarner, 86, of U.S. Highway 421 North, Vilas, died Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 3, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 29, 1919 in Watauga County to Charles and Virginia Swift Greer.

Mrs. Bumgarner retired from Shadowline in 1980. She worked part time in child care at Lynn Hill Day Care and First Baptist Church for several years. She also volunteered at Samaritans Purse.

Survivors include one daughter, Betty Ward and husband, Gene, of Sugar Grove; three sons, Bruce Bumgarner and wife, Opal, of Lenoir; Billy Bumgarner and wife, Jeannie, of Boone; and Johnny Bumgarner and wife, Kitty, of Hinton, Okla.; three grandsons, Steve Ward and wife, Amanda, of Vilas; Gregory Ward and wife, Annette, of Deep Gap; and Michael Carroll of Johnson City, Tenn.; one granddaughter, Tara Bumgarner of Hinton, Okla.; five great-grandchildren, Lindsay, Katie and Taylor Ward and Amie and Logan Bumgarner; one step-great-grandson, Dillon Sweeney; two sisters, Ruby Haas of Lenoir and Bobbie Spencer of Morganton; and one brother, Floyd Greer and wife, Betty, of Cleveland, Ohio. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Bumgarner; a daughter, Carolyn Carroll; a granddaughter, Vickie Carroll; three sisters, Belle Hollars, Ethel Edmisten and Beulah Love; and two brothers, Clyde and Howard Greer.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Perkinsville Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Harold Bennett. The body will lie in state at the church from 10-11 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

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

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-7:30 at Austin & Barnes.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Bumgarner family.

Loy F. Farthing

Mrs. Loy F. Farthing, 91, of Bethel Road, Vilas, the Bethel Community, died Tuesday morning, Jan. 3, 2006 at the Watauga Medical Center. 

She was born Dec. 25, 1914 in the Bethel community of Watauga County, a daughter of Herbert “Bert” and Stella F. Farthing. 

Mrs. Farthing attended Appalachian State Teachers College.  She did substitute teaching and served on the Watauga County High School Committee. Through her efforts the Grange was introduced into Watauga County and she served for 20 years as secretary of the Beaver Dam Grange.

She was very active in community service and helped with cemetery work. After her correspondence with Governor Scott and the state highway commissioner, Mrs. Farthing was instrumental in getting the first paved road through the Bethel community. At an early age she joined Bethel Baptist Church and was a long time active member. She served as a Sunday school teacher, treasurer, choir member and as director of Vacation Bible School for several years.

Survivors include one daughter, Anne Farthing Herlong of Ridge Spring, S.C.; one son, John David Farthing and wife, Christy, of Morganton; four grandchildren, Steven Douglas Clawson of Hickory, Cynthia Anne Ray of Edgefield, S.C., Sandra Lee Platts of Ridge Springs, S.C. and Joseph Allen Clawson of Gilbert, S.C.; and eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Madeline MacNab of Santa Rosa, Calif. and Josephine Smith of Newport News, Va.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George David Farthing; and two brothers, Dr. Barton R. Farthing, who was chairman of the Department of Statistics at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, La.,  and William (Bill) G. Farthing of Boone.  

Services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Bethel Baptist Church, officiated by Dr. Charles McKnight.  The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock.  Burial will follow in the Winfield Scott Farthing Cemetery in Bethel.  

Flowers are appreciated or the family suggests memorials to Samaritans Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Farthing family.

Pearl Henson Greene

Mrs. Bessie Pearl Henson Greene, 92, of 167 Joe Shoemaker Road, Vilas, wife of the late Herman L. Greene, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at Glenbridge Health Care.

She was born April 17, 1913, in Amantha, Watauga County, to the late Edward Carlock Henson and Bessie McBride Henson.

Mrs. Greene was a graduate of Cove Creek High School and earned a Teaching Certificate from Watauga Academy. She was principal of the former Pottertown Elementary School for a number of years and a member of Cove Creek Baptist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Carl Greene and wife, Mary Sue, of Vilas; Pat Greene and wife, Mary Jo, of Mountain City, Tenn. and James Greene of North Wilkesboro. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and father and mother, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Beulah Mae Horton.

Services were conducted this afternoon (Friday) at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Pastor Tony Duck. Burial followed in the Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Grace Lucille Williams Neatherly

Mrs. Grace Lucille Williams Neatherly, 83, of Morganton, N.C., died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Autumn Care of Drexel.

She was born in Watauga County, on March 19, 1922, a daughter of the late Roy H. Williams, Sr. and Mattie Sue Isaacs Williams.

Mrs. Neatherly was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America and was active in many leadership roles for the Catawba Valley Service Unit. She received the “Thanks Badge” from the Girl Scouts. She was a member of the Glen Alpine Woman’s Club, the Morganton Garden Club, the Morganton Herb Club, and the Oak Hill Home Extension Club. Mrs. Neatherly was actively involved with A.A.R.P. and was one of the original volunteer ushers with the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium.

She was a member of Mountain Grove United Methodist Church where she served on various committees and offices. She was an avid supporter of her husband’s work with Ruritan International at both the local and national level. Mrs. Neatherly was a tireless gardener and herbalist, and a skilled craftswoman and artist who especially enjoyed flower arranging, painting, wreath making, and embroidery. She had volunteered for many years as a flower judge at the Burke County Fair and had herself won many blue ribbons at the fair for her baked goods. During her husband’s Air Force career, she was active in various N.C.O. wives clubs and service associations.

Survivors include her husband, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt., Retired, Roy L. Neatherly; daughters, Constance Lee Neatherly Turner and husband, Rev. Charles M. Turner, Jr., of Lewisville, N.C.; Dawn Neatherly Byrd and husband, Gregory A. Byrd, of Morganton; a daughter-in-law, Judy C. Neatherly of Ninevah, Ind.; grandchildren, Charles M. Turner III, Christina M. Turner, Christopher L. Neatherly, Kerry N. Ritchie, and Daniel L. Neatherly; great-granddaughters, Cassie and Lauren Ritchie; brothers, Paul Williams of Lancaster, Va. and Johnny Williams of Richmond, Va.; a sister, Elizabeth W. Walters of Morattico, Va.; a number of nephews, nieces, and a tremendous family of the heart.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant son, Roy L. Neatherly, Jr.; a son, Phillip Wayne Neatherly; and brothers, James Williams, Robert Williams, and Roy H. Williams, Jr.

Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Rev. Neal F. Brantley, Jr., the Rev. Charles M. Turner, Jr. and the Rev. W.F. McIntosh, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Mountain Grove United Methodist Church, 3624 Fish Hatchery Rd., Morganton, N.C. 28655; Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, N.C. 28690; or to Girl Scouts of the Catawba Valley, 530 4th St., S.W., Hickory, N.C. 28602.

Sossoman Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

January 4, 2006

David Grady Adams

David Grady Adams, 69, of Adams Road, Vilas, died Monday morning, Jan. 2, 2006 at home. 

He was born in Watauga County, Feb. 14, 1936, a son of the late Dolph and Ellen McNeil Adams. 

Mr. Adams was a member of Willowdale Baptist Church and was an avid golfer.  He was retired from TRW where he had worked as a machinist.    

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Cole Adams; one son, James David “Davey” Adams; one granddaughter, Josie Adams, all of Vilas; three sisters, Glenda Adams Aldridge and husband, Elmer, of Vilas; Rachel Adams Combs and Minnie Adams Mercer; three brothers, Bob Adams and Perry Adams and wife, Mary, of Vilas, and Everett Adams and wife, Gladys, of Trade, Tenn.; one brother-in-law, Russell Beach of Millers Creek.  He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Bonita Adams Beach, Mary Adams Yates and Janie Adams Broyhill.

Services were conducted Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chuck Edmondson officiating.  The family received friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. 

Memorials may be made to Willowdale Baptist Church, 133 Westside Drive, Vilas, N.C. 28692 or to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Burial will be private.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Adams family.

Annie Leigh Williams Nance Comer

Mrs. Annie Leigh Williams Nance Comer, 93, formerly of Asheboro, N.C., died Jan. 1, 2006, at Davant Extended Care Center in Blowing Rock.

She was born July 24, 1912, in Asheboro, a daughter of the late A.E. Williams and Elma Frye of Asheboro, N.C.

Mrs. Comer was a member of Cedar Falls Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for a number of years. She retired from Acme-McCrary Corporation after 53 years of service and had been an active member of the Westwood Garden Club.

Survivors include one son, Larry Thomas Nance and wife, Nanci Tolbert, of Blowing Rock; one grandson, Geoffrey E. Tolbert Nance and wife, Ann; and two great-grandchildren, Eliza and Tolbert Nance, all of Atlanta, Ga.; her brother, Claude Williams and wife, Grace, of Asheboro; and her brother, David Williams and wife, Rachel, of Asheboro, N.C.; and by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas B. Nance; her second husband, Joseph A. Comer; an infant daughter; brothers, Eston Williams and Clyde Williams; and sisters, Ursula W. Stillwell, Lena W. Trogdon and Ethel W. Jenkins.

Services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel, with Mrs. Comer’s nephew, the Rev. Bennie Clodfelter, pastor of Central United Methodist Church of Denton, officiating. Burial followed at Oaklawn Cemetery. The family received friends from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service, at the funeral home.

The family requests memorials to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro, N.C., were in charge of the arrangements.

Ernest E. Guy

Mr. Ernest E. Guy, of Mount Airy, Md., died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, after a brief illness.

He was born Jan. 12, 1922, the son of the late Onnie and Sally Eggers Guy.

Mr. Guy will be remembered as a wonderful husband, dad, papaw, and friend. He received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour at Doe Valley Baptist Church, Mountain City, Tenn. He was a faithful member of Pioneer Baptist Church in Thurmont, Md.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mabel Cornett Guy of Mount Airy; two daughters, Virginia Royer and Ruby Roark, both of Mount Airy; two sons, Wayne Guy and wife, Betty, of Mount Airy and Michael Guy and wife, Daphne, of Woodsboro, Md.; ten grandchildren, Tammy Acton and husband, Rick, of Frederick, Md., Eric Roark of Funkstown, Md., Shane Roark of Mount Airy, Will Royer and wife, Sandra, of Thurmont, Jason Guy and wife, Jessica, of San Diego, Calif., Rachel Guy of Mount Airy, Chad Guy of Woodsboro, Deborah Guy of Westminster, Md., Bethany Guy and Jonathan Guy, both of Mount Airy; three great-grandchildren, Justin Royer, Dylan Royer and Gracie Guy; and a sister, Bessie Taylor of Mountain City, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gurnie, Conley and Bill Guy of Mountain City, Tenn.; and two sisters, Sophia Cornett of Woodbine, Md., and Hazel Greene of Mountain City.

Services were held Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Road, Libertytown, Md., with his son, Wayne Guy, officiating. Interment followed in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick, Md.Hartzler Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

January 2, 2006

Mr. James Travis Anderson

Mr. James Travis Anderson, 58, of Vilas, died Thursday morning, Dec. 29, 2005, at Watauga Medical Center in Boone.

He was born August 2, 1947, in Morganton, Burke County, to Virginia Pearl Poteat Anderson and the late James Monroe Anderson.

Mr. Anderson was a graduate of Glen Alpine High School and a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was project manager for Triangle Contractors in Morganton.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Mains Anderson; two daughters, Jessica Whittaker and husband, Ronnie, of Zionville, and Janey Anderson of Glen Alpine; two grandsons, Josh Hill and Wesley Whisnant, both of Morganton; and his mother, Mrs. Pearl Anderson Deaton of Glen Alpine. He is also survived by two nieces and two nephews.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Avis Keho.

Services were conducted Saturday, Dec. 31, at 11 o’clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Derick Wilson. Graveside services and burial followed at 1 p.m. at the Glen Alpine Methodist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Frank Gordon officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glen Alpine United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 576, Glen Alpine, N.C. 28628 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1903, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Rev. James Garland Early

Rev. James Garland Early, 69, of Pineburr Rd., Lenoir, N.C., died Thursday evening, Dec. 29, 2005, at his residence, following a lengthy illness.

He was born Nov. 8, 1936 in Rutherford County, N.C., and was a son of the late Robert and Effie Marie Hyder Early.

Rev. Early was a minister for 50 years, and retired from the Laurel Springs Baptist Church in Boone, N.C. He was a member of Mt. Home Baptist Church where he served as the Sunday school teacher for the 60 and over class.

Survivors include his wife, Anne Sain Early; a son, Eric Early and wife, Judy, of Maiden, N.C.; a daughter, Amy Townsend and husband, Eddie, of Deep Gap, N.C.; brothers, Robert Early, Dennis Arrowood, and Bobby Arrowood, all of Morganton; sisters, Grace Dehetre, Vivian Alderman, Joyce Cordell and Juanita Elmore, all of Morganton; and grandchildren, Melissa Early, Will Early, and Brahm Townsend.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and seven sisters.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., at Mt. Home Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Gamble and the Rev. David Orders officiating. Burial followed at Burke Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be  made to Blowing Rock Hospital, P.O. Box 148, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605, or to Mt. Home Baptist Church Building Fund, 2271 Mt. Home Church Rd., Morganton, N.C. 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Kirk Douglas Edmisten

Mr. Kirk Douglas Edmisten, 55, of Harrisburg, N.C., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at his home.

He was born March 20, 1950, in Boone, Watauga County, to Lena Maltba Edmisten and the late Dwight M. Edmisten, Jr.

Mr. Edmisten graduated from Watauga High School and attended Appalachian State University and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute to study Xray and Nuclear Medicine. He worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technician at Nalle Clinic and as a Nuclear Medicine Technician supervisor at Randolph Radiology Department at Presbyterian Hospital, both in Charlotte, for 25 years.

Survivors include his wife, Rene’ Reed Edmisten; one daughter, Erin Edmisten of Kannapolis; his mother, Mrs. Lena Edmisten of Boone; and one brother, Gary Edmisten and wife, Teresa, of Matthews. He is also survived by one niece, two nephews, five aunts, three uncles and a number of cousins.

To honor Kirk’s request, there will be no funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1235, Concord, N.C. 28026-1235.

Arrangements by Hampton Funeral Service.

Marion Ford

Mr. Marion Ford, 93, of 296 Heather Ridge Lane, Blowing Rock, died Sunday morning, Jan. 1, 2006, at his home.

He was born April 22, 1912, in Watauga County, a son of the late John Talton and Julie Hatton Ford.

Mr. Ford was a retired carpenter and a member of Laurel Fork Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Craig Ford; one son, Earl Ford and wife, Martina, of Blowing Rock; a daughter-in-law, June Ford of Lenoir; two grandsons, Ricky Ford and wife, Jo Carol, of Troutman and Eric Ford and wife, Dena, of Boone; one granddaughter, Aundrea Potter and husband, Kevin, of Trade, Tenn.; two great-granddaughters, Jacodie Ford of Trade, Tenn. and Kayla Ford of  Troutman; four great-grandsons, Rodger Potter, Trowa Potter and Curtis Potter of Trade, Tenn. and Jeremiah Ford of Boone; three brothers, Buster Ford of Blowing Rock, Burl Ford and wife, Murl, of Beaver, West Virginia and June Ford and wife, Jessie Faye, of Lenoir. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Paul Ford; his father and mother, John Talton and Julie Hatton Ford; one sister, Daisy Plumley; and three brothers, Verlon, Roy and Ted Ford.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 1-2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Darrell Miller and the Rev. Dean Coffey. Burial will follow in the Craig Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home, 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 Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred Davis Greene

Mrs. Mildred Davis Greene, 98, of 500 Lenoir Road, Grace Ridge, Morganton, N.C., died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at Grace Ridge Health Care Center.

She was born in Freemont, N.C. on May 23, 1907, the daughter of the late John Daniel Davis and Mary Elizabeth Dexter Davis.

Mrs. Greene grew up in Zebulon, N.C., and graduated from Woman’s College in Greensboro, N.C. in 1928. Following graduation, she spent a year working for the Department of Social Services in Pittsburg, Pa. She then worked as a public school teacher in Tennessee and North Carolina, serving as librarian at Morganton High School until 1942.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church for 70 years where she was active with United Methodist Women and sang in the choir. She had hundreds of hours as a volunteer with Grace Hospital Guild. She was a member of Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club where she enjoyed playing golf until age 80.

Survivors include a son, John D. Greene, Sr. and wife, Jane, of Morganton; grandchildren, Teresa Greene Norman and husband, Dan, of Blowing Rock, N.C., John D. Greene, Jr. and wife, Connie, of Morganton; great-grandchildren, Ashley Norman Smith and husband, Jeff, of Lexington Park, Md., Lydia Norman of Raleigh, N.C., James R. Norman of Boone, N.C., Ben Norman of Blowing Rock, Haley and Kerri Greene of Morganton; and a great-great-grandson, Jacob Ryan Smith of Lexington Park, Md.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ben F. Greene; brothers, Paul Davis and Robert Davis; sisters, Isla Davis Bryan, Mary Davis Faison, Alice Davis Hinton, and Justine Davis Daughridge.

Services were conducted Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Roach and Holly Adams officiating. Interment followed in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. King Street, Morganton, N.C. 28655, Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, N.C. 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the Greene family.

Martha Grey Hawkinson

Mrs. Martha Grey Hawkinson, 88, of Queen Street, Boone, N.C., Professor Emerita of Business Education at Appalachian State University, widow of Walter A. Hawkinson, died a peaceful death on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005.

She was born August 13, 1917 in Charlotte Courthouse, Va., the daughter of the late DeBerniere Smith and Matt McMurray Grey.

Mrs. Hawkinson attended Queens College in Charlotte, earning her AB and her BSSA, later earning her MA through ASTC. She first taught at Tryon High School in Bessemer City, N.C. In 1942 she started teaching at Cherryville High School. In 1944 she began to teach at Appalachian High School. She joined the faculty of Appalachian State Teachers’ College (later ASU) in 1955, and was promoted to associate professor in 1979. She is credited with being the “major moving force” in establishing the learning laboratory in the College of Business, which she also directed. She retired in 1981 and commenced a busy retirement life of hooking rugs and teaching others the craft; preparing taxes; and volunteering.

Survivors include two sons, Dr. Murray Hawkinson and his wife, Gail, of Boone, and John Hawkinson and his wife, Carla, of Walland, Tenn.; two sisters, Frances Pfohl of Greensboro and Jane Torrey of Jesus Abbey, South Korea; one brother, Dr. William H. Grey and wife, Ann, of Staunton, Va.; three grandchildren, Heather Grey McNaull and husband, Jon; Kristian Hawkinson, and Grey M. Hawkinson; nieces and nephews include Fred Pfohl and wife, Margie; Ben Torrey and wife, Liz; Yancy Torrey; DeBerniere “Bunny” Torrey; Beth Grey; Bill Hawkinson; and Bonnie Terry and husband, Jon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Bernie Grey.

Services were conducted Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Boone. Internment followed at Mount Lawn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Boone, 663 Howard Street, Boone, N.C. 28607 or the American Cancer Society, Watauga County Unit, P.O. Box 1903, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Arrangements by Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory.

Varden Marvin Shook

Mr. Varden Marvin Shook, 85, of Taylor Road, Boone, the Foscoe community, died Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2005, at Cannon Memorial Hospital.

He was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Watauga County, a son of the late Dewey and Arvilla Greene Shook.

Mr. Shook was an Army veteran of World War II, a member of Foscoe Christian Church, and a retired small engine mechanic.

Survivors include three sisters, Goldie Shook Lytoa of Ohio; Pinkie Church and husband, Cecil, and Sylvia A. Tipton and husband, Bernard, all of Foscoe; two brothers, Dempsey Shook of Banner Elk, and Dwight Shook and wife, Ruth, of Vilas; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie Gaye Storie Shook; and two brothers, Clinton and Frank Shook.

Services were conducted Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Foscoe Christian Church with Minister Lance Hostetter and Minister Ken Caswell officiating. Graveside services were held Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the Foscoe Christian Church Building Fund, 8834 N.C. Hwy. 105 South, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Shook family.

Claude Washington Tester

Mr. Claude Washington Tester, 91, of  Green Valley Place, Lenoir, N.C., died Dec. 28, 2005, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital.

He was born June 6, 1914 in Watauga County, to the late Art. A. Tester and Betty G. Tester.

Mr. Tester was a retired construction worker and member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Survivors include a son, Norman G. Tester and wife, Earlene, of Hudson; three daughters, Becky Morrow and husband, Leonard, of Lenoir, Gail Triplett and husband, Larry, of Lenoir, and Mavis Littlejohn and husband, Larry, of Lenoir; one brother, Cecil Tester of Lexington, N.C.; one sister, Anna Main of Boone, N.C.; 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

 In addition to his parents, and his wife of 70 years, Rose Edna Ward Tester, he was preceded in death by three sons,  Basil Tester, Olan Tester, and Kenneth Tester; and one daughter, Leta Kay Steele.

Services were conducted Saturday morning, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. at Calvary  Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Dyson and the Rev. Alan Carr officiating. Burial followed in the Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made in Mr. Tester’s honor to the Calvary Baptist Church, 1369 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

Condolences may be placed online at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com

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