March 17, 2006

Myrtle Berry Bowers

Mrs. Myrtle Berry Bowers, 92, of 500 Lenoir Rd., Grace Ridge, Morganton, N.C., died Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at Grace Ridge Health Care Center. 

She was born in Morganton on Dec. 4, 1913, the daughter of the late Robert Lenoir Berry and Mary Lou Lowdermilk Berry. 

Mrs. Bowers and her late husband,  co-founded Tux Bowers Motor Company in 1941 where she worked as a bookkeeper.  Beginning in 1962, she took the position of official hostess of Morganton and Burke County in the newly created service provided by Burke Dairy. She was very active in community activities.  She was a past President and the last surviving charter member of the Morganton Garden Club. She held a life membership in the North Carolina Garden Club and the North Carolina Lions Association for the Blind. 

Mrs. Bowers served as President of the Morganton Lioness Club.  She was a member of the League for Crippled Children and the North Carolina Association for Retarded Children.  She served two terms as President of the Morganton Women’s Club and started the club’s building fund and International Affairs Department.  Mrs. Bowers was honored with an honorary life membership from the Women’s Club.  In 1985, Myrtle was presented with the Human Rights Award from the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is.  Along with her many civic activities, she was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, served as Superintendent of Training Director of Women’s Missionary Union and served in numerous other positions.

Survivors include a daughter, Jane Bowers Greene and her husband, John, 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., Jim Norman of Boone, N.C., Ben Norman of Greensboro, N.C., Haley Greene of Wilmington, N.C., and Kerri Greene of Morganton; and a great-great-grandson, Jacob Ryan Smith of Lexington Park.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1972, Tuxie D. Bowers; three sisters, Ora Lee Elmore, Ethel Rader, and Myrtie Clarke; and two brothers, Joseph Berry and Carl Berry.

Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 17, at Forest Hill Cemetery.  The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. and the Rev. Bob Shepherd officiating.  The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 502 West Union Street, Morganton, N.C.  28655. 

Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Elizabeth G. Critcher

Mrs. Elizabeth G. “Libby” Critcher,  87, of 12475 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, Va., died Monday, March 13, 2006, at Manor Care – Fair Oaks, in Fairfax.

She was born September 26, 1918 in New Bern, N.C., a daughter of the late Guy and Sally Gaskins.

Mrs. Critcher was a graduate of Peace College in Raleigh and a retired secretary and bookeeper for Hodges and Klutz Oil Company in Boone.

Mrs. Critcher is survived by a sister-in-law, Roberta Anderson of Fairfax; two nephews, David Anderson and wife, Audrey, of Reston, Va. and John Paul Dupre of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Hardin Critcher; and one brother, Henry Gaskins.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning, March 18,  at 11:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

The family will receive friends Saturday morning, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Loye Fletcher McGuire

Mrs. Loye Fletcher McGuire, 78, of Jenny Lane, Boone, died Monday morning, March 13, 2006 at Life Care of Banner Elk.

She was born in Watauga County November 23, 1927, a daughter of the late Troy and Ida Robinson Fletcher. 

Mrs. McGuire was a homemaker and a member of Perkinsville Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Lt. Col. Ret. Keith McGuire of Niceville, Fla. and Mark G. McGuire and his wife, Anna, of Boone; three granddaughters, Marci Jefferson of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Jill McGuire of Hampton, Va., and Kim Eggers of Boone; and two grandsons, Keith “Kam” McGuire of Hampton, Va., and Matt McGuire of Boone; two great-grandchildren, Dalton and Delani Jefferson, both of Ft. Wayne, Ind.;  and two sisters, Ruth Ballard and Ethel Greene, both of Boone.  A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Julian Scott McGuire; and one sister, Ruby Davis.

Services  will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Perkinsville Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Harold Bennett.  Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. 

The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, prior to the service,  from 1 until 2 o’clock at Perkinsville Baptist Church.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the McGuire

family.

March 15, 2006

R. Raymond Earp

Mr. R. Raymond Earp, 78, formerly of 292 Roosevelt Ave., Elizabethton, Tenn., died Sunday, March 12, 2006 at Hermitage Health Center following a twenty-three-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

A native of Vilas, N.C., he was a son of the late Rev. Ronda Newton and Myra Gertrude Greer Earp. 

Mr. Earp was a member of Grace Baptist Church and was a retired carpenter.  He served with the medical corps of the US Army during the time of the Korean Conflict.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Mary Jo Earp; two sons, and one daughter-in-law, Franklin Corbett Earp of Kingston Springs, Tenn., Rodney Eller and Jennifer Earp of Clayton, N.C.; one daughter and son-in-law, Gwendolyn and Michael Smith of  Limestone, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Ashley Blair Smith, John Ross Smith, Gareth Ray Smith, all of Limestone, Tenn., Caleb Waycal Earp of Kingston Springs, Tenn., Caitlin Earp, William Earp of Clayton, N.C.; three brothers, Jack Earp, Dean Earp, both of Boone, N.C., and Johnny Earp, Lenoir, N.C.; and one sister, Mary Stansberry, Mountain City, Tenn.  Several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Earp and Dewey Earp.

Services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 in the Tetrick Funeral Home Chapel of Peace with the Rev. Ron Owens and the Rev. Chris Hughes officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel prior to the service or at the residence, 292 Roosevelt Ave., Elizabethton, at other times.

The graveside service and interment will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 16 in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Everyone is asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Rev. Mike Taylor, Eddie Clark, David Ferguson, Paul Bellamy, Phil Nantz, Theil McCracken, Louie Bananno, Harol Smith, Bob Miller, Harry Woods, Ronnie Holtsclaw, Rev. Gordon Kyte, and Phil Jenkins.   Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Bowman, Danny Birkner, Jr. and Jimmy Lewis.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Robert Walter, Hermitage Health Center and Housecall Home Health for your love, support and good care and to our loving family and friends that have been by our side with prayers and loving support for the twenty-three years of Raymond’s struggle with Parkinson’s.  We love all of you.

Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Building Fund at Grace Baptist Church, 1114 Broad St. Ext., Elizabethton, TN  37643.

Condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.tetrickfuneralhomcom.  

Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is in charge of arrangements.

Delane Thomas McGlamery

Mrs. Delane Thomas McGlamery, 68, of Zionville, N.C., died March 12, 2006, at her residence.

She was born Sept. 8, 1937, to the late Robert and Edith Thomas, and was a life long resident of the Zionville area.

Mrs. McGlamery was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She attended Friendship Baptist Church.

Survivors include her sons, Ronnie McGlamery and wife, Margaret, of Sugar Grove, Jerry McGlamery and wife, Stephanie, of Zionville, and Gale McGlamery and wife, Paula, of Trade, Tenn.; her beloved sister, Elizabeth Wallace of Zionville; her brother, Mark Thomas and wife, Evelyn, of Meadowview, Va.; seven grandchildren, Maura and Makala McGlamery of Sugar Grove; Kelli and Kristi McGlamery of Zionville, and Dusty, Debra and Diane McGlamery of Trade, Tenn.; and three nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marlon “Pete” McGlamery.

Services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Mountain City Funeral Home with Pastor Maurice Ward officiating. Burial followed in Trade United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Watauga County Hospice, 136 Furman Rd., Suite 4, Boone, N.C. 28607; or Trade United Methodist Church Cemetery, c/o R.D. Oliver, 458 Modock Rd., Trade, Tenn. 37691.

Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.

Mountain City Funeral Home in Mountain City, Tenn., are in charge of the arrangements.

March 13, 2006

Mrs. Linda Critcher Hodges

Mrs. Linda Critcher Hodges,  66, of Dusty Road, Boone, died Saturday evening, March 11, 2006 at the Watauga Medical Center. 

She was born Feb. 11, 1940 in Watauga County,  a daughter of Monroe Russell and Ruth Castle Critcher. 

Mrs. Hodges was a member of Rutherwood Baptist Church and was employed by Dancey’s Shoe Store in Boone for 39 years.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Louis Mack Hodges; one daughter, Lisa Watson and her husband, Rick, of Deep Gap; one son, Jeff Hodges and his wife, Robin, of Boone;  three brothers, Morris “Critch” Critcher and wife, Linda; Rodney Critcher and wife, Shirley, and Phil Critcher and wife, Karen, all of Boone;  one granddaughter, Lindsey Watson of Deep Gap; two grandsons, Travis Hodges and wife, Jennifer, of Millers Creek and Garrett Watson of Deep Gap; one great-grandson, Trenton Hodges of Millers Creek; three step-grandchildren, Desiree, Valeree and Adreea Orpen; and one step-great-granddaughter, Victoria Orpen, all of Boone.  A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Monroe and Ruth Castle Critcher; and an infant brother, Russ Critcher.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Rutherwood Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Gary Lawrence.  The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock.  Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.

Flowers are appreciated or the family suggests memorials to the Rutherwood Baptist Church Building Fund, 142 Don Hayes Road, Boone, N.C. 28607; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:30 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hodges family.

Mary Louise Philips Kirchman

Mrs. Mary Louise Philips Kirchman, 84, formerly of Phoenix, Ariz., died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at her home.

She grew up in Union City, Tenn., attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and received a Bachelor and Master Degree in Special Education from the University of South Alabama.

Mrs. Kirchman spent most of her life working to improve the lives of the physically and mentally disabled. She had been the executive director of GARC in Mobile, Ala. and worked as the director of programs for the disabled in Northeast Georgia. She retired with her husband, Oldrich Kirchman, to Boone, N.C., where she was an active member of Hopewell United Methodist Church. She later moved to Phoenix, Ariz. and was instrumental in the establishment of Coolwater Christian Church where she remained an active member.

Survivors include her three daughters, Lady Terry and husband, Edward, of Randallstown, Md., Elaine Stephens and husband, Edward, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Gail Gerding and husband, Mark, of Johnson City, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oldrich Kirchman.

Services will be held Tuesday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at Hopewell United Methodist Church in Boone, N.C.

In memory of Mary Kirchman, donations may be sent to Horses Help, P.O. Box 71005, Phoenix, Ariz. 85050.

Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Jonesborough, Tenn., are in charge of the arrangements.

Kathleen Merritt Ward

Ms. Kathleen Merritt Ward, 79, of Glen Bridge Health Care Center, Boone, formerly of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., died Wednesday evening, March 8, 2006.

She was born June 30, 1926 in Monroe County, New York, a daughter of the late George and Ruth Everest Ward Bentley.

Ms. Ward was a homemaker and of the Episcopal faith.

She is survived by four daughters, Virginia Hostetter and husband, Jay, of Todd, Elizabeth Heaven of North Palm Beach, Fla., Kathleen Loesch and husband, Jim, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Tica Wallen and husband, Dennis, of Saint Augustine, Fla. and Linville Falls; one sister, Janet Broderson of Tallahassee, Fla. Seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by  two brothers, Donald and George Ward.

Memorial services for Ms. Kathleen Merritt Ward will be conducted at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, 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.