September 29, 2006

Sylvia Mary Cowling Baxter

Mrs. Sylvia Mary Cowling Baxter, 86, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born March 6, 1920 in Wayne County, Mich., a daughter of the late Wayne and Mary Knight Cowling.

Mrs. Baxter was a retired elementary school teacher for over 20 years, and an associate member of First Baptist Church of Boone.

Survivors include two sons, Mike Dreisbaugh and wife, Janice, and Tim Baxter and wife, Janice, all of Boone; one grandson, Michael Dreisbaugh and wife, Naoko; two great-granddaughters, Isako Annabel Dreisbaugh, and Tamiko Isabella Dreisbaugh, all of Maryland, and a special friend, Dot Tugman of Boone.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one great-granddaughter, Junko Elizabeth Dreisbaugh; and one brother.

Memorial services will be conducted Friday morning, Sept. 29, 2006, at 11:30, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Dr. Wayne Brown.

The family will receive friends Friday morning, from 11:00 until 11:30, at the funeral home, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Watauga Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 2600, Boone, N.C., or to the First Baptist Church of Boone, 375 West King Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Gayla Lee Cornett

Mrs. Gayla Lee Cornett, 53, of Clyde Cornett Road, Vilas, died Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, 2006, at the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill. 

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Emery Bert Cornett, Sr.;  two daughters, Stacie Wise and husband, Chris, of Glen Burnie, Md. and Kelly Louise Cornett of Raleigh; her parents, Franklin and Vivian Wilkerson Smith of Joppa, Md.; one step-son, Emery Cornett, Jr. and wife, Teresa, of Vilas; four step-daughters, Nancy Johnstone and husband, Kevin, of Abingdon, Md., Donna Cornett of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Connie Cornett of Eastern Shore, Md. and Tina Behr and husband, Jerry, of Joppa, Md; one sister, Dana Smith of Aberdeen, Md.; one brother, H. T. Smith and wife, Diane, of Joppa, Md.; her niece and nephew, Josh and Julie Smith; and eleven step-grandchildren.

Services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Mountain Dale Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Eric Cornett and the Rev. Bill Hayden. The body will lie in state at the church from 10 until 11 o’clock.  Burial will follow in the Mountain Dale Baptist Church Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated or the family suggests memorial donations to the American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, N.Y.  10038 or to the American Diabetes Association, 222 South Church Street, Suite 336M, Charlotte, N.C. 28202.

The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes.

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

W. Howard Greer

Mr. W. Howard Greer, 67, a resident of 4611 Huff Rd., Archdale, N.C., died Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2006, in the High Point Regional Hospital, following declining health since March.

He  was born Feb. 22, 1939 in Ashe County and had been a resident of Archdale most of his life.

Mr. Greer was a retired employee of Xpedx Paper Company in Greensboro and was of the Baptist faith. On Nov. 11, 1960 he was marred to Grace Church.

Survivors include his wife, Grace Church Greer; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Tammy Greer of Archdale; two half-sisters, Mrs. Billie Sue Burchett and Mrs. Debbie Shaw, both of Cliston, Colo.; three grandchildren, Dawn Greer, Brett and Tiffany Reece.

He was preceded in death by a son, Tim Greer.

Services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Chapel of Cumby Family Funeral Service in Archdale, with the Rev. Hallie Scott and the Rev. Ronald Blakely officiating. Entombment followed in the Floral Garden Park Mausoleum.

Online condolences may be sent to www.cumbyfuneral.com

Cumby Family Funeral Service in Archdale was in charge of the arrangements.

Andrew K. MacBeth

Mr. Andrew K. MacBeth, 78, of Sarasota, Fla. since 1960  and a seasonal resident of Boone, N.C. since 1962, died Wednesday morning, Sept. 27, 2006 at his home in Boone.

Survivors include his wife, Lois MacBeth; two sons, the Rev. Andrew MacBeth of Memphis and Peter MacBeth of Raleigh; and four grandsons.

Memorial services will be conducted Saturday afternoon, September 30th  at 2 o’clock at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Hunger Coalition.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory, is serving the MacBeth family.

Coman  Claude Storie

Mr. Coman Claude Storie, 79, of 116 Hilltop Way, Blowing Rock, N.C., died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2006.

He was born Sept. 17, 1927, in Watauga County, a son of Granville Jesse Storie and Pantha Miller Storie.

Mr. Storie served in the military and he owned and operated Stories’ Soda Shop on Main Street in Blowing Rock, warming the hearts of friends and loved ones for over 30 years.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews and a lifetime of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Granville Jessie and Pantha Miller Storie; four brothers, Carnie, Carl, Clyde and Clark Storie, all of the Aho Community.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

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

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Storie family.

Laura Delide Vannoy

Ms. Laura Delide Vannoy, 38, of Barlowe Crossing, Perrysburg, Ohio, formerly of Wilkes County, died, Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee, Ohio.

She was born July 8, 1968 in Wilkes County, to Gary and Delide C. Vannoy.

Ms. Vannoy was a graduate of Wilkes Central High School and of Western Carolina University.

She was owner and manager of Window World in Toledo, Ohio.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, are one brother, Jay Vannoy of North Wilkesboro; paternal grandmother, Ann Vannoy of Winston-Salem; and maternal step-grandmother, Nell Jones Coleman of Hickory.

Memorial services were held Thursday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, Sept. 28, 2006 at the First Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro with the Rev. Chris Lakey officiating.

The family received friends in the Wayland Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 or to the donor's choice.

September 27, 2006

Grace Rudduck Carr

Mrs. Grace Rudduck Carr, 92, of 221 South Main Street, Blowing Rock, died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2006, at her home.

She was born Dec. 4, 1913 in Hillsboro, Ohio, a daughter of the late Elgar and Olive Brown Rudduck.

Mrs. Carr’s life was full of personal achievement and generosity towards others. She grew up in northern Minnesota. Maybe that’s why she didn’t run south at the sight of a Blowing Rock winter. A natural athlete, she played basketball, skied, and skated.

Upon graduation, she joined her sister in Dayton, Ohio. There she became Assistant to the personnel director at General Motors. She married, but her husband Robert Whitesel was killed with the Navy in World War II. An example of what a secretary should be, she accepted a position with the National Secretaries Association, promoting higher standards through certification. This work took her to Durham, where she met her second husband, Louis Carr.

In Durham, Mrs. Carr became an active volunteer. She did volunteer secretarial work for St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church and kept the church running when one priest left and a replacement could not promptly be found. She became President of the Churchwomen of St. Phillip’s and a member of the Diocesan Council. She served the Girl Scouts as President of the Raleigh Council. In her spare time, she managed to win the Hope Valley Country Club ladies’ golf championship. She  and her husband Louis began visiting Blowing Rock in 1948. She won the country club golf championship here too.

When Mrs. Carr and her sister were both widowed in the early eighties, they moved here and became part of the volunteer community. She has volunteered for the Tour of Homes for many years and stood in place last year as the only ninety-one-year-old hostess. A member of the Community Club since 1982, she ran the library book sale for many years. She also tutored third graders in her spare time. She continued to volunteer at the Blowing Rock Library up to her death. She also worked extensively with the Historical Society. She was an avid bridge player and also an avid reader especially enjoying mysteries.

She joined the Rotary Club at the age of 80 to find new avenues in which to volunteer and to meet new friends. She reluctantly gave up golf at age 87, because of a shoulder problem. That was after she shot her age on her eighty-fifth birthday!

Mrs. Carr was honored in 2005 in the town of Blowing Rock by being named 2005 Woman of the Year, an honor she greatly appreciated. She loved the fact that she had so many friends. Her advice was to be happy and not to worry about those things you can’t control. "Amazing" Grace will be long remembered by her many friends, young and old.

Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews, including George A. Rudduck and wife, Helen, of Littleton, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Whitesel; her second husband, Louis A. Carr; her father and mother, Elgar and Olive Brown Rudduck; two sisters, Sara Wickstrom and Mary M. Buford; and two brothers, Ralph Rudduck and George Rudduck.

Memorial services will be conducted Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, at 2:30, at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church. Officiating will be the Rev.  Jeanne Finan.

A reception will follow the memorial service in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 14, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605, or to the Blowing Rock Library, P.O. Box 166, Blowing Rock, N.C.  28605.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Dorothy Collier Gaines

Mrs. Dorothy Collier Gaines, 95, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Saturday morning, Sept. 23, 2006, at Glenbridge Health Care.

She was born June 14, 1911 in Worth County, Ga., a daughter of the late Charles C. and Pearl Anglin Collier.

Mrs. Gaines was a retired registered nurse, and a member of First United Methodist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was involved with many civic organizations. She and her husband were delegates to many national conventions and were active as volunteers to many organizations.

Survivors include one daughter, Diane M. Cole and husband, Leslie, of Boone; one son, William C. Gaines, Jr. and wife, Cecilia, of Champaign, Illinois; one brother, B.T. Collier of Sylvester, Ga.; one granddaughter, Carol M. Daughtery of Milton, Fla.; and two grandsons, Mark Gaines of Dubuque, Iowa, and Michael Gaines of Taipei, Taiwan. Four great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Gaines, Sr.; two sisters, Mildred Collier and Elizabeth C. Rawls, and two brothers, Raymond Collier and Earl Collier.

Graveside services and burial will be conducted Saturday, Oct.14, 2006, at 11:00 o'clock, at Lauderdale Memorial Park, Evergreen Cemetery, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 202 CentrePort Drive, Greensboro, N.C. 27409.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Frances Ruth Norris Wilcox

Mrs. Frances Ruth Norris Wilcox, 74, of South Pine Run Road, Boone, died Sunday afternoon, Sept. 24, 2006 at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born July 16, 1932 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Cicero & Matilda Moretz Norris.

Mrs. Wilcox was a member of Faith Baptist Church, and was retired from K-mart. 

Survivors include her husband, Conley Wilcox; two daughters; Beth Potter and husband, Gary, of Todd, and Stephanie Wallace of Trade; two sons, Ricky Wilcox of Boone, and Timothy Wilcox and wife, Deborah, of Gastonia; four grandchildren, Cassandra Worley, Daniel Wallace, Brandon Grant, and Brooke Wilcox; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carol Kitts of Fayetteville, and Ann Berger and husband, Lee, of Shelby; three brothers, David Norris and wife, Juanita, of Deep Gap, Elwin Norris and wife, Leonda, of Chicago, Illinois, and John Norris and wife, Nancy,  of Michigan. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Emily Norris, Pearl Carr, Louise Smith and Mary Price; and one brother, Ralph Norris. 

Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Faith Baptist Church.

Officiating will be Dr. Sonny Younce. 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 accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.  At other times friends may call at the home of David and Juanita Norris, Hardin Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 

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

September 25, 2006

Nancy Jean Dawkins

Mrs. Nancy Jean Dawkins, 45, of 709 White Oak Road, Boone, died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006.

She was born May 26, 1961 in Richland County, S.C., a daughter of the late James Eugene Dawkins, Sr. and Margorie Sweat Dawkins.

Mrs. Dawkins was a day care worker, and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include two sons, Jesse Thomas Russell of Boone, and Travis Michael Starnes of the home; her husband, Curtis Starnes of the home; and two sisters, Evelyn Bozard of Lexington, S.C., and Sylvia Frye of Pelion, S.C.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, James Eugene Dawkins, Jr., and Jerry Dawkins; and one sister, Diane Dawkins.

Services will be conducted Wednesday morning, Sept. 27, 2006, at 11:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Kenny Newberry. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at the funeral home.

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.

Michael L. ‘Mike’ Greer

Mr. Michael L. “Mike” Greer, 46, of 209 Miller Ridge Road, Todd, died Friday evening, Sept. 22, 2006.

He was born June 5, 1960 in  Chester County,  Pa., a son of Tommy and Sue Brown Greer.

Mr. Greer was an equipment operator for C.G. Paving Company, and was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Greer is survived by his wife, Louise Miller Greer; four daughters, Teresa Osborne of Creston, Donna Greer, Lisa Greer and Rebecca Greer, all of Todd; two sons, Joseph Greer and wife, Dana, of Athens, Ga., and Michael Greer of Todd; one sister, Wanda Brown and husband, Wayne, of Creston; four brothers, Larry Greer, Carl Greer, Tim Greer and wife, Jan, and Mark Greer, all of Creston; and his mother-in-law, Grace Miller of Todd. Nine grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Keith Greer; two sisters, Sherry and Terry Greer; his father-in-law, Charles Miller; and one niece, April Brown.

Services will be conducted Tuesday morning, Sept. 26, 2006, at 11:00 o'clock, at  Sutherland  Community Baptist  Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Dr. Sonny Younce. Burial will follow in the  Sutherland  Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 7:00 until 9:00, at Sutherland  Community Baptist  Church and at other times at the home of Tommy and Sue Greer, 1617 Sutherland Road, Creston, N.C.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Herbert Raymond ‘H.R.’ McGuire, Jr.

Mr. Herbert Raymond ‘H. R.’ McGuire, Jr., 80, of Calico Road, Lenoir, and a seasonal and former resident of Todd, died Thursday evening, Sept. 21, 2006 at his home. 

He was born Sept. 26, 1925 in Ashe County, a son of the late Herbert Raymond and Ruth Etta Wadford McGuire. 

Mr. McGuire was a member of Blackburn’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Todd.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II and retired from Bell South Telephone as a lineman.

Survivors include his wife, Destie Bare McGuire; two daughters, Betsy Baker Ward and husband, John, of Lenoir and Barbara Jean Packard and husband, John, of Clinton, Tenn.;  eight grandchildren, Buddy, Matt and John Baker, John, Jane and James Packard, Gregory and Blair Bryant; and two great-grandchildren, Mikayla and Tucker Bryant; two sisters, Mary Norman and husband, Richard, of Winston-Salem and Estella Smith of Greensboro; and two brothers, Haskel McGuire and wife, Ann, of West Jefferson and Tommy McGuire and wife, Maxine, of Kansas City, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Mae Bryant; and a sister, Mildred Flynn. 

Services will be conducted Monday morning at 11 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Steve Butler. The body will lie in state at the chapel from 10 until 11 o’clock.  Burial with military honors will follow in the Howell Cemetery in Todd.

The family received friends Sunday afternoon from 4 until 5:30 p.m. at Austin & Barnes.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory in Boone is serving the McGuire family.

Cecil William Norris

Mr. Cecil William Norris, 80, of Ball Branch Road, Boone, died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2006 at Watauga Medical Center. 

She was born July 5, 1926 in Watauga County, a son of Claude and Hollie Proffitt Norris.  

Mr. Norris was a member of Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church and was a farmer.

Survivors include two sisters, Gertrude Norris of Boone and Geneva Hayes of Blowing Rock; one brother, Elmer Norris of Wilkesboro; a number of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and one great-great-nephew, Mac Norris;  two sisters-in-law, Chloe Norris and Anne Norris; and his brother-in-law, George Greene. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Hollie Proffitt Norris; four brothers, Audna, Jeff, Hubert and Glenn Norris; three sisters, Lola Greene, Mary and Laura Norris; and a brother-in-law Kenneth Hayes.

Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Delmar James. Burial will follow in the Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 12:30 until 2 o’clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. At other times, friends may call at the homes of Gary Norris or Gertrude Norris, Ball Branch Road, Boone.

The family respectfully requests no food.

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

Louise Keller Oberle

Mrs. Louise Keller Oberle, 71, of 124 Cliff Drive, Blowing Rock, died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at Blowing  Rock  Hospital.

She was born Jan. 23, 1935 in  Mecklenburg  County, a daughter of the late Hampton and Elfreda Sharpe Keller.

Mrs. Oberle was a graduate of St. Mary’s School in  Raleigh, and the  University of South Carolina, with a degree in French and Fine Arts. She also attended Army  Language  School in  Monterey,  Calif. While at the  University of South Carolina, she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, serving three years as President. Mrs. Oberle was a national officer of her sorority and elected to “Who’s Who” in  American  Colleges and Universities in 1956. She was an Officer and Director of the Blowing Rock Historical Society and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband, Ronald J. Oberle; two sons, J. Hampton Oberle and wife, Cynthia, of Fairfax, Va., and Charles K. Oberle and wife, Deborah, of Hickory; one granddaughter, Alison Elizabeth Oberle, and two grandsons, Nicholas Keller Oberle, and Christopher Dalton Oberle, all of  Hickory.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon,  Sept. 24, 2006, at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. Officiating was Pastor Larry Lyon. Burial followed in Woodlawn  Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Heineman Foundation (Heart Research), P.O. Box 32861,  Charlotte, N.C.  28232-2861, or to the Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 823, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Coman Claude Storie

Mr. Coman Claude Storie, 79, of 116 Hilltop Way, Blowing Rock, N.C., died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2006.

He was born Sept. 17, 1927, in Watauga County, a son of Granville Jesse Storie and Pantha Miller Storie.

Mr. Storie served in the military and he owned and operated Stories’ Soda Shop on Main Street in Blowing Rock, warming the hearts of friends and loved ones for over 30 years.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews and a lifetime of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Granville Jessie and Pantha Miller Storie; four brothers, Carnie, Carl, Clyde and Clark Storie, all of the Aho Community.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

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

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Storie family.