December 29, 2006

Jacque Delane Funderburk Kirkley

Mrs. Jacque Delane Funderburk Kirkley, 85, of Charlotte, passed away Dec. 23, 2006, at Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte.

She was born March 24, 1921 in Pageland, S.C. Her family moved to Charlotte when she was 12 years old where her mother and siblings operated a boarding home on Trade Street.

Mrs. Kirkley was a 1939 graduate of Harding High School, and also attended King’s College in Charlotte. She married James N. Kirkley in 1946, who preceded her in death in 1999. She and Jim raised three sons and maintained a home on Chartwell Lane. Mrs. Kirkley worked for many years as an administrative secretary in various offices in the city. She and her husband were active members at Providence Baptist Church since 1957, especially in their Sunday school classes. She was a caring friend to many people in her church community and among her extended family. She also enjoyed a wide range of interests, including decorating wedding cakes, painting, and recreational sports.

Survivors include her sons, Darrell W. Kirkley of Charlotte and his son Dean, Dennis L. Kirkley, his wife, Janet, and their daughters Christina, Jennifer, Julie, and Joanne of White Rock, B.C., Canada, and Dale E. Kirkley, his wife, Deborah, and their sons Aaron and Nathan of Boone, N.C.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at Providence Baptist Church on Friday, Dec. 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the Gordon Weekley Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association for research and support, online at www.alz.org.

Special thanks to Providence Baptist Church for support to the family.

Harry and Bryant Co. Funeral Directors of Charlotte is serving the family.

Claude Ellis Phillips Sr.

Mr. Claude Ellis Phillips, Sr., 69, of 260 Phillips Mountain Drive, Deep Gap, died Saturday morning, Dec. 23, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

He was born Sept. 9, 1937 in Watauga County, a son of the late S.E. "Dock" and Beulah Greer Phillips.

Mr. Phillips was a retired manager of Spring Hill Farm in Etowah, N.C. He served in U.S. Navy and was a member of Hendersonville First Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Calloway Phillips; two sons, Claude Ellis Phillips, Jr. and wife, Laurie, of Deep Gap, and Randy Phillips and wife, Crystal, of Etowah, N.C.; one step-daughter, Anita Taylor and husband, Barry, of Etowah; one step-son, Randy Tritt and wife, Tere, of Asheville; one sister, Jean Phillips of Boone; one brother, Conley Phillips and wife, Mary, of Boone; and one nephew, Dale Phillips of Etowah.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, James Phillips.

Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2006, at 1:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 12:00 until 1:00 o'clock. Burial will follow in the Phillips Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday afternoon, from 12:00 until 1:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service. At other times, friends may call at the Phillips residence, 260 Phillips Mountain Drive, Deep Gap.

Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, in care of Glenda Hodges, 810 Park Crest Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Robin Louise Van Noppen Taylor

Mrs. Mary Robin Louise Van Noppen Taylor, 65, of Richardson, Texas, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 in Richardson, Texas. 

She was born in Norristown, Pa., a daughter of the late John James Van Noppen, III and Ina Faye Woestemeyer.  

Mrs. Taylor attended Appalachian High School, received her undergraduate degree from Kansas University and her M. L. S. from Texas Woman’s University. She was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Boone and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas.  She has been an active Elder in the Presbyterian Church for over 30 years. She served in many positions with the Presbyterian Church, including librarian, Sunday school teacher, secretary at the Presbytery, and was the leader of the Lay Pastor School for Grace Presbytery in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Taylor was a charter member of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and has been a member for over 40 years. 

Surviving are her husband, Howard Lawrence Taylor, one son, John Lawrence Taylor and wife, Evelyn, of Venezuela; one daughter, Sandra Ann Elizabeth Taylor and husband, Douglas Cook, of Katy, Texas; five grandchildren, Zhandra Jolyn Taylor and Christopher Roman Taylor, both of Venezuela, and Chelsea Faye Taylor, Megan Anne Cook and Mary Elizabeth Cook, all of Katy, Texas; and one sister, Anne Van Noppen Millsaps of Boone. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, John James Van Noppen IV. 

Graveside services were conducted Thursday afternoon, Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m. at the Millsaps Cemetery.  Officiating was Dr. Joe Browde. 

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 663 Howard Street, Boone, N.C. 28607 or a book may be donated to the Watauga County Library, 140 Queen Street, Boone, NC 28607. 

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

James Grayson ‘Jimmy’ Ward Sr.

Mr. James Grayson “Jimmy” Ward, Sr., 49, of U.S. 321 North, Sugar Grove, died Sunday evening, Dec. 24, 2006 at home. 

He was born March 18, 1957 in Watauga County, a son of the late Grayson Ward and Helen Harmon Warren. 

Mr. Ward was a self-employed carpenter.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Ward; one daughter, Melanie Maria Ward; three sons, James Grayson Ward, Jr. of Boone, Jonathan Patrick Ward and William Benjamin Ward, all of Sugar Grove; his mother and step-father, Helen H. Warren and husband, Roy, of Sugar Grove; one brother, Ricky Ward of Boone; one half-sister, Angela Warren of Sugar Grove; and one half-brother, Jeff Warren of Sugar Grove.  He is also survived by a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.  

Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.  Officiating will be the Rev. David Ward and Father Dennis Kress. Burial will follow in the Green Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:30 until 1 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. 

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Ward family at P. O. Box 238, Sugar Grove, N.C. 28679.

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

Mary Ann Gatchel

Mrs. Mary Ann Gatchel, 49, of 120  Chestnut Mountain Road, Deep Gap, N.C., died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, at Frye  Regional Medical  Center following an illness of 25 years.

She was born April 22, 1957 in Baltimore,  Md., to Ralph Horton Short and Catherine Ann Berros Short of Wadesboro.

Mrs. Gatchel had been an inspector in a shoe factory and was a member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Andrew Gatchel on December 12, 2006.

Survivors include six sisters, Nancy Coffey of Morganton, Cathy Faulkner of Kernersville, Cynthia Miller of Boone, Jo Clary of Blowing Rock, Donna Avery of Morganton and Dianne Mowry of Lynchburg, Va.; and two brothers, Ralph H. Short, Jr. of Fredricksburg, Va., and Don J. Short of Deep Gap.

A memorial graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday,  Dec. 30, 2006 at Highland  View Baptist Church  Cemetery in Deep Gap by the Rev. Herburt Parunak.

Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Gatchel family at adamsfuneralhome@charter.net.

Memorials may be given to Highland  View Baptist Church, 344 Brook Lane, West Jefferson,  N.C. 28694.

Adams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

December 27, 2006

Mattie Banner

Mrs. Mattie Banner, 86, of Newland died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006 in the Johnson City Medical Center.

She was the daughter of the late Calvin and Roxie Watson Yates.

Mrs. Banner was a member of the Newland Presbyterian Church where she had served as a Sunday School Teacher. She worked as an Inspector for Glen Raven Mills and was very active with her family business Banner’s Cabinets. She enjoyed spending time in her flower and vegetable garden and was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Survivors include her husband, Jim Banner; a son, Joe Banner and wife, Debbie, of Newland; a grandson, Joseph Banner and wife, Christina, of Newland; and a great-granddaughter, Sophia Banner of Newland. She is also survived by a sister, Mildred Harmon of Maryland; four brothers, David, Henry, Alfred and Andrew Yates, all of Matney, N.C.; and a host of nieces and nephews. 

Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 27, in the Newland Presbyterian Church with Chaplain Kathy Campbell and the Rev. David Benfield officiating. Interment will follow in the Montezuma Cemetery.

The family received friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will include Fred David, Jr., Eric King, James Hicks, Bill Frisbee, Barbara Clawson and Gail Stevens. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Banner family.

Linda Cox Carlton

Mrs. Linda Cox Carlton, 65, of 11115 U.S. Highway 421 South, Deep Gap, died Friday, Dec. 22, 2006, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born April 20, 1941 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Virgil and Myrtle Cox Carlton.

Mrs. Carlton was a retired seamstress for Shadowline, Inc. of Boone. She  was a member of Stony Fork Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Harold J. Carlton; one daughter, Teresa Carlton Williams and husband, Stephen, of Fleetwood; one son, Jeff Carlton and wife, Missy, of North Wilkesboro; two grandsons, Chad McGuire of Wilmington, and Cody McGuire of Boone; one step-granddaughter, Grace Williams, and three step-grandsons, Gabriel Williams, Garrett Williams, and Graham Williams, all of Taylorsville; one sister, Nina Jenkins of Boone; two half-sisters, Anna Hayes, and Cleo Wheeler and husband, Claude, all of Boone. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melanie Ann Carlton; one grandson, Troy Allen Carlton; and one brother, Lloyd Cox.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Dec. 24, 2006, at Stony Fork Baptist Church. Officiating were the Rev. Sherrill Wellborn and Pastor Vernon Eller. Burial followed in the Stony Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stony Fork Baptist Church Building Fund, in care of Betty Triplett, 414 Stony Fork Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Jacque Delane Kirkley

Mrs. Jacque Delane Kirkley, of Charlotte, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006.

Arrangements are incomplete.

Harry and Bryant Company in Charlotte is serving the family of Mrs. Kirkley.

Rachel Ward Miller

Mrs. Rachel Ward Miller, age 74, of 4611 Rich Mountain Road, Boone, died Friday afternoon, Dec. 22, 2006, at her residence.

She was born May 3, 1932 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late James Amos and Elizabeth Hicks Ward.

Mrs. Miller was a retired seamstress at Shadowline, Inc. in Boone and an employee of Tweetsie Railroad.

Survivors include two daughters, Janice Hanks and husband, Doug, of Boone, and Beverly Peters and husband, Steven, of Knoxville, Tenn.; three granddaughters, Alexia Watson and husband, Asa, of Boone, Lauren Peters and Hollie Peters, both of Knoxville; two grandsons, Douglas R. Hanks, Jr. and wife, Rai, of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and Carson Peters of Knoxville; one great-granddaughter, Shelby Watson of Boone; one sister, Corina Woodring and husband, Burl, of Todd; two brothers, Wilburn Ward and wife, Thelma, of Deep Gap, and Casey Ward of Boone. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Solomon Miller; one infant sister; and one brother, Murphy Ward.

Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Dec. 24, 2006, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating were the Rev. Delmar James and Pastor Bruce Miller. Burial followed in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Valley Cemetery Fund, in care of Muriel Winebarger, 2547 Meat Camp Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Randy Lee Swift

Mr. Randy Lee Swift, 48, of Old Bristol Road, Boone, died Saturday evening, Dec. 23, 2006 at Watauga Medical Center. 

He was born Oct. 22, 1958 in Watauga County. 

Mr. Swift attended Mabel School and was a graduate of Watauga High School. He was a member of Union Baptist Church and was a bass singer with the Union Quartet. Before his illness, he was a truck driver for Watauga Ready Mix.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Shook Swift; one daughter, Deanna Franklin and husband, Doug; and one son, Bradley Swift, all of Boone; his father, Norman Swift of Boone; and his mother, Connie Shore and her husband, Alton, of Boone; one brother, Tony Swift and wife, Becky, of Vilas; and two sisters, Pam Norris and husband, Wesley, of Vilas and Lisa Byrd and husband, Kelvin, of Zionville; and his mother-in-law, Mary Triplett and husband, Jerry, of Gaffney, S.C..

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Barney and June Oliver; his paternal grandparents, Dewey and Aureole Swift; and his father-in-law, Raymond Russell Shook, Sr.

Services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Union Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Chuck Morefield, the Rev. Bill Warren and the Rev. Ray Greene. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock. Burial will follow in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family respectfully requests no food. Memorials may be made to the Swift family, in care of Carol Swift, 1456 Old Bristol Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

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

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

Grace Banner Vannoy

Mrs. Grace Banner Vannoy, age 80, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, and a former resident of Vilas, died Thursday morning, December 21, 2006 at Watauga Medical Center.  Born July 2, 1926 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Thomas J. and Josie Baird Banner.  Mrs. Vannoy was a member of Cove Creek Baptist Church and was retired from Skyline Telephone Membership. 

Surviving are three daughters; Mrs. Anne Baird and husband Dan of Matthews, NC, Dr. Tommie Boyd and husband the Rev. Dr. William J. Boyd, III of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Mrs. Mary Aldrich and husband Skip of Williamsburg, VA, one sister; Cholene Aldrich of Williamsburg, VA, one niece, Kathryn Haynes of Mathews, VA; five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Vannoy, and three sisters; Ada Crisp, Mary Moody and Virginia Miller. 

Funeral services for Mrs. Grace Banner Vannoy will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.  Officiating will be The Rev. Dr. William J. Boyd, III and Brother Raymond Tester.  Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.  Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Watauga Medical Center Intensive Care Unit, Post Office Box 2600, Boone, NC 28607.  The family will receive friends Saturday morning prior to the service from 10 o’clock until 11 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.  At other times friends may call at the Vannoy home in Vilas.

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