Archived

Reba Eastridge Barnes
Mrs. Reba Eastridge Barnes, 83, of Hickory, died Sunday, April 15, 2007, at the Seagraves Nursing Home in Jefferson.
She was born July 25, 1923, in Ashe County, a daughter of Roby and Ida Bell Eastridge.
Mrs. Barnes was a member of Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church in Hickory and was retired from Cape Hickory Hosiery.
Survivors include one son, Kenneth C. Barnes and wife, Debra, of Southern Pines; one daughter-in-law, Cora Ruth Eller of West Jefferson; two grandchildren, Debra Jones and husband, Dr. Charles Jones, of Jefferson and Angela Summers and husband, James, of North Wilkesboro; one grandson, James Edward Eller, Jr. of West Jefferson; four great-grandchildren, Brandon, Conner and Hunter Jones, all of Jefferson, and Caitlyn Summers of North Wilkesboro; one brother, Joe Eastridge and wife, Linda, of Newark, Del.; four sisters-in-law, Thelma Eastridge of Mountain City, Tenn., Betty Eastridge of Kennett Square, Pa., Betty Shook and husband, Carroll, of Hickory, and Eulala Hodges of Boone; four brothers-in-law, John Parsons and wife, Pauline, of Bethlehem, Frank Parsons and wife, JoAnn, of Granite Falls, Bob Mayes of Hickory, and Grady Barnes and wife, Helen, of Boone.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church in Hickory, officiated by the Rev. Dale Faulkenberry and the Rev. Paul Deal. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church Senior Citizens, 3320 9th Avenue Drive, NW, Hickory, N.C. 28601.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory, is serving the Barnes family.

Ronald McKinley Greene
Mr. Ronald McKinley Greene, 80, of Hamby Mountain Road, Wilkesboro, went to join his wife with the Lord on Tuesday, April 17, 2007.
He was born July 12, 1926 in Wilkes County to Herman and Betty Benge Greene.
Mr. Greene was retired from Harper Furniture in Lenoir and was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church in Deep Gap. He was a man who enjoyed being out on his tractor and working in his garden. He always loved being around family and friends. Mr. Greene was a very loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved his Lord and Savior.
Survivors include three daughters, Joyce Anderson and husband, Jerry, of Wilkesboro, Kathy Triplett and husband, Wayne, of Winston-Salem, and Audrey Greene and husband, William, of Boone; one son, Kenneth Greene and wife, Ann, of North Wilkesboro; two sisters, Texie Greene of Deep Gap, and Beulah Hamby of Lenoir; two brothers, James Greene and Hubert Greene, both of Ferguson; ten grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
His wife, Viola D. Greene; and a brother, Qubert Greene, preceded him in death.
Services were held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.., April 19, 2007, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with the Rev. Keith Phelps and the Rev. Michael Greene officiating. Burial followed in Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Deep Gap.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, N.C. 27030.
On line condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in North Wilkesboro, is in charge of the arrangements.

Alice R. Humphrey
Mrs. Alice R. Humphrey, 92, of Boone, former part-time resident of Englewood, Fla., and long-time resident of Silver Spring, Md., died Wednesday morning, April 11, 2007, at Glenbridge.
She was born May 3, 1914 in Easton, Md., daughter of the late Melvin Robinson and Cassie Wright Robinson Hennegrave.
Mrs. Humphrey was a graduate of Easton High School, Easton, Md. and attended one year at Strayers Business College, Baltimore, Md. She was a stenographer for the Department of the Interior and also worked for the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works, Washington, D.C.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who dearly cherished her great-grandchildren, a homemaker and faithful friend to many. She thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with friends, ballroom dancing and many years of square dancing. She will be remembered by all who knew her at Glenbridge for her sweet, enduring smile as well as her love of jewelry and Frosties.
Mrs. Humphrey helped her husband deliver Meals on Wheels for many years. She had been a member of the prayer group at First Presbyterian Church of Boone. She attended Boone United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Jane Freund and husband, Conrad, of Boone; two grandsons, Victor Thomas Freund and wife, Elizabeth, of High Point and Eric Walter Freund, of Denver, Colo.; and great-grandchildren, Thomas, Anna Katherine and Lukas of High Point, N.C.; several sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a good friend, Linda Elledge.
She was preceded in death by her spouse of 67 years, J. Walter Humphrey; and her brother, William Robinson.
A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Boone United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.
The family wishes to thank all the Glenbridge staff and Dr. Haibach for their compassionate care. The family respectfully requests no flowers, and suggests memorials to the Watauga County Library.

William Douglas Mackey
Mr. William Douglas Mackey, 80, of 431 Vance St. Apt. 6, Lenoir, N.C., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 15, 2007. He entered that glorious eternity at his residence following an extended illness.
He was born in Caldwell County on Feb. 1, 1927, the son of the late Douglas Mackey and the late Janie Dixon Mackey.
Mr. Mackey was a longtime member of Bushtown Mennonite Brethren Church where he sang melodies of praise and worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He loved singing in the Gospel Choir and when he sang lead he touched the hearts of everyone in the church. He retired from employment with Caldwell Memorial Hospital after working for 31 years as a Lab Technician in the Pathology Department. He served in the United States Army.
Survivors include his two daughters, Paula Mackey Teague and her husband, Isaac, and Lora Mackey Skattebo, all of Boone, N.C, four grandchildren, Duwan Mackey, Damien Mackey, Mariah Skattebo and Alonha Ketchum; one great-grandson, Darius Mackey; his former wife, Juanita McQueen Mackey of Banner-Elk, N.C.; and a grand circle of church family, friends and thoughtful neighbors.
Services were conducted Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Bushtown Mennonite Brethren Church with the Revs. Terry Hunt and Morris Hatton officiating.
Burial followed services at Dulatown Community Cemetery.
Ebony Funeral Services of Lenoir is assisting the Mackey family with arrangements.

Ina Greer Miller
Mrs. Ina Greer Miller, 91, of Wake Forest, formerly of Middle River, Md., died Saturday, April 7, 2007, at the Wake Forest Care Center.
She was born July 21, 1915 in Ashe County, a daughter of the late Ivory and Emma Parlier Greer.
Mrs. Miller moved with her husband and family to the Baltimore, Md. area prior to World War II. After her retirement from Weyerhauser, she was a homemaker and lived in Middle River until her return to North Carolina in 2001.
She is survived by many loving family members, including six grandchildren, five great-granddaughters, two great-grandsons, and one great-great-granddaughter.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronda Miller; one daughter, Madge Miller Migol; and one son, Alvin Miller.
A memorial service will be conducted Sunday afternoon, April 22, 2007, at 2:00 o’clock, at Laurel Springs Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Clint Kimbrough. Burial will follow in the Laurel Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock, at the church, prior to the service.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Lois Edna Bacon Slagle
Mrs. Lois Edna Bacon Slagle, 88, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, and formerly of Jonesborough, Tenn., went to be with her Lord and Savior after a lingering illness Monday, April 17, 2007 at Glenbridge Health & Rehabilitation.
She was born in Washington County, Tenn., a daughter of the late Enoch and Stella Fulkerson Bacon.
Mrs. Slagle was a homemaker and a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Jonesborough, Tenn.
Surviving are her daughter, Jan Hayes of Boone; two grandsons, Douglas Hayes of Boone and Duane Hayes and wife, Cyndie, of Cary, N.C.; two great grandsons, Andrew and Simon Hayes of Cary; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Beryl Slagle.
Services were conducted Thursday evening at 8 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Gordon Noble.
The family received friends prior to the service from 6 until 8 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Graveside services and burial will be conducted Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock at Fairview Church Cemetery in Jonesborough, Tenn.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Slagle family.

April 18, 2007
Peggy A. Slaughter
Mrs. Peggy A. Slaughter, 75, of Boone, N.C., passed away on April 16, 2007, at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory.
A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Slaughter at a later date.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Slaughter family.

April 16, 2007
Michael Walter Biczel
Mr. Michael Walter Biczel, 51, of Circle Oak Drive, died Friday afternoon, April 6, 2007, at home.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of Henry and Harriet Mammucari Biczel.
Mr. Biczel was a master wood worker, a member of Hands Gallery and the Church of Latter Day Bohemians.
Survivors include his wife, Brenda Schramm; one daughter, Melanie Biczel of Boone; his mother, Harriet Biczel of Florida; his father, Henry Biczel of New Jersey; four sisters, Brenda Biczel of Virginia; Linda O’Donnell and husband, Tom, of New Jersey; Sandy DeMari and husband, Bill, of Florida; and Kathy Biczel of Florida; three brothers, Jeffrey Biczel and wife, Trish, of Elk Park; Steven Biczel of New Jersey; and Kenny Biczel and wife, Debbie, of New Jersey.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, April 21, 2007, at 2 p.m. (provided fair weather), at the Farmer’s Market at Horn in the West, Boone, N.C. In case of inclement weather, memorial services will be conducted at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church at 2 p.m. on April 21, 2007. There will be a covered dish meal.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Biczel family.

Helen C. Gease
Mrs. Helen C. Gease, 88, of 163 Shadowline Drive, Boone, died Saturday morning, April 14, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born Feb. 16, 1919, in Columbus, Ohio, a daughter of the late Ralph and Odessa Fordyce.
Mrs. Gease served in the Women’s Marine Corps during World War II, and was a longtime resident of Stuart, Fla. before moving to North Carolina. She was a member of Messiah United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Dennis Gease and wife, Susan, of Denver, Colo.; two daughters, Lenore Van Alstyne and husband, Lewis, of Orlando, Fla. and Anita Hicks and husband, Charles, of Sugar Grove; one brother, Howard Fordyce, of Bradenton, Fla.; one granddaughter, Aimee Hicks of Greensboro; two grandsons, Lewis Van Alstyne, III of Orlando, Fla. and Brad Hicks of Sugar Grove.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Gease; her father and mother, Ralph and Odessa Fordyce; one brother, Fredrick Fordyce; and one sister, Lois Fordyce.
A graveside service will be conducted at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058 or to the American Lung Association, 5315 Greenbrook Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28205.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Rev. Fred H. “Jack” Greene
Rev. Fred H. ‘Jack’ Greene, 81, of Elizabethton, Tenn., died Saturday morning, April 14, 2007, at Ivy Hall Nursing Home.
A native and former resident of the Sugar Grove community of Watauga County, he was a son of the late Rev. Dave and Mary Ann Isaacs Greene.
Rev. Greene was a retired Free Will Baptist Minister. He pastored churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan and Virginia. Locally he pastored Keystone Free Will Baptist Church in Johnson City, Unicoi Free Will Baptist Church, Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church and Oak Hill Free Will Baptist Church, and both Hampton and Doran Addition Free Will Baptist Churches in Kingsport, Tenn. He served on the Board of Directors of the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home in Greenville. Rev. Greene received an Honorary Degree from Free Will Baptist College in Nashville. He attended the First Free Will Baptist Church in Johnson City.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Little Greene; one son, Paul Greene and wife, Linda, of Johnson City, Tenn.; two daughters, Linda Bowen and husband, Jerry, of Johnson City, Tenn. and Phyllis Campbell and husband, Harley, of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; three brothers, Richard Greene and wife, Frances, of Elizabethton, Tenn., J. C. Greene and wife, Genevieve, of Vilas, and Ronda Greene and wife, Valre, of Newbern, Tenn.; and four sisters, Lucille Reece of Elizabethton, Tenn., Jean Hayes and husband, Howell, of Boone, Lillian McCrary and husband, Rufus, of Sugar Grove and Kate Hagaman of Hickory. Seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Dwight, Glenn and Tommy Greene.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Elizabethton, officiated by the Rev. Kenneth Grindstaff and Mr. D. H. Garland. Graveside services and burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Park in Johnson City.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at the First Free Will Baptist Church, 302 Colorado Street, Johnson City, Tenn. 37601.
Memorial Funeral Home in Elizabethton, Tennessee is serving the Greene family.

Ina Louise Miller
Mrs. Ina Louise Miller, 91, of Wake Forest, N.C., died on Saturday, April 7, 2007 after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Miller moved to the Raleigh area to be closer to her family. She loved and was very active in the Southern Baptist Church in Boone, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., and Middle River, Md., where she and her family lived throughout her career.
Survivors include six grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned at a later date.
Arrangements by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas.

Mabel Lowrance Reece
Mrs. Mabel Lowrance Reece, 83, of Glenbridge Health Care of Boone, and formerly of Valle Crucis, died Friday morning, April 13, 2007 at the Watauga Medical Center.
She was born June 22, 1923 in Watauga County, a daughter of Joseph Henderson and Hattie Tester Lowrance.
Mrs. Reece was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church and was a housewife and homemaker.
She is survived by three daughters, Mildred Greene and husband, Ernie, of Oakboro, Lois Aldridge and husband, Earl, of Marion, and Betty Sue Clawson of Boone; two sons, Larry Reece and wife, Brenda, of Zionville and Johnny Reece and wife, Martha, of Boone; two brothers, Henry Lowrance and wife, Wilma, of Claremont and Jimmy Lowrance and wife, Rena, of Boone; and two sisters-in-law, Ilene Lowrance of Boone and Juanita Lowrance of Lenoir. Eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Iva Valentine Reece; one son, Eugene Reece; four brothers, Melvin, Marvin, Ralph and Frank Lowrance; and two sisters, Edith Lowrance and Thelma Shook.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. George Berry and the Rev. Burl Greer. The family received friends Sunday afternoon from 1:30 until 3 o’clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Burial followed in the Taylor-Mast Cemetery in Valle Crucis.
The family suggests memorials to High Country Healthcare Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Reece family.

Rabon Henry ‘Sam’ Taylor
Mr. Rabon Henry “Sam” Taylor, 65, of 106 Hollar and Greene Lane, Boone, died Saturday afternoon, April 14, 2007, at Ashe Memorial Hospital.
He was born Oct. 7, 1941, in Watauga County, a son of Henry and Ruth Carroll Taylor.
Mr. Taylor was retired as a Route salesman from Kern’s Bakery after 31 years of service and was a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Woodring Taylor; one daughter, Lisa Taylor of Chiclayo, Peru; two sons, Randy Taylor and wife, Candy, and Greg Taylor, all of Boone; three granddaughters, Tabatha Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Kelsey Taylor; one grandson, Cameron Taylor, all of Boone; his father and mother, Henry W. and Ruth Carroll Taylor of Boone; two sisters, Linda McKinney and husband, Rev. James McKinney of Boone, and Bonnie Eggers of Lexington; and one brother, Alton Kent Taylor of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Jack Eggers.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 1-2. Officiating will be Pastor Allan Blume, the Rev. Bud Russell, the Rev. Kanoot Midkiff and the Rev. James McKinney. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association-Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place Ste D320, Asheville, N.C. 28801 or to Mount Vernon Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, 3505 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.