Archived

Peggy Lou Arwood
Peggy Lou Arwood, 62, of Sugar Grove, N.C., died Thursday, July 19, 2007.
Asheville Mortuary Services is caring for the Arwood family.

Stella Keller Dobbins
Mrs. Stella Keller Dobbins, 89, of Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, died Monday evening, July 23, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born June 14, 1918 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Robert and Bessie Harrison Greer Walker.
Mrs. Dobbins was a retired dispatcher for the Blowing Rock Police Department, and a member of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Sarah Keller Boyd of Salisbury; three granddaughters, Angela Pope of Drexel, Melanie Timbs and husband, Jeff, of Austin, Texas, and Donna Bruno of Slidel, La.; five grandsons, Rondal Duckworth and wife, Nancy, of Winter Springs, Fla., Henry Maine of San Jose, Calif., Theodore Keller of Paso Robles, Calif., Christopher Keller and wife, Bonnie, of Lancaster, Calif., and George Keller of Quartz Hill, Calif. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Doss Lloyd Keller, Sr.; her second husband, Joe Jones Dobbins; one son, Doss Keller, Jr.; one daughter, Mary Keller Maine, and four sisters, Lois Walser, Helen Grant, Blanda Martin, and Alma Hartley.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, July 30, 2007, at 2:00 o’clock, at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Dr. Daniel Featherstone and Dr. Charles Carter. Burial will follow in Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00 o’clock, at the church, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to NAMI Rowan-Resource Center for the Brain, PO Box 3579, Salisbury, N.C. 28144.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Clarence N. “Duke” Newton Hoffman
Mr. Clarence N. “Duke” Newton Hoffman, 95, of 797 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock, died Friday, July 20, 2007, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
He was born May 7, 1912 in Montgomery County, Pa.
Mr. Hoffman was a retired machine operator, and served in the United States Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lee Hoffman; one step-son, Thomas Miller and wife, Maren, of Boston, Mass.; and two step-granddaughters, Anna Clari Miller of Boston, Mass. and Trescha Miller of Albermarle, Fla.
A private memorial service will be conducted at a later date.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

July 25, 2007
Mary Patricia 'Pat' Sherrill Hadley
Mrs. Mary Patricia “Pat” Sherrill Hadley, 74, of Boone, died July 8. 2007, at Preston House Assisted Living in Charlotte, following a long illness.
She was born in Charlotte on June 6, 1933. She was raised in Chapel Hill, N.C. and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill. She then became an airline stewardess until she met her husband, Bruce Hadley, and began raising two children. The Hadley’s moved to Boone, N.C. from Miami, Fla. in 1975.
Mrs. Hadley will best be remembered for her wonderful cooking, quilting, laughter, love of all animals and sense of humor.
Survivors include her son, Robert Bruce Hadley and his new wife, Maria Groumbas Hadley, of Boone; her daughter, Amanda Sherrill Hadley Harriss and her husband, Raymond Harriss, and their two children, Mason and Miles of Lake Wylie.
Due to the tremendous support provided by Hospice, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Lake Norman, 705 Griffin Street, Suite 203, Davidson, N.C. 28036, in Mrs. Hadley’s name.
A Celebration of Life will be held at her home on Huckleberry Knob, Sunday, July 29, at 12:00.
Condolences may be emailed to carothersfh@aol.com.
Carothers Funeral Home in Gastonia, were in charge of arrangements.

July 23, 2007

Bernard Hale Baird
Mr. Bernard Hale Baird, 79, of Avenue, Md., died July 11, 2007 at his residence.
He was born Feb. 4, 1928 in Blountville, Tenn., the son of the late Carl and Mary Disia Smith Baird.
Mr. Baird served in the U.S. Navy and after his discharge started his own drywall business where he worked until retiring in 2003. He loved playing his guitar and singing bluegrass and country music and fishing.
Survivors include three sons and one daughter all of the Avenue area, as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived locally by a sister, Sylvia Stevens and husband, Irvin, of Zionville; a brother, Cleatus Baird and wife, Dollie, of Mountain City, Tenn.; two aunts, Lucy Townsend and Delia Rominger, both of Banner Elk.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lura B. Smith; two brothers, Wilton and Ledford Baird; and a sister, Virginia Meredith.
Services were held on Saturday, July 14, 2007 at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown, Md. with the Rev. William McLean officiating. Interment was in Charles Memorial Gardens also in Leonardtown.
Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown, Md. were in charge of the arrangements.

Janette Hedrick Davis Presnell
Mrs. Janette Hedrick Davis Presnell, 56, of Ivy Terrace, Boone, died Friday morning, July 20, 2007 at Blowing Rock Hospital.
She was born May 2, 1951, in Kissimmee, Fla., a daughter of the late Zela Gragg Hedrick and Darold Lee Hedrick.
Mrs. Presnell was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church and a retired from Shadowline as a seamstress.
Surviving are her husband, Larry Dean Presnell; one step-daughter, Brandy Presnell of Lexington; her father, Darold Lee Hedrick of Boone; one brother, Mike Hedrick and wife, Delores, of Boone; one niece, Laura Hackney of Wilmington; and two nephews, Jonathan Hedrick and Jack Hackney of Boone.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock at Cornerstone Baptist Church with the Rev. Eric Proffitt and the Rev. Van Proffitt officiating. Burial followed in the Cornerstone Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Presnell family.

Jean VanGraafeiland Schading
Ms. Jean VanGraafeiland Schading, 83, of Chestnut Drive, Blowing Rock and formerly of Brighton, N.Y., died Friday morning, July 20, 2007, at the Davant Extended Care Facility.
She was born June 2, 1924 in Rochester, N.Y., a daughter of the late Dr. Burton VanGraafeiland and Mrs. Florence Dean Pepper.
Ms. Schading was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, N.Y. and a Guild Member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration. She was also a graduate of Cornell University and a worked at First Federal Bank in Pittsford, N.Y.
Surviving are two daughters, Donna Leavitt of Vilas, and Nancy Martin of Dallas, Ga.; four grandchildren, Derek Schatz of Fair Play, Colo., and David, Andrea and Jack Martin, all of Dallas, Ga.; and her beloved poodle, Mitzi.
A memorial service for Ms. will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, 25 Church Street, Pittsford, N.Y. 14534.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Schading family.