August 15, 2007
Ruby McNeil Ragan
Mrs. Ruby McNeil Ragan, 94, of 186 Ragan Culler Road, Boone, died Sunday, August 12, 2007, at her residence.
She was born June 1, 1913 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Alfred Grady and Minnie Caroline Rominger McNeil.
Mrs. Ragan was a homemaker and a member of Rich Mountain Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Beach, and Loyce Graybeal and husband, Tom, all of Boone; two sons, Bob Ragan and wife, Glenda, and Bill Ragan and wife, Rita, all of Boone; and one brother, Bill McNeil and wife, Wanda, of Boone. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Ford Ragan; three brothers, Alfred, Carson, and George McNeil; one sister, Ellie Adams; one infant grandson; one great-grandchild, and a son-in-law, Dewey Beach.
Services will be conducted Wednesday morning, August 15, 2007, at 11:00 o'clock, at Rich Mountain Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Carter Moretz. Burial will follow in the Culler Cemetery.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the home of a daughter, Joyce Beach, 653 Sugarloaf Road, Boone.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Edward D. Raybon
Mr. Edward D. Raybon, 80, of Life Care Center in Banner Elk, died Thursday morning, August 9, 2007, at Life Care Center.
He was born Oct. 25, 1926 in Duval County, Fla., a son of the late Lloyd and Willie Jones Raybon.
Mr. Raybon was a retired general contractor for Del-Web Construction Company and served with the United States Marine Corp during World War II.
Survivors include one daughter, Diann Watson of Banner Elk; one son, John Raybon and wife, Markay, of Palm Coast, Fla.; and one granddaughter, Tamara, of Missouri.
A private memorial service for Mr. Edward D. Raybon will be conducted at a later date in Flagler Beach, Fla.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Polie Rice Ritchey
Polie Rice Ritchey died on July 31, 2007, in Buffalo, New York surrounded by her four children.
Her legacy includes a deep devotion to her family, as she quietly and elegantly nurtured and cared for them, and a profound faith in Jesus Christ.
She was born Polie Marcia Rice on July 10, 1917, in Tallahatchie County, Miss., to Roman Knott and Mary Effie Cox Rice, she graduated from Mississippi State College for Women and taught school prior to her marriage to James Marvin Ritchey in 1945. She spent most of her adult life in Clarksdale, Mississippi, living there from 1947 until 2002, when she moved to Brandon, Mississippi. Since 2006 she had been in Buffalo with her daughter Faye and son-in-law Hank.
A charter member of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Clarksdale, she was active in many facets of that church’s life, as well as that of Brandon Baptist Church during her years there. She attended Deerhurst Presbyterian Church in Buffalo when her health permitted. Her many civic activities included the Clarksdale Garden Club, which she served as president, the Coahoma Woman’s Club, the Colonial Dames, and her many hours of service to the Girls Scouts of the USA.
She was predeceased by her parents as well as her loving husband James Marvin Ritchey, who died in 1977.
She leaves her children, Sarah Sue Ritchey Jordan and husband, Jim, of Blowing Rock, N.C., formerly of Cleveland, MS; Jacob Marvin Ritchey and wife, Jan, of Jackson, MS; Linda Ritchey Shell and husband, John, of Charlotte, N.C.; and Faye Ritchey Sokol and husband, Hank, of Buffalo, NY; as well as four grandchildren, Justin Ritchey Jordan of Arlington, VA; Sarah Jayne Jordan of Blowing Rock, NC; Jacob Marvin Ritchey, Jr. of Palm Springs, CA; and John Blakely Shell of Charlotte, N.C. She is also survived by one sister, Rivers Rice Catledge of Hollandale, MS; and numerous nieces, nephews, and loved ones.
She was predeceased by four brothers, Roman Knott Rice, Jr., David Rice, Leon Rice, and Herbert Rice.
A memorial service was held at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Clarksdale on Saturday, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. The family received visitors at the church prior to the service.
The family requests that donations be made to Oakhurst Baptist Church, Clarksdale, MS, or to Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon, MS.

August 13, 2007
Eleanor E. Lamere-Tomlinson-Bernat
Mrs. Eleanor E. Lamere-Tomlinson-Bernat, passed away August 9, 2007.
She was born August 27, 1911 to Cyril Joseph Lamere and Elizabeth Edith Yates Lamere, in Washburn, Wisc.
Mrs. Lamere-Tomlinson-Bernat graduated from St. Johns School of Nursing, Springfield, Ill. She married Elmer Martin Tomlinson in 1933. She married Max Bernat in 1989, 3 years after the passing of Elmer. Eleanor was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
Eleanor always managed to see the best in everybody and all situations. Even during the last few months of her life she was known by her friends in Boone, N.C. as a lady that could make everybody smile. Moving to Keller in late June of this year she quickly joined St. Elizabeth Ann Catholic Church and never missed a Sunday. She was an avid bridge player for most of her adult life. She could always be counted on to be ready to go, even if her walker needed a tune up. She will be missed by many friends in Illinois, Florida, North Carolina and Texas.
Survivors include a son, Martin Stephen Tomlinson; a granddaughter, Marla May; great-grandsons, Addison and Bryce, all of Keller, Texas; and a wonderful group of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by both husbands, both parents, and her 5 wonderful siblings, whom she loved more than life itself.
Services were conducted Sunday evening at 7 p.m., August 12, 2007, in the chapel of Lucas Keller Funeral Home in Keller, Texas. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Lucas Keller Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Lorraine Litton Church
Mrs. Lorraine Litton Church, 80, of Knoxville, Tenn., and a resident of Land Harbors, Linville, N.C., died Saturday afternoon August 11, 2007 at Johnson City Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 5, 1926 in Detroit, Mich., a daughter of the late Herbert and Mamie Temple Litton.
Mrs. Church was a homemaker and a member of the Boone Church of Christ.
Surviving are: one son, David Church and wife, Janice, of Buford, Ga.; two grandsons, Christopher Church and wife, Ana, of Nashville, Tenn. and Andrew Church and wife, Meredith, of Brentwood, Tenn.; two great-grandchildren, D. J. and Aly Church of Nashville, Tenn.; and one brother, Roy Litton of Detroit, Mich.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph A. Church.
Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Randy Covalt. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ralph and Lorraine Church Endowed Scholarship Fund in care of Rochester College, 800 W. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, Mich. 48307.
The family will receive friends prior to the service Tuesday from noon until 1 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Church family.

Jewell Dean Perry Ragan
Mrs. Jewell Dean Perry Ragan, 81, of Meadowview Drive, Boone, died Sunday afternoon, August 12, 2007 at her home.
She was born Feb. 2, 1926 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Henry Grady and Earle C. Perry.
Mrs. Ragan was retired from Trailway Laundry and Shadowline. She was a charter member of Greenway Baptist Church where she attended as long as her health permitted.
Survivors include her only daughter, Barbara Tuttle of Winston-Salem; two sisters, Anna Mae Greene and husband, Fred, and Carleen Perry, all of Vilas; one brother, Fred Perry and wife, Lola, of Boone; and a sister-in-law, Beulah Ragan of Boone. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Don G. Ragan, who died May 28, 1991; two infant daughters; a sister, Hattie P. Greene; and her son-in-law, Major Sloan Tuttle, who died July 7, 2005. Also surviving are special friends, Edith M. West of Rural Hall, Mr. and Mrs. George Main of Roan Mountain, Tenn., Mr. & Mrs. Randal Cannon of Ashe County, and a host of friends from Winston-Salem and Walkertown.
Services will be conducted Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Dr. David Luster and Mr. John Cook.
The family will receive friends Tuesday morning from 9 until 10 o’clock, one hour prior to services, at Austin & Barnes.
Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
The family respectfully requests no food. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Greenway Baptist Church, 880 Greenway Drive, Boone, N.C., or to the Watauga County Unit of the American Cancer Society, Post Office Box 1903, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Ragan family.

James Harold Robinson, Jr.
Mr. James Harold Robinson, Jr., 61, of Davenport, Fla., died at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2007, surrounded by his loving family at his daughter’s Springfield residence after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
He was born on April 30, 1946 in Miami, Fla., the son of James Harold and Bessie Marie Peeples Robinson, Sr. He married Deborah Kathryn Mason on June 14, 1975 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mr. Robinson graduated from high school in Jacksonville, Fla. and was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ill.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran and served during the Vietnam Conflict. He served in the Secret Service during President Nixon’s Administration. He later owned a coffee company called Rise and Shine Coffee in Orlando, Fla. for 5 years. He retired from Disney in 2004 where he worked in sales.
Mr. Robinson was a great family man. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, painting, and collecting antiques and Disney pins. He will always be remembered for his strong sense of humor and love of animals, often stopping to rescue a wandering turtle or feeding every stray cat in the neighborhood.
He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Deborah; two daughters, Christina Robinson-Race and husband, Jason, of Springfield, Ill. and Karen Dooley and husband James, of Davenport, Fla.; five grandchildren, Evan, Anna, and Colin Race, all of Springfield, and Emma and Abigail Dooley of Davenport; one brother, Larry “Rodney” Robinson and wife, Nancy, of Jacksonville, Fla.; three aunts, one uncle, three nieces, two nephews, and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2007 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, with Pastor Wayne Hoffman officiating.
Cremation will be accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.
Private family graveside ceremonies will be scheduled for a later date at Camp Butler National Cemetery with military honors.
A memorial service will be held soon following at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla
A private family remembrance will be held at a later date in Blowing Rock, N.C.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Homecare Hospice of Illinois, 720 N. Bond St., Springfield, IL 62702.
Please visit James’ on-line life story at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com to leave your condolences.
Butler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.