Archived

Ruth Wilson Martin
Mrs. Ruth Wilson Martin, 86, of State Farm Road, Boone, died Monday evening Oct. 1, 2007 at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born Dec. 27, 1920 in Watauga County, a daughter of Dayton and Pearl W. Wilson.
Mrs. Martin was a member of the First Baptist Church in Boone and was very active in the Enrichment Sunday School Class. She served as a former president of the Boone’s Ladies Golf Association at the Boone Golf Course. Mrs. Martin was a former member and supporter of a local book club, was an avid Bridge player, and was very active in the Democrat Political Party.
Survivors include her husband, Dr. John Gentry “Jack” Martin; three sons, John Coe and wife, Debbie, of Petaluma, Calif., and Scott Coe and wife, Jane Ann, of Boone, and Chris Martin and wife, Susan, of Reston, Va.; and one daughter, Peggy Martin-McGuire of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada; one grandson, Corbin Coe of Boone; and three granddaughters, Bower Coe of Boone, Lara White and husband, Brian, of Fairfax, Va. and Amanda Dickerson and husband, William, of Tampa, Fla.; one great-granddaughter, Kaylin White; and three sisters, Iva Dean Winkler of Boone, Jean Johnson of Charlotte and Mary Katherine Halstead of Bristol, Va.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruby Trotter and Ethel Mangold; and one brother, Len Wilson.
Services were conducted Thursday afternoon, Oct. 4, 2007, at 3 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Dr. James Tinsley. The family received friends Thursday afternoon from 2 until 3 o’clock, one hour prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Entombment followed at the Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum.
The family suggests memorials to High Country Health Care Systems Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Martin family.

October 3, 2007

Dot Greer
A celebration of life service to remember and honor the life of Dot Greer will be held Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 375 West King Street, Boone, with visitation from 2:30-3:00 p.m. and short service at 3:00, and visitation following the service.
Dot and Hank lived in Boone for 20-plus years, from 1960-1981, when Hank was the Baptist Student Union Director at ASU. Dot was known for her quiet, steady presence in the community and at First Baptist Church, where she was the WMU director and served as a deacon for many years.
Dot passed away July 7, 2007, after a 1 1/2 year battle with cancer. She was 85.
Survivors include her husband, Hank; and their four children, Keith Greer, Dianne Beshears, Libby Cunningham, and Martha Johnson (who lives in Boone with her husband, Allan, and their two 12 year olds, Luke and Annie).
Please know that your presence is welcome as we visit and have an informal service to honor her life.

Verlene Huffman
Mrs. Verlene Huffman, 51, of 1430 Sampson Road, Boone, died Sunday evening, Sept. 30, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born April 1, 1956 in Avery County, the daughter of Helen Marie Coffey and the late John W. Coffey. She was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include her husband, Ricky Huffman; two daughters, Kathy Mills and husband, Jerry, of Blowing Rock, and Amy Hicks and husband, Michael, of Vilas; one son, Ricky Huffman and wife, Mary, of Mountain City, Tenn.; one adopted child, James Townsend of Boone; nine grandchildren, Brandon and Stephen Hampton of Blowing Rock, Harley and Jessica Mills of Blowing Rock, Makayla and Dustin Hicks of Vilas, Hope and Dakota Huffman of Mountain City, and Christopher Mills of Georgia; five brothers, Lonnie Coffey and wife, Linda, of Ohio, Harley Coffey and wife, Laura, of Boone, Howard Coffey and wife, Brenda, of Boone, Daniel Coffey and wife, Edith, of Boone, and Jesse Coffey and wife, Opal, of Lenoir; two sisters, Ruby Winebarger and husband, J.D., of Lenoir, and Bonnie Teague and husband, Mike, of Boone; and her mother, Helen Marie Coffey of Boone. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her father, John W. Coffey.
Services will be conducted Thursday morning, Oct. 4, 2007, at 11:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. James Pittman, III, and the Rev. Charles Woodring. Burial will follow in the Townsend Cemetery in Banner Elk.
The family will receive friends, Wednesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Harry C. Robbins
Mr. Harry C. Robbins, 82, of Blowing Rock and Seven Devils, died Sunday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2007, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
A native of Blowing Rock, Harry Robbins was a developer, entrepreneur and leader in tourism promotion in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After service in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II, he returned to North Carolina where he attended Appalachian State Teachers College and Davidson College. In the 1950’s his early career included a term as Postmaster of Blowing Rock, and manager of the Blowing Rock scenic attraction.
In the late 1950’s, Harry assisted his brother Grover Robbins in the creation and operation of Tweetsie Railroad. Following the establishment of North Carolina’s first theme park, Harry and Grover began a new park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that evolved into Goldrush Junction (a park that eventually became today’s Dollywood). At the same time, the Robbins Brothers began planning and construction of exclusive resort communities in the mountains, beginning with the Hound Ears Club in 1962.
Subsequent projects – among many that were created by Harry and Grover in the 1960’s and 70’s – included the Beech Mountain resort and the Land of Oz theme park; The Reef resort in the Virgin Islands; and Linville Land Harbor. Youngest brother Spencer Robbins later joined the duo in many of these ventures. After Grover’s death in 1970, and on through the 1980’s, Harry and Spencer continued to create prestigious resort and real estate communities in the mountains, the most notable of which was the Elk River Club in Banner Elk, which featured the state’s first Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.
Harry Robbins was noted for his kindness and his modesty … as well as a legendary sense of humor and a razor-sharp wit. He was fond of golf, but the greatest pleasure in his life was creating, building, and bringing ideas and concepts to reality. The mountain region will remember him as one of the major visionaries in promoting Northwest North Carolina as a tourist destination, and a major force in bringing year-round economic success to the Appalachians. Throughout his career, Harry was a tireless promoter of quality tourism promotions to make the Boone-Blowing Rock-Banner Elk region a nation-wide destination.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara J. Robbins; one daughter, Wendy Robbins of Denton, Texas; two sons, Christopher B. Robbins and wife, Cathy, of Boone, and Mark B. Robbins and wife, Lyndsey, of Lenoir; one step-son, Michael Craig Presnell of Raleigh; three sisters, Lena Brooks and Peggy Sellers, both of Blowing Rock, and Ruth Botzis of Greenville, S.C.; and one brother, Spencer Robbins and wife, Grace, of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, John Kevin Robbins; his father and mother, Grover C. Robbins, Sr. and Lena Miller Robbins; and one brother, Grover C. Robbins, Jr.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 3, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Charles Landreth, Chris Robbins, and Wendy Robbins. Burial will follow in Reform Church Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service in Boone.
Memorial contributions may be made through the Grover C. Robbins, Jr. Imaging Center, in care of Watauga Medical Center, PO Box 2600, Boone, N.C. 28607, directed to the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, or to the Grandfather Home for Children, PO Box 98, Banner Elk, N.C. 28604. Flowers will also be appreciated.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

October 1, 2007

Rebecca Jenkins Brady
Mrs. Rebecca Jenkins Brady, 84, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, after a brief illness.
She was born August 9, 1923 in Winston Salem, N.C., to the late Henry Edward Jenkins and Dora Parker Jenkins.
Mrs. Brady was a graduate of Hickory High School and earned a Business degree from Lenoir Rhyne College. She was a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Pat Weathers and husband, Don, of Newton, N.C., Carol Griffin and husband, Laird, of Lenoir, N.C., Julie Eckard and husband, Bruce, of Conover, N.C.; one son, Charles Brady and wife, Lisa, of Boone, N.C.; nine grandchildren, Betsy Ross of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Jeff Weathers of Blythewood, S.C., Kate Robertson of Houston, Tex., Jay Griffin of Charlotte, N.C., Brady Eckard of Conover, N.C., Laura Brady and Lillie Brady of Boone, N.C., Keisha Akers of Charlotte, N.C., and Beau Eckard of Conover, N.C.; six great-grandchildren:, Dylan, Morgan, and Lindsay Ross, Connor and Carson Weathers, and Owen Akers.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles A. Brady, Jr.
A memorial service was held at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Hickory, N.C., at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007.
Memorials may be made to Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, N.C. 28616 or St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 629 8th St., NE, Hickory, N.C. 28601.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Brady family.

Hildred Church Coffey
Mrs. Hildred Church Coffey, 100, of 138 Chestnut Knob Trail, Blowing Rock, died Saturday evening, Sept. 29, 2007, at her home.
She was born August 4, 1907 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Com and Nora Hollifield Church.
Throughout her life, she was a wonderful daughter; then met Herman Coffey, whom she married June 1, 1929. She was a faithful servant of Christ and our Lord. She raised four children, grandchildren, family friend’s children with love, kindness, and taught us the Lord’s word. She was most definitely one of God’s best creations.
In her early life, she worked for the renowned artist, Elliott Dangerfield and then became manager of housekeeping at the Green Park Hotel in Blowing Rock until she retired at the age of 72.
Survivors include one daughter, Thelma Coffey of Blowing Rock; one son, James Coffey and wife, Mary, of Lenoir; one daughter-in-law, Vera Coffey of Hickory; three granddaughters, Kelly Lea Catterton of Blowing Rock, Melody A. Rich and husband, James, of Blowing Rock, and Vickie C. Norris and husband, Dan, of Boone; five grandsons, Michael R. Johnson and wife, Sally, of Charlotte, Thomas Gregory Catterton and wife, Penny, of Shatley Springs, Kevin Coffey and wife, Nancy, of Morganton, Eric M. Coffey of Boone, and Robert R. Coffey and wife, Debbie, of Boone; and many more extended family, friends, and loved ones alike. She is also survived by 19 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and one nephew, Jerry Coffey, son of a late sister, Leslie C. Coffey.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Herman "Hum" Coffey; one daughter, Betty Johnson and her husband, Roy; one son, Robert H. "Bob" Coffey; one grandson, Jeffery Lee "Jeff" Coffey; her father and mother, Com and Nora Hollifield Church; two sisters, Leslie C. Coffey and Delores Church; and one brother, Howard Church.
Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 2, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Boone Fork Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock.
Officiating will be Pastor Darrell Miller, the Rev. Carl Osborne, and the Rev. Dean Coffey. Burial will follow in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 7:00 until 9:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at Mrs. Coffey's residence, 138 Chestnut Knob Trail, Blowing Rock.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred Winebarger Greer
Mrs. Mildred Winebarger Greer, 91, of 7725 U.S. Highway 421 North, Vilas, died Friday evening, Sept. 28, 2007, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 23, 1916 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late William Finley Winebarger and Bessie Kemp.
Mrs. Greer was a homemaker and attended Cove Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, June Greer of Boone, and Mary Linda Hicks and husband, Tommie, of Butler, Tenn.; one son, Edwin Glenn Greer and wife, Helen, of Fleetwood; one half-sister, Kathleen Phillips of Lexington, N.C.; and two half-brothers, Victor Winebarger of Boone, and Richard Lawson of San Bernardino, Calif. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Greer; one daughter, Bessie Jean Watson; her step-mother, Bessie Winebarger; two half-sisters, Georgia Grant, and Cleo Horn; and one half-brother, Victor Clifton.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, Oct. 1, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Gordon Noble. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Clyde Charles May
Mr. Clyde Charles May, 66, of Mountain City, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, at his residence.
He was born on May 12, 1941, in Johnson County, to the late Carl and Lura Robinson May.
Mr. May was a farmer and loved to mechanic and fish. He was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include his wife, companion and care giver, married of God for eight and one-half years, Peggy. He is also survived by two sons, Russell May and wife, Bobbie, and Kenneth May of Mountain City; five sisters, Marie Rominger of Boone, N.C., Virginia Blevins of West Jefferson, N.C.; Dora Keever of Mountain City; Beulah Brown and Sarah Watson of Zionville, N.C.; four stepchildren; five grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; ten step-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and a special friend, Richard Walsh.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Carrol May and Virgil May; one step-son, Timothy Church; a grandson, Kenneth May; a sister, Hazel May; and four brothers, Earl, Bruce, Howard and Landon May.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2007, at 12:00 noon, with Bob Stout officiating.
Pallbearers were nephews. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Griffith, Dr. Haibach, Dr. Whitlock and Dr. Gray. Interment followed at Sunset Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Johnson County Rescue Squad, 203 Vandilla St., Mountain City, Tenn. and Seby Jones Cancer Center, Boone, N.C.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
Mountain City Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Earl Lancaster Petrey
Mr. Earl Lancaster Petrey, 93, of Eastridge Acres Court, Boone, went to be with the Lord, Friday morning, Sept. 28, 2007 at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 20, 1913 in Whitley County, Ky., a son of the late Charlie and Ada Dixon Petrey.
Mr. Petrey began teaching in a one room schoolhouse at Wilkerson School in his hometown in Whitley, Ky. He taught several of his younger siblings before joining the U.S. Navy in 1941. After World War II ended Earl married Ruth in 1945 and they settled in Boone, N.C. in 1949 to attend Appalachian State Teachers College. Mr. Petrey worked in the Watauga County School system for over 30 years, serving as teacher, principal and school board member. He spent 17 summers working as a Park Ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mr. Petrey was an active member of Boone United Methodist Church since 1949.
Surviving are three sons, Douglas Petrey and wife, Angela, of Knightdale, N.C., Winston Stephen Petrey and wife, Karen, and Morgan Len Petrey and wife, Karen, of Boone; six grandchildren, Lauren Michelle Petrey and Adam Douglas Petrey, both of Knightdale; Drew Stephen Petrey and wife, Fran, Molly Elizabeth Petrey and Matthew Logan Petrey, all of Boone; and Dustin Lee Petrey and wife, Daphne, of Fleetwood; three great-granddaughters, Evelyn Ruth Petrey and Mary Frances Petrey, both of Boone, and Ruth Elizabeth Petrey of Fleetwood; two brothers, Seagle Petrey and wife, Vergie, of Knoxville, Tenn. and A. D. Petrey and wife, Dixie Lee, of Merriville, Tenn.; and one sister, Anna Brown of Knoxville, Tenn.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Hanawalt Petrey; one great-grandson, Daniel Lee Petrey; two sisters, Hazel Love and Geraldine Cheevers; and two brothers, Ed and Cyril Petrey.
A celebration of the life was conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Officiating was Dustin Petrey and Dr. George Naff. Entombment followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens Mausoleum.
The family received friends Sunday afternoon from 1 until 3 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to the Boone United Methodist Building Fund, 471 New Market Boulevard, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Petrey family.

Frances Ragan Rapp
Ms. Frances Ragan Rapp, 64, of 3550 Washington Street, Hollywood, Fla., died Tuesday evening, Sept. 25, 2007, at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.
She was born June 12, 1943 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Glenn and Genevieve Tuite Ragan.
Mr. Rapp was employed with the security department for the K-Mart Corporation, and was of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include one daughter, Amy Harden and husband, Jim, of Maggie Valley; one son, Sean Patrick Rapp of Beaverton, Ore.; one sister, Glenda Arthur and husband, Bill, of Sugar Grove; two granddaughters, Grace Harden and Joy Harden, both of Maggie Valley; one aunt, Beaulah Ragan, and one cousin, Melba Brown, both of Boone; one niece, Kelly Goodman of Vilas; and a special friend, Jackie Snipes of Hollywood, Fla.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2007, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Father Joe Mulligan. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Joe Thompson
Mr. Joe Thompson, 59, of 350 Charlie Thompson Road, Vilas, died Thursday morning, Sept. 27, 2007, at his home.
He was born Dec. 1, 1947 in Watauga County, a son of Maude Norris Thompson and the late Don Franklin Thompson.
Mr. Thompson was a truck driver for Chandler Concrete, and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Trudy Thompson; two daughters, Regina Presnell and husband, Danny, and Becky Trivette and husband, Rusty, all of Vilas; two granddaughters, Nichole Presnell and Kimberly Trivette; and one grandson, Joey Trivette, all of Vilas; one sister, Pat Perry and husband, Bob, of Vilas; his mother-in-law, Ann Miller of Todd; three brothers-in-law, Junior Miller, Oral Miller, and Mark Miller, all of Todd; and three sisters-in-law, Evonne Settle, JoAnne Smith and husband, Johnny, and Imogene Braswell and husband, Larry, all of Todd.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Tommy Dean Thompson and Charles David Thompson; his father-in-law, Albert Miller; one brother-in-law, Farrell Settle; and one sister-in-law, Barbara Miller.
Services were conducted Friday evening, Sept. 28, 2007, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel.
Officiating was the Rev. Eugene Braswell and the Rev. Stephen Braswell. Graveside services and burial were conducted Saturday morning at Adams Cemetery in Vilas.
Memorial contributions may be made to High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.