Archived

Pete Carroll
Mr. Henry Perry “Pete” Carroll, 65, of Hickory, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at his residence.
He was born on March 7, 1942 in Watauga County to the late Hiram Carroll and Beulah Hatley Carroll.
Mr. Carroll was a former machine operator with Progressive Furniture.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Bentley Carroll; three daughters, Debra Dunlap and husband, Johnny, of Hickory, Yvonne Vance and husband, Chris, of Morganton, and Leahsa Christian and husband, Greg, of Drexel; two sons, Matthew Carroll and Cody Carroll, both of the home; and also surviving are his beloved babies, Bear, Angel, Katie and Ashley; and one baby who preceded him in death, Gizmo, “his buddy.”
Services will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese. Officiating will be the Rev. Dennis Pitts.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3965 Robinson Rd. Newton, N.C. 28658; to the family, or to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, OH 44720.
An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com.
Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese is in charge of the arrangements.

Barbara Lydia Frantz
Mrs. Barbara Lydia Frantz, 87, of 1638 Lacrosse Road, Ellaville, Ga., died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga.
She was born June 20, 1920 in Hindenburg, Germany, the daughter of Sylvester and Emma Klann. Her family subsequently moved to Breslau in the former German State of Silesia. She was present in Dresiden during the firebombing of that city.
Mrs. Frantz was a retired hairstylist and for many years owned and operated Barbara’s Beauty Salon in Ambler, Pa. She and her husband were married May 22, 1948, in Heidelberg, Germany, where Robert was employed by the U.S. Post Exchange. She was very pretty, intelligent and will always be remembered for her charisma, her effervescent personality and her sparkling light blues. She was truly one of a kind.
Survivors include her husband, Robert A. Frantz.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Klann; her father, Sylvester Klann; and brother, Eberhand Klann.
Mrs. Frantz was cremated and her remains will be interred in the St. Elizabeth Columbarium, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Boone, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Georgia Chapter, Alzheimer’s Association, 1925 Century Blvd., NE Suite 10, Atlanta, GA 30345-3315.
You may sign the online guestbook and share your own special thoughts and memories with Robert A. Frantz by visiting Watson-Giddens Funeral Home’s website at www.watsongiddensfuneralhome.com
Watson-Giddens Funeral Home of Ellaville, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.

Verla Mae Norman Harrison
Mrs. Verla Mae Norman Harrison, 88, 164 John Miller Road, Fleetwood, a former resident of the Boone Fork community, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 13, 2008, at Ashe Memorial Hospital.
She was born Sept. 20, 1919 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Clyde and Cordie McLean Norman.
Mrs. Harrison was a homemaker and a member of Boone Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Bertha Mae Reece of Patterson, Beulah H. Howell and husband, Gene, of Boone, and Georgia H. Pearson and husband, Bill, of Blowing Rock; five sons, Donald Harrison and wife, Sue, and Scott Harrison and wife, Judy, all of Blowing Rock, James Harrison and wife Barbara, of Boone, Billy Harrison and wife, Shirley, of Lakeland, Fla., and David Harrison of Blowing Rock; two brothers, Howard Norman of Lenoir, and Edward Norman of Foscoe; and one sister, Martha Duckworh of Foscoe. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John M. Harrison; two brothers, Eugene and Raleigh Norman; one sister, Gwendolyn Norman; two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, Feb. 15, 2008, 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 the Rev. Carl Osborne. Burial will follow in the Boone Ford Community Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening, from 7:00 until 9:00 o’clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Harrison family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Telford G. Mast
Mr. Telford G. Mast, 53, of 1743 Silverstone Road, Zionville, died Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, 2008, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 27, 1954 in Watauga County, a son of Joan Lawrence Mast and the late Gordon Mast.
Mr. Mast was a self-employed stone mason, and was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Mast is survived by his life partner, Sherrie Brown, of Zionville; one daughter, Andrea Mast of Charlotte; one sister, Anita Mast of Hendersonville; and one brother, Bill Mast of Zionville.
Services were conducted Wednesday evening, Feb. 13, 2008, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. David Ward.
Online condolences may be sent to the Mast family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.


Odenia F. Miller Rowe
Mrs. Odenia F. Miller Rowe, born May 18, 1921 in Vilas, N.C., passed away on Feb. 10, 2008.
She grew up in North Carolina and graduated from Cove Creek High School. Mrs. Rowe moved to California and graduated from Santa Maria College and San Jose State College. She taught in California, Guam and the Philippines.
Survivors include four children; four grandchildren; and sister, Ruth Allred; and many other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Rowe; a brother, J.V. Miller; sisters, Betty Jo Hixon and Mary Jeanette Kovach; brothers-in-law, Harry, Earl and Henry Rowe; and nephew, Jimmy Kovach.
Condolences may be sent to the residence at 4338 North Talmadge Drive, San Diego, CA 92116. Donations may be made to San Diego Hospice care of the same address for the next three weeks.

February 13, 2008
Perry K. Ashley
Mr. Perry K. Ashley, 89, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Sunday evening, Feb. 10, 2008, at Glenbridge Health Care.
He was born June 4, 1918 in Watauga County, a son of the late James C. and Martha Hampton Ashley.
Mr. Ashley served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a retired rock mason. He was a member of Middle Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include three nieces, Shannon Russing of Boone, Martha Brown of California, and Linda Neal of Winston-Salem; seven nephews, Rhett Ashley of Leaburg, Ore., Kermit Ashley of Salisbury, N.C., Kevin Ashley of Tampa, Fla., James Ashley of Montross, Va., Clifford Ashley of Charlotte, Michael Ashley of Toms Creek, Va., and John Engerman of Seattle, Wash.; and his former wife, Ann Burgess of Blowing Rock.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Maude Wheeler, Faye Stitt, Grace Engerman, and Lily Hodges; and three brothers, Neil, Joe, and Allen Ashley.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, Feb. 15, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Middle Fork Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. George Patton. Military graveside rites and burial will follow in the Middle Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock, at the church, prior to the service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the Watauga County Project on Aging, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family has respectfully requested no food.
Online condolences may be sent to the Ashley family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

February 11, 2008
Mr. Robert Earl Fairbrother
Mr. Robert Earl Fairbrother, 79, of Lakewood Road, Wilkesboro, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 18, 1928, in Oakland County, Mich., to Carlton and Eva Mae Ketchum Fairbrother.
Mr. Fairbrother was a self-employed accountant. He was a member of First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He is survived by one daughter, Shirley Kay Johnson of Mesa, Ariz.; one step-daughter, Cassandra Woodhouse of Hampstead, N.C.; one step-son, John D. Simmons of Rockwell, N.C.; one sister, Donna Wilhelm of Grand Blanc, Mich.; and one grandchild, Brian Lanier of Hampstead, N.C.
His wife, Mary Sue Clawson Fairbrother, preceded him in death.
Services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., Feb. 10, 2008, in Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Dr. N. Nelson Granade, Jr. officiating. Burial was in Mount Lawn Memorial Park in Boone.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, P. O. Box 548, North Wilkesboro, N.C. 28659.
On line condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home is in charge of the services.

Agnes Rupard Lowe
Mrs. Agnes Rupard Lowe of Banner Elk, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at Life Care Center of Banner Elk.
She was born a daughter of the late James and Rilla Shook Rupard.
Mrs. Lowe was a member of White Rock Baptist Church. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and making doll dresses. She had worked as a housekeeper and ran the Pinnacle Restaurant in Banner Elk.
Survivors include her two sisters, Margaret Townsend and husband, Dayton, of Banner Elk, and Snow Presswood of Boone; several nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Lowe; four brothers, Clay, Gene, Mack and Tate Rupard; and one sister, Edna Norwood.
Services were held on Saturday Feb. 9, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. in the Grandfather Chapel at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Newland. Rev. Bill Shoupe officiated. Interment followed in the Matney Cemetery.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.rsfh.net.
Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland is serving the Lowe family.

James Clyde ‘J.C.’ Moretz Sr.
Mr. James Clyde “J.C.” Moretz, Sr., 76, of North Pine Run Road, Boone, died Thursday morning, Feb. 7, 2008, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born in Watauga County, June 2, 1931, a son of the late Raleigh and Pearl Dotson Moretz.
Mr. Moretz was a retired truck driver and a member of Rutherwood Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Louise Greer Moretz; five sons, Tim Moretz and wife,Sandra, and David Moretz and wife, Rebecca, of Boone; Gary Moretz and wife, Donna, of Vilas; Dennis Moretz and wife, Penny, of Claremont; and James Moretz, Jr. and wife, Tee, of Fayetteville; two granddaughters, Michelle Moretz and Jennifer Moretz; three grandsons, Shane Moretz, Jason Moretz and Jeremy Moretz and wife, Alisha; one great-granddaughter, Jasmine Moretz; and one sister; Genevieve Critcher and husband, Edward, of Boone.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Mark Moretz; one sister, Glenna Mae Templeton; and one brother, R. H. Moretz.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Feb. 9, 2008, at 2 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gary Lawrence and the Rev. Herbert McCoy officiating. Burial followed at the Rutherwood Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Rutherwood Baptist Church Building Fund, 142 Don Hayes Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
On line condolences may be sent to the Moretz family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Moretz family.

Mary Dyer Presnell
Ms. Mary Dyer Presnell, 61, of Hickory, N.C., died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 at Brian Center of Hickory.
She was born on Oct. 25, 1946 in Watauga County, the daughter of the late John Henry Dyer and Bertha Harmon Dyer. Ms. Presnell was a member of Temple Hill Baptist Church in Granite Falls, N.C.
She is survived by her daughter, Wanda Silcox and her fiancé, John Huggins, of Hickory; son, Johnny Presnell and his wife, Linh Huynh, of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Stephanie Silcox and Joshua Presnell; sisters, Jean Nolan and Ruth Terry, both of Orlando, Fla.; brothers, Mack Dyer and his fiancé, Frances Crawford, of Hickory, and Bobby Dyer and his wife, Janelle, of Hudson; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Church; brothers, Tommy Dyer and Edward Dyer; and nephew, Daniel Dyer.
A service of remembrance was held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008 at Temple-Hill Baptist Church in Granite Falls, N.C. with the Rev. Darrell Hatchell officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in the Danner Cemetery in Vilas, N.C.
Memorials may be made to Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, N.C. 28658 or to the American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Rd., Suite 200, Charlotte, N.C. 28210. Drum Funeral Home and Cremations in Hickory, N.C., are in charge of the arrangements.

Harvey D. Webber
Sergeant/Major Harvey D. "Chuck" Webber, U.S. Army Retired, 78, of 168 Hodges Valley Road, Boone, died Wednesday evening, Feb. 6, 2008, at his home.
He was born Feb. 19, 1929 in Albion, N.Y., a son of the late Fred Webber and Mattie Grace Pardy Webber Fetty.
Sergeant/Major Webber served 30 years and 27 days with the U.S. Army, where he had one tour of duty in Korea, two tours of duty in Vietnam, one tour of duty in Germany, and one tour of duty in the Dominican Republic. He was stationed on several bases in the United States, with most time spent at Fort Bragg, N.C. with the 82nd Airborne. He received many medals, including three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. After retiring from the military, he was an officer with the Appalachian State University Police Department for 17 years, and was the rifle team coach for A.S.U. and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. He was a Mason and a Shriner, and attended Westview Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Wilma Presnell Webber; one daughter, Shirley Beck and husband, Steve, of Boone; two sons, Charles Webber and wife, Susan, of Nebo, N.C., and David Webber and friend, Jamie Peckham, of Raleigh; four granddaughters, Loren Ballard and husband, Brent, of San Diego, Calif., Cheryl Lynn Beck of Lenoir, Kristin Jones and Katelyn Jones, both of Richmond, Ky.; one great-grandson, Alex Ballard of San Diego; one step-grandson, Josh Moore of Raleigh; and one brother, LaVern Weber and wife, Lois, of Lockport, N.Y. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Ruby Webber Jones; one sister, Isabell Schad; and three brothers, Harold Hallett, Herman Weber, and Edward Weber.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, 2008, at Westview Baptist Church. Officiating was the Rev. Zane Tester. Military graveside rites and burial were conducted Monday, at the Western Carolina State & Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners, PO Box 560666, Charlotte, N.C., or to High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Webber family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.