Archived

Velma Hatten Downs
Mrs. Velma Hatten Downs, 99, of Chestnut Drive in Blowing Rock, and formerly of Payne Branch Road, died Monday morning, March 17, 2008 at the Davant Extended Care Facility.
She was born in Watauga County, Feb. 22, 1909, a daughter of the late Ulysses and Sally McGee Hatten.
Mrs. Downs was a homemaker and a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son, Scott Gragg of Blowing Rock; one sister, Dorothy Norris and husband, Ralph, of Boone; two granddaughters; Judy Phillips of Boone and Sharon Downs-Snow of Kernersville; four grandsons, Jimmy Downs of New York, David Downs of High Shoals, Danny Downs of Charlotte, and Tommy Roach of Lexington; five great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Tsuneko Downs of Boone.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Downs; two daughters, Betty Ruth Downs and Ruby Roach; two sons, J. C. and Bill Downs; four sisters, Gladys Auton, Myrtie Andrews, Ellie Andrews, and Mary Hatten; and two brothers, Don and Charlie Hatten.
Services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Max West. Burial followed in the Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Post Office Box 1532, Boone, N.C. 28607.
On line condolences may be made to the Downs family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Downs family.

William Roy Grogan
Mr. William Roy Grogan, 86, of 1879 Ball Branch Road, Boone, died Monday evening, March 17, 2008, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 18, 1921 in Ashe County, a son of the late William and Julie Black Grogan.
Mr. Grogan was a retired farmer.
Survivors include one sister, Agnes Bryan of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia "Jenny" Howell Grogan; six brothers, Leonard, Raymond, Sidney, Norman, Verna, and John Grogan; and two sisters, Winnie Edwards, and Bertha Bland.
Services were conducted Wednesday evening, March 19, 2008, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Delmar James. Burial followed in Signal Hill Memorial Park in Hanover, Va.
Online condolences may be sent to the Grogan family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Glenn Allen Isaacs
Mr. Glenn Allen Isaacs, 62, of 740 Patton Ridge Road, Deep Gap, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
He was born May 23, 1945, in Watauga County, a son of Clida Courms Isaacs and the late Grover Isaacs.
Mr. Isaacs was a retired heavy equipment operator for Daves Grading in Salisbury. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include one daughter, Kathy Isaacs Bumgarner and husband, James, of Deep Gap; one son, Ricky Isaacs and wife, Kimberly, of Lansing; three granddaughters, Jessica Isaacs of Tampa, Fla., Kendra Isaacs of Lansing, and Angelica Bumgarner of Deep Gap; two grandsons, Christopher Seatz of Fleetwood, and Richard Isaacs of Lansing; one step-granddaughter, Amber Carlisle of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his mother, Clida C. Isaacs of Boone; two sisters, Martha Parks of Kernersville, and Betty Clawson and husband, Robert, of Morganton; two brothers, James C. Isaacs and wife, Barbara, of North Wilkesboro, and William G. Isaacs and wife, Debbie, of Hickory. He is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna Trivette Isaacs; his father, Grover Cleveland Isaacs; and one infant brother, L.C. Isaacs.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon, March 21, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Paul Coffey and the Rev. Nathan Caparolie officiating. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 12:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Burial will follow in the Watson Cemetery in Deep Gap.
The family will receive friends Friday afternoon, from 12:00 until 2:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Glenn Allen Isaacs Family, in care of Kathy Bumgarner, 4573 Patton Ridge Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Online condolences may be sent to the Isaacs family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Henry Clay Pennell
Mr. Henry Clay Pennell, 96, of 356 Hill Road, Zionville, died Monday morning, March 17, 2008, at Glenbridge Health Care.
He was born May 22, 1911 in Watauga County, a son of the late Larkin and Emma Lawrence Pennell.
Mr. Pennell was a retired self-employed carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Pearl Greer Pennell; three daughters, Geneva Stinson and husband, George, of Lake Alfred, Fla., Betty Dancy and husband, Frank, of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Judy Blake and husband, Jack, of Bassett, Va.; three sons, George Pennell and wife, Patsy, of Boone, Lawrence Pennell and wife, Janine, of Canyon Lake, Calif., and Eugene Pennell of Zionville; one sister, Mary Alice Isaacs and husband, Dean, of Zionville; and two brothers, Max Gardner Pennell and wife, Charlotte, of Jefferson, and Johnny Pennell and wife, Irma, of Boone. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Blanche Trivette; five sisters; and two brothers.
Services were conducted Thursday evening, March 20, 2008, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Gordon Noble. Graveside services and burial were conducted Friday morning, at Zionville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the Pennell family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

March 19, 2008
Velma Hatten Downs
Mrs. Velma Hatten Downs, 99, of Chestnut Drive in Blowing Rock, and formerly of Payne Branch Road, died Monday morning, March 17, 2008 at the Davant Extended Care Facility.
She was born in Watauga County, Feb. 22, 1909, a daughter of the late Ulysses and Sally McGee Hatten.
Mrs. Downs was a homemaker and a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son, Scott Gragg of Blowing Rock; one sister, Dorothy Norris and husband, Ralph, of Boone; two granddaughters; Judy Phillips of Boone and Sharon Downs-Snow of Kernersville; four grandsons, Jimmy Downs of New York, David Downs of High Shoals, Danny Downs of Charlotte, and Tommy Roach of Lexington; five great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Tsuneko Downs of Boone.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Downs; two daughters, Betty Ruth Downs and Ruby Roach; two sons, J. C. and Bill Downs; four sisters, Gladys Auton, Myrtie Andrews, Ellie Andrews, and Mary Hatten; and two brothers, Don and Charlie Hatten.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be the Rev. Max West. Burial will follow in the Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Post Office Box 1532, Boone, N.C. 28607. The family respectfully requests no food.
The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon prior to the service from 1 until 2 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
On line condolences may be made to the Downs family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Downs family.

Zebulon Vance ‘Zeb’ Shook
Mr. Zebulon Vance “Zeb” Shook, 87, of Russell Drive, Boone, died Sunday morning, March 16, 2008.
He was born Dec. 1, 1920 in the Matney community to Ruth Michael Shook and the late Hoyle Hayes Shook.
Mr. Shook served in the U.S. Army 27th Field Artillery Battalion during World War II and was a member of the 1st Armored Division Association and the Anzio Beachhead Veterans Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Boone. A retired Associate Professor from ASU as Acquisition Librarian, he was a member of the American Association of University Professors, listed in Who’s Who in Library Science and American Education. Mr. Shook was a co-founder of the Appalachian Room Historical Museum and the Appalachian Oral History Program. He was a member of the Ruffed Grouse Association.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary Stevenson Shook; two daughters, Tanya Shook Wilder of Marietta, Ohio and Myra Shook of Richmond, Va.; two grandchildren, Samuel Wilder of Boone and Eliza Wilder of Marietta, Ohio; his mother, Ruth Michael Shook of Banner Elk; five sisters, Mildred Smith and husband, Hade, of Banner Elk, Pauline North of Atlanta, Ga., Audrey Rominger of Boone, Linda Orr and husband, Kenneth, of Charlotte, and Joyce Wilson and husband, Kenneth, of Silver Springs, Md.; and three brothers, Rhonda Shook and wife, Gertrude, of Millersville, Md., Bradley Shook and wife, Mabel, of Banner Elk, and Errol Shook and wife, Pat, of Boone. He is also survived by his extended family, many close friends, and caretakers, Ashley Hampton, Pansy and Wilson Blevins and Bessie Mae Hicks.
Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock at White Rock Baptist Church Cemetery, Pigeon Roost Road, the Matney community. Officiating will be Dr. Ron Bowie.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, Fla. 33136-1494.
Online condolences may be made to the Shook family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Shook family.

Jennie Dair Townsend
Mrs. Jennie Dair Townsend, 94, of County Home Road, Conover, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2008, at Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, after a period of declining health for several years.
She was born Jan. 5, 1914, in Watauga County, the daughter of the late Monroe and Fannie Townsend.
Mrs. Townsend was a member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church and retired from Newton Glove.
Survivors include three brothers, Raymond Townsend and Edward Townsend, both of Hickory, and Truman Townsend of Wilson; two sisters, Clara Townsend and Margie Townsend, both of Conover; a grandson, Darrel Townsend; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Dale Townsend; a granddaughter, Cindy Townsend; and 11 brothers and sisters.
Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church with Dr. David M. Seymour officiating. The body will lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
The family received friends Tuesday, March 18, from 7- 8:30 p.m. at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be sent to Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 4420 County Home Rd., Conover, N.C. 28613.
Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lee William Ward
Mr. Lee William Ward, 88, of Woods Drive, Granite Falls, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at his residence.
He was born August 11, 1919, in Watauga County, to the late John Wylie Ward and Ellen Smitherman Ward.
Mr. Ward was a member of Concord Baptist Church and a charter member of the Lovelady Rescue Squad. He was a United States Army Air Corp veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Maude Dishman Ward; a son, David Lee Ward and wife, Mitzi, of Granite Falls; a daughter, Karen W. Farthing and husband, Mike, of Sugar Grove, N.C.; two brothers, Donald Ward of Johnson City, Tenn., Gene Ward of Sugar Grove, N.C.; one sister, Hazel Alspaugh of Winston-Salem, N.C.; three grandchildren, Jenna Ward of Granite Falls, Josh Brown and wife, Shannon, and Mathew Brown of Gastonia; two great-grandchildren, Devin Brown and Jarred Brown.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.
A graveside service was held on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Sunset Hills Cemetery, Granite Falls with the Rev. Tom McDonald officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Concord Baptist Church Building Fund, 74 Falls Ave., Granite Falls, N.C. 28630.
Bass-Smith Granite Funeral Service is serving the Lee William Ward family.

March 17, 2008
Martha D. Gallo
Mrs. Martha D. Gallo passed away at the age of 75 on Feb. 27, 2008 at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, Calif., following a lengthy illness.
She was born in Schenectady, N.Y., to Andries and Martha Smit. She lived in Toledo, Ohio, and Saint Johnsbury, Vermont before moving to Pleasanton in 1973.
Martha adored her grandchildren, and loved each of them deeply, enjoying the times they would come and stay with her. She also enjoyed gardening and traveling.
She met William in the Military where he was an Air Traffic Controller and Martha was a teletype repair person in the Air Force. She made a home for her husband and children, and then continued her education after the military and received her BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Toledo.
She and William were extensive travelers, camping across the USA, and visiting Egypt, France and Israel. She was fluent in French, and spoke Dutch as well. Martha enrolled in St. Georges College in Israel, pursuing her fascination with the history of that part of the world.
Mrs. Gallo greatly enjoyed her annual visits with her brother Jake in Boone, N.C. She maintained a deep attachment and involvement with Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Boone. Pastor Tim Smith traveled to Pleasanton to preside over Martha’s service.
She was a caring wife and loving mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her brother, Jacob Smit, and his wife, Norma, of Boone, N.C.; and by her three sons and their families: William D. and Lisa Gallo and their children, Chelsea, Talia, and Sam; Andrew C. and Cheryl Gallo and their children, Chris, Joe and Melissa; and Jeffrey S. and Tammie Gallo and their children, Jeremy, Tera, and Seth.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Gallo.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, March 5 at 12:00 p.m. followed by services at 1:00 p.m. at Graham-Hitch Mortuary, 4167 First St., Pleasanton, Calif. Burial followed at Memory Gardens, 3873 East Avenue, Livermore, Calif.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Boone, N.C.
Remembrances may be made to Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, Calif., or to the Grace Evangelical Church Pastor’s Discretionary Fund in Boone, N.C.

Louise Ragan Gragg
Mrs. Louise Ragan Gragg, 93, of Catawba Terrace, Lenoir, passed away Friday, March 14, 2008 at her residence.
She was born in Watauga County to the late Frank Ragan and Nancy Lookabill Ragan.
Mrs. Gragg was a homemaker and a member of Friendship Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Ann Whisenant of Lenoir, Peggy Calloway and husband, Dean, of Hudson and Kay Caudle and husband, David, of Lenoir; a brother, Kenneth Ragan and his wife, Violet, of Boone; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Olin Darrell Gragg; a son, Kenneth Gragg; seven brothers; and five sisters.
A graveside service was held Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Wayne Caviness officiating.
Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Online condolences may be placed at www.mem.com
Pendry’s Funeral Home is serving the Gragg family.

Everett Marshall Harmon
Mr. Everett Marshall Harmon, 95, of Laurel Bloomery, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at his residence.
He was born on March 29, 1912 in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, to the late Thadus and Florence Tester Harmon.
Mr. Harmon liked to farm, his garden and sharing his vegetables. He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a school bus driver and had worked in Oak Ridge. Mr. Harmon was a charter member and Deacon at Mountain View Baptist Church and was a Deacon at Sugar Grove Baptist Church before becoming a member of State Line Baptist Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Sylvia Carolyn Ray and husband, Bruce, of Laurel Bloomery; two sisters, Anna Mae Goble of Hickory, N.C. and Margaret Harmon of Thomasville, N.C.; two brothers, Clint Harmon of Lenoir, N.C. and Claude Harmon of Randleman, N.C.; great-granddaughter, Abigail Ray; several nieces and nephews; and special friend, Roger Morefield.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvania Stanbery Harmon; three sisters, Helen Glenn, Maude Harmon and Mary Harmon; three brothers, Carl, Paul and Grover Harmon; grandson, Gregory Ray; and his great-grandson, Adam Ray.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, March 15, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Mountain City Funeral with Pastor Derl McCloud and Pastor Steve Spratlin officiating. Burial followed in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers were Gale Glenn, Bobby Harmon, Clyde Harmon, Dale Harmon, Van Neely and Malcolm Howard. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Morefield, Ralph Morefield, J. D. Blevins, Max Blevins, Harold Wilcox, Derrell Gentry, Steve Lewis, Gary Lewis, Mike Lewis and Jim Lewis.
Those who wish, may send memorial contributions to State Line Baptist Church, Mission Fund, 3409 Sugar Creek Road, Laurel Bloomery, TN 37680.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
Mountain City Funeral Home is serving the Harmon family.

Robert Lee Phillips
Mr. Robert Lee Phillips, 70, of 147 Roberts Drive, Boone, died Thursday night, March 13, 2008, at his home.
He was born on March 1, 1938 to Charlie and Hazel Belle Main Phillips in Ashe County.
Mr. Phillips was self-employed as a painter and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include one son, Roger L. Phillips and wife, Valerie; one grandson, Brandon Phillips; one step-grandson, Brad Norvell and wife, Erica, all of Boone; a step-granddaughter, Emily Norvell of Lumberton; three sisters, Linda Seatz, Virginia Mosuly and Sue Culbreth; five brothers, Fred Phillips, Tom Phillips, Glen Phillips, Earl Phillips and Leroy Phillips; and a number of sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws. He is also survived by five step-great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Miller Phillips; an infant daughter, Anita Phillips; and his parents, Charlie and Hazel Belle Main Phillips.
Services were conducted Sunday evening, March 16, 2008, at 7:00 o'clock at the Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Pastor Bruce Miller. A graveside service and burial was held Monday morning at 10:00 o'clock at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Valley Cemetery Fund, in care of Muriel Winebarger, 2547 Meat Camp Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.