July 30, 2008
J.M. Critcher
Mr. J.M. Critcher, 82, of Linville Land Harbor, Linville, died Sunday, July 27, 2008, at Johnson City Medical Center.
He was born April 28, 1926 in Watauga County, a son of the late Cecil and Virginia Teague Critcher.
Mr. Critcher was a retired electrician for Pan American Airlines and was a realtor in Islamorada, Fla. for 17 years. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Gordon Critcher; one sister-in-law, Ruby Maddox of Colombus, Ga.; and one aunt, Hazel Aldridge of Boone. He is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, two special cousins, Bradley Teague and Cecil Aldridge, both of Boone; and a special niece, Lynn Pitts of Cordele, Ga.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Russell Critcher; one daughter, Sandra Critcher; his father and mother, Cecil and Virginia Teague Critcher; and one brother, Ray Critcher.
Services will be conducted Wednesday morning, July 30, 2008, at11:00 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. Richard Holshouser. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, July 29, 2008, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Critcher family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Annie Lou Wilson Stewart
Mrs. Annie Lou Wilson Stewart, 91, of Boone, formerly of Brushy Fork Road in Ashe, died Friday, July 25, 2008 at Watauga Medical Center in Boone.
She was born in Mountain City, Tenn., on June 11, 1917 to the late Alex and Margaret Barlow Wilson.
Survivors include one son, Ronald Stewart and wife, Lois, of Boone; one daughter, Anita Stewart of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Kathleen Estepp of Atlanta, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ermond Ray Stewart.
Graveside services were held on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Ricky Mitchell officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Green Valley Methodist Church, 785 West Brushy Fork Rd, Creston, N.C. 28615.
You may view and send your condolences to the family through our website www.badgerfuneralhome.com.
Badger Funeral Home of West Jefferson was entrusted with these arrangements.

July 28, 2008
Clara Hartsog Graybeal
Mrs. Clara Hartsog Graybeal, 93, the widow of Rufus Bruce Graybeal, of Creston, passed away on Wednesday morning, July 23, 2008, at her daughter’s residence.
She was born in Ashe County, Sept. 27, 1914, to the late Fieldon Commodore Hartsog and Bertha Rosetta Shepherd Hartsog.
Mrs. Graybeal worked many years as a cook in the cafeteria at Riverview Elementary School. She was a member of Big Laurel Church of Christ in Christian Union, where she was a former Sunday school teacher. She loved spending time with her family, grandchildren and her church family. She enjoyed gardening and quilting.
Survivors include two sons, Rev. Darrell Graybeal and wife, Mildred, of Creston and Thomas Graybeal and wife, Loyce, of Boone; three daughters, Glenda Allen and husband, Sidney, of Creston, Frances Farmer of Creston and Joyce Walter and husband, Franklin, of Snow Camp, N.C.; a sister, Belle Roten of Creston; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Big Laurel Church of Christ in Christian Union Church with the Rev. Dan Hess officiating. Burial followed in the Ashelawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
You may give the family your condolences at our website www.boonefuneralhome.com.
Boone Family Funeral Home of West Jefferson is in charge of the arrangements.

Doug G. Hodges
Mr. Doug G. Hodges, 56, of 906 Lost Ridge Trail, Vilas, died Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born on Sept. 17, 1951, in Avery County, a son of Mary Miller Hodges and the late Mack M. Hodges.
Mr. Hodges was a supervisor for Greens Construction Company and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Miller Hodges of Charlotte; three sisters, Wanda H. Murphy and husband, Van, of Charlotte, Brenda Goodin of Columbia, Tenn., and Joyce Ann Hodges of Charlotte; two brothers, James "Willie" Hodges and wife, Patricia, of Vilas, and Jerry Hodges and wife, Barbara, of Morganton. He is also survived by one aunt, one uncle, and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Mack M. Hodges; and two brothers, Terry and Russell Hodges.
A graveside service and burial was conducted Saturday morning July 26, 2008, 11:00 o'clock at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Officiating was the Rev. Carl Johnson, the Rev. Delmar James, and the Rev. Eugene Braswell.
Memorial contributions may be made to Watauga Medical Center Kidney Dialysis Center, P.O. Box 2600, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hodges family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Jack Ray Hodges Sr.
Mr. Jack Ray Hodges, Sr., 78, of Connelly Springs, passed away at his residence on July 23, 2008.
He was born March 16, 1930 in Avery County, the son of the late Ira M. and Carrie Bailiff Hodges.
Mr. Hodges served in the U.S. Air Force and was a dedicated educator with the Burke County Public School for 30 years. He was a faithful Christian and served as a Sunday School teacher and deacon.
Survivors include his loving wife of 53 years, Betty Townsend Hodges; sons, Jack Ray Hodges, Jr. and wife, Cynthia, of Hildebran, Andy Joel Hodges and wife, Kristine, of Valdese, and Jeremy Lewis Hodges and wife, Angie, of Winston-Salem; daughters, Kimberly H. Oliver and husband, Andy, of Shelby and Ann-Marie Smith of Hildebran; brother, Pat Hodges of Banner Elk; sisters, Mabel Smith of Maryland and Audrey Fender of Alabama; grandchildren, Ally Kennedy Hodges, Ben Oliver, Aaron Oliver, Ethan Oliver, Rhyan and Kara Causby, Hannah Causby, Haley Smith, Madison and Molly Smith, Jonathan Hodges, Matthew Hodges, Daniel and Allyson Hodges, Joshua Hodges, Lydia Hodges; and great-granddaughter, Braelynn Hodges.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Rondal Hodges and Floyd Hodges; sisters, Wilma Carver, Opal Triplett and Betty Calvert.
The celebration of life service was held on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Mountain View Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Worley and Dr. Todd Smith officiating.
Burial followed at Catawba Memorial Park. Military honors were provided by American Legion Post #48 of Hickory. Mr. Hodges’ grandsons acted as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to Burke Palliative CareCenter and Hospice, PO Box 1029, Valdese, N.C. 28690 or Frye Regional Medical Center.
On-line condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com. Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremations are providing professional services to the Hodges Family.

Ervin Keith Lewis
Mr. Ervin Keith Lewis, 48, of Trade, Tenn., passed away Friday, July 25, 2008, at Johnson County Community Hospital.
He was born on August 13, 1959 in Johnson County, to Shirley Crosswhite Lewis and the late Deck Lewis.
Mr. Lewis loved music, race cars, racing, being at the lake and water skiing. He also liked working on airplanes.
Survivors include two daughters, Heather Lewis of Newland, N.C. and Crystal Blevins of Virginia; mother, Shirley Crosswhite Brown; brothers, Darrell Lewis and wife, Marilee, of Boone and Aaron Brown and wife, Tammy, of Butler; nieces, Holly, Heaven and Hannah Brown; nephew, Mitchell Lewis and wife, Amy; aunts, uncles and cousins; and special friend, Alice Edwards.
In addition to his father, Ervin was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sherman and Nellie Crosswhite and Delbert and Ann Lewis; uncles, George Price and Floyd Potter; aunt, Marjorie and Ed Horne; and cousin, Robin Price.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sherman and Nellie Crosswhite and Delbert and Ann Lewis; uncles, George Price and Floyd Potter; aunt, Marjorie and Ed Horne; and cousin, Robin Price
The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Monday, July 28, 2008 at Mountain City Funeral Home with the memorial service to follow at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Jody Almond officiating.
The family will also receive friends at the home of his mother, 257 Highway 67 N, Trade.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Johnson County Rescue Squad, 203 Vandilla St., Mountain City, Tenn. 37683 or Trade Volunteer Fire Dept., c/o Paul Stout, P. O. Box 35, Trade, Tenn. 37691.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
Mountain City Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Rosemary Miller Watson
Mrs. Rosemary Miller Watson, 91, of 216 Linda Drive, Archdale, a native and former resident of Deep Gap, died Saturday morning, July 26, 2008, at High Point Regional Hospital.
She was born on May 11, 1917, in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Mary Hampton Miller.
Mrs. Watson retired from IRC/TRW as an inspector, and was a member of Sophia Baptist Church in Sophia, N.C.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Watson and Richard Gardner of Lexington; three sons, Johnny Watson and wife, Linda Gail, of Lexington, Joe B. Watson and wife, Roxyanne, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Jimmy Watson and Shirley Hage of Archdale; three granddaughters, Robin Payne of Florence, S.C., Kendell McCrary of Lexington, and Amy Wright of Greensboro; seven grandsons, Rusty Watson of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Mark Watson of Charlotte, Jay Watson of Lexington, Matthew Watson of Denton, Earl Watson of Lexington, Dale Parsons of Burlington, and Jason Boles of Archdale; three brother-in-laws, Hobert Watson and wife, Jewell, of Vilas, Herbert Watson of Fleetwood, and Arlon Miller of Statesville; two sister-in-laws, Ella Mae Cheek of Glenrock, Pa., and Hazel Cheek of Lenoir. She was also survived by 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vandell Watson; one daughter, Ann Marie Parsons; one son, Jerry Dean Watson; her father and mother, Benjamin and Mary Hampton Miller; one sister; and two brothers.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, July 28, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Laurel Springs Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Brent Bolick and the Rev. Bill Barnes. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
Online condolences may be sent to the Watson family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.