Archived

Dr. Thomas H. Brigham
Dr. Thomas H. Brigham of Birmingham, Ala., died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 at the age of 83.
In his early career, he was a dentist and professor at the UAB School of Dentistry, as well as served as State Chairman of the Republican Party of Alabama in 1963 and 1964. He was also known as “The Father of Southern Skiing “for pioneering the development of Beech and Sugar Mountain in North Carolina and Snowshoe in West Virginia.
He was truly a Renaissance man and visionary developer. Dr. Brigham loved the outdoors, skiing, fly fishing, painting, and golfing. He was also passionate about creating and developing ski slopes, homes, and lifestyles in the recreational arena. He was extremely proud of the economic tax base that the resort and recreational industry provided through new opportunities and jobs for the people in the Appalachian Mountain regions.
Dr. Brigham loved the fellowship of his faithful golf buddies that became such an important part of his life the past 10 years. Most of all, he passionately loved the Lord and his family. He came to Faith in Christ late in his life, but it became the cornerstone of who he was. His devotion to his beautiful wife Marye, his children, and his grandchildren was truly a magnificent thing to see. He was a great husband, father, and friend, and will be dearly missed.
Dr. Brigham is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marye Willett Brigham; sons, Thomas H. Brigham, Jr. (Cecile), and Peter W. S. Brigham (Darlene); daughter, Anne Brigham Pace; and his grandchildren, Thomas Hindley Brigham, III, Grant McNeill Brigham, Cecile Gray Pitkanen (Benton), Claiborne Pace Day (Jordan), Sarah Meade Pace, Andrew Duncan Pace, Thomas Wilson Pace, John Peter Brigham, Patrick Taylor Brigham, Lauren Cameron Brigham, and Elizabeth Marye Brigham.
A memorial service was held Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3207 Montevallo Road, with the Rev. John Richardson officiating.
The family is requesting memorials be directed to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, or The Ugandan American Partnership Organization, P.O. Box 1243 Decatur, GA 30031.
Services were under the direction of Ridout’s Valley Chapel.

Barbara Ann Winebarger Reece
Mrs. Barbara Ann Winebarger Reece, 73, of Ray Brown Road, Boone, went to be with the Lord, Monday morning, Dec. 1, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Teresa Starnes.
She was born Nov. 15, 1935, in Watauga County, a daughter of Lucy Grace Greene Winebarger and the late Albert Winebarger.
Mrs. Reece was a member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, and was a retired machine operator for TT Electronics, where she worked for 40 years and four months.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by three daughters, Teresa Starnes and husband, Wayne, Rebecca Todd, all of Boone, and Sherry Price and husband, Will, of Zionville; one grandson, Daniel Todd of Boone; five granddaughters, Chasity Proffit and husband, T. J., Nicole Garwood and husband, Will, Tiffany Carter and husband, David, Chelsey Greene and husband, Ryan, all of Boone, and Haylie Price of Zionville; three sisters; Helen Bledsoe and husband, Johnny, of Mocksville, Mary Sue Winebarger of Boone, Rachel Townsend and husband, Dana, of Lenoir; four brothers, Junior Winebarger of Lenoir, John Winebarger and wife, Muriel, of Boone, Jerry Winebarger and wife, Barbara, of Lenoir, and Steve Winebarger and wife, Violet, of Boone; five great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Reece; her father, Albert Winebarger; one brother, Joe Winebarger; her maternal grandparents, Richard and Belle Greene; and her paternal grandparents, William and Maude Winebarger.
Services were conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating were the Rev. Edwin McKinney and the Rev. Allan Marsh. Burial followed in the Hopewell United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family would like to say a very special thank you to Rev. Edwin McKinney of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be made to the Reece family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Reece family.

James Eggers Wilson
Mr. James Eggers Wilson, 75, of Adams Cemetery Road, Vilas, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 2, 2008, at the Blowing Rock Hospital.
He was born August 8, 1933 in Watauga County, a son of the late Luther Alexander and Ina Eggers Wilson.
Mr. Wilson’s education was in the Bethel Schools. He was retired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Boone and was a member of Cove Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lennis Brown Wilson of Vilas; seven sisters, Dare Harrison, Martha Moody and husband, Joe, Jean Collins and husband, Bob, all of Boone; Ella Mae Tester of Colfax, Betty James and husband, Doyle of Vilas, Mary Hodges and husband, Jack, of Mountain City, Tenn., and Ruth Fry and husband, Don, of Lockport, N.Y. He is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Lavola and Lynn Isaacs of Vilas; and one niece and ten nephews.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Max Gessner. The family will receive friends Friday afternoon from 12:30 until 2 o’clock, prior to services, at the funeral home. Entombment will follow in the Rose Chapel II Mausoleum at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
The family will be at the home of Lynn and Lavola Isaacs, 419 Fletcher Branch Road, Vilas.
Memorials may be made to the Wilson family in care of Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Wilson family.

December 3, 2008
Teddy Allen Brown
Mr. Teddy Allen Brown, 60, of Bub Teems Road, Boone, died Thursday morning, Nov. 27, 2008 at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 21, 1947 in Watauga County to Virginia Elizabeth Norris Brown and the late William Roby Brown.
Mr. Brown was a member of Howard’s Creek Baptist Church and a 32 Degree Mason at Snow Lodge #363 AF& AM as well as a Shriner and a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite. He served as the Director of the Weatherization Program with WAMY Community Action for several years. From there he went to work with the Boone Housing Authority and became one of the top Rehabilitation Specialists with the State of North Carolina. Ted took pride in his work and touched the lives of many people during his lifetime.
Survivors include his mother, Virginia Norris Brown; one brother, Terry Brown; his soul-mate, Dorinda Moretz; and two nephews, Garrett and Ryan McGuire, all of Boone.
Services with Masonic Rites will be conducted Thursday evening at 7 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Richard Holshouser. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5 until 7 o’clock, prior to services, at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at the home of Mrs. Virginia Brown, Bub Teems Road in Boone.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, in care of Randy Vines, 1005 George Wilson Road, Boone, N.C., or to the Watauga Humane Society, 200 Casey Lane, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Brown family.

December 1, 2008

Mr. Jack D. Byrd

Mr. Jack D. Byrd, 66, of 213 Justus Road, Banner Elk, died Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 26, 2008, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
He was born Dec. 5, 1941 in Watauga County, a son of the late Claude Marvin Byrd and Edna Harmon Byrd.
Mr. Byrd was a retired custodian for Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Reece Byrd; one son, Phil, of Albemarle; one daughter, Tina, of Mooresville; one grandson, Adam, of Deep Gap; one sister, Barbara Byrd Murray of Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother, Johnny Byrd and wife, Mae, of Clarks Creek; one sister-in-law, Marie Aldridge and husband, Jerry, of Foscoe; and two brothers-in-law, Forrest Reece and wife, Jane, of Valle Crucis, and Ray Reece of Vilas. He is also survived by three nieces and three nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Haywood Murray.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, Nov. 29, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Dr. Larry Campbell. Burial followed in the Byrd Family Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Byrd Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Rose Edna Thomas, 1159 North Fork Road, Zionville, N.C. 28698.
Online condolences may be sent to the Byrd family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Marilyn Heiges Diehl
Mrs. Marilyn Heiges Diehl, 75, of 910 Charter Hills Road, Beech Mountain, died Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 2008, at her home.
She was born April 14, 1933 in Harrisburg, Pa., a daughter of the late John Lincoln Heiges and Helen Louise Baker Heiges.
Mrs. Diehl was a retired secretary for the Broward County School System in Plantation, Florida.
Survivors include her husband, Fred P. Diehl; two daughters, Susan Knepka and husband, Bernie, of Beech Mountain, and Deborah Pothmann and husband, Sven, of Hollywood, Fla.; one son, Bradford L. Diehl and wife, Chris, of Burns, Tenn.; one granddaughter, Melanie Diehl of Hollywood, Fla.; five grandsons, Branden Diehl, Phillip Diehl, Richie Diehl, Devon Pothmann, and Arron Pothmann, all of Orlando, Fla.; and one sister, Bonnie Bowman and husband, Allan, of Fort Wayne, Ind. She is also survived by a number of great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be sent to the Diehl family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Milda Leyasmeyer
Mrs. Milda Leyasmeyer, 96, of 418 Chestnut Drive, Blowing Rock, died Friday morning, Nov. 28, 2008, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
She was born Feb. 1, 1912 in Priekule, Latvia, a daughter of the late Matis and Bille Bradovskis Zakovics.
Mrs. Leyasmeyer was a homemaker and a member of Greenway Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Dr. Archibald I. Leyasmeyer and his wife, Dr. Edith Leyasmeyer, of Hastings, Minn.; a daughter-in-law, Hege Leyasmeyer of Lexington, Mass.; one grandson, Nathan P. Sutton of Arlington, Va.; two granddaughters, Lena Leyasmeyer and Lilly Leyasmeyer, both of Lexington, Mass.; and one brother, Maksis Zakovics of Latvia.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Karlis Leyasmeyer; one daughter, Ilga M. Sutton; one son, Teofils K. Leyasmeyer; and a son-in-law, Dr. Reverend Richard D. Sutton.
Services will be conducted Monday morning, Dec. 1, 2008, 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 Dr. David Luster. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family will receive friends Monday morning, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Greenway Baptist Church, 880 Greenway Road, Boone, N.C. 28607; Watauga County Project on Aging, 132 Poplar Grove Road Connector, Boone, N.C. 28607; Watauga County Meals on Wheels, 132 Poplar Grove Road Connector, Boone, N.C. 28607; 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 Leyasmeyer family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Alice Reninger McLean
Mrs. Mary Alice Reninger McLean, 62, of Possum Hollow Road, Blowing Rock, died Saturday morning, Nov. 29, 2008 at the Blowing Rock Hospital.
She was born August 3, 1946 in Alleghany County to William Francis and Virginia Dare Miller Reninger.
Mrs. McLean was a member of the First Independent Baptist Church of Blowing Rock. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Arlon J. McLean of Black Mountain; one daughter, Christie McLean of Blowing Rock; her brother, Ray Reninger of Boone; two grandsons, Ronnie Carrolle Glenn, Jr. of Blowing Rock and Billy McLean of Icard; one granddaughter, Michelle Glenn of Icard; and one great-granddaughter, Nalla Glenn of Vilas.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Ronnie Carrolle Glenn Sr. and Timmy Ray Glenn.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Gary Shew and the Rev. Mike Barfoot. The family will receive friends Monday afternoon from noon until 1 o’clock, one hour prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Miller Family Cemetery in Laurel Springs.
Memorials may be sent to the Watauga Humane Society, 200 Casey Lane, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences can be made to the McLean family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the McLean family.

Marvin Wade Woodard
Mr. Marvin Wade Woodard, 87, of 523 Clint Norris Road, Boone, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born August 3, 1921 in Johnson County, Tenn., a son of the late Isaac and Lillie Foster Woodard.
Mr. Woodard was a retired machine operator for Singer Furniture Company.
Survivors include six daughters, Lois Johnson and husband, Richard, of Paisley, Fla., Charlotte Walls and husband, Alfred, of Vilas, Doris Richards and husband, Jimmy, and Glenda Stanbery and husband, Mike, all of Boone, Lisa Woodard Jordan of Butler, Tenn., and Sandra Ward and husband, Frank, of Boone; two sons, Dean Woodard and wife, Tereasa, of Gainesville, Fla., and Darrell Woodard and wife, Laura, of Wytheville, Va.; one brother-in-law, Alvin Sluder and wife, Lois, of Vilas; and four sisters-in-law, Cleo Sluder of Wilkesboro, Nell Sluder of Tennessee, Celia Guy of Boone, and Verna Woodard of Zionville. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Maggie Sluder Woodard; one son, Delmar Woodard; two brothers, Tommy and Columbus Woodard; two sisters, Alice Woodard and Anas Church; three half-sisters, Jane Price, Verd Foster, and Attra Foster; and four half-brothers, Noah, Den, Lester and Newt Woodard.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, Dec. 1, 2008, 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. Dan Church and the Rev. Harold Bennett. Burial will follow in the Reece Cemetery.
The family received friends Sunday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service. At other times, friends may call at the Woodard residence, 523 Clint Norris Road, Boone.
Online condolences may be sent to the Woodard family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.