Archived
Linda Gragg Bonham
Ms. Linda Gragg Bonham, 60, of Archie Carroll Road, Boone, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 18, 2009 at her mother’s residence.
She was born March 7, 1948 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Kenny Gragg and Opal Ragan Gragg.
Linda was a member of Faith Baptist Church and worked as an executive clerk for Samaritans Purse.
Surviving are her mother, Opal Ragan Gragg of Boone; two daughters, Dawn M. Swartz of Ashland, Tenn. and Lora L. Wren of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; three grandsons, Dylan Stevens, Tyler and Noah Wren of Tennessee; one brother, Larry M. Gragg and wife, Liz, of Cornelius; and a special friend and caregiver, Brenda Galgano of Boone.
She was preceded in death by her father, Kenny Gragg.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Faith Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock. Officiating will be Dr. Sonny Younce and the Rev. Sam McGinn. Burial will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 513 Cardinal Lane, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family received friends Thursday evening from 6 o’clock until 7:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the Bonham family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Bonham family.

Edith Mace Collis
Mrs. Edith Mace Collis, 89, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 18, 2009, at Glenbridge Health Care Center.
She was born March 11, 1919 in McDowell County, a daughter of the late Ed and Etta Lowery Mace.
Mrs. Collis was a homemaker and a member of Yadkin Valley Baptist Church for 60 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Glenda Hollars and husband, Max, of Blowing Rock; one son, George Collis of Boone; one sister, Louise Burleson of Salisbury, N.C.; two grandsons, Mark Hollars, and Mason Hollars and wife, Kim, all of Blowing Rock; one granddaughter, Melissa Gilchrist and husband, Michael, of Lenoir; one great-granddaughter, Tynsley Gilchrist of Lenoir; and three great-grandsons, Sterling Gilchrist of Lenoir, Macon Hollars, and Mace Robert Hollars, both of Blowing Rock.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Plato Collis; and five sisters, Nora Glenn, Eula Glenn, Alice McKinney, Lois Sales, and Margie Hickey.
Services will be conducted Friday morning, Feb. 20, 2009, 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. Bobby Pritchard. Burial will follow in the Collis Family Cemetery in Mitchell County.
The family will receive friends Friday morning, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock, at the funeral, prior to the service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Yadkin Valley Baptist Church, in care of Paul Lovins, 4442 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, N.C. 28645, or to the Collis Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Dan Glenn, PO Box 31, Little Switzerland, N.C. 28749.
Online condolences may be made to the Collis family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Ruby Louise Haas
Mrs. Ruby Louise Haas, 79, of Pleasant Hill Road, Lenoir, died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 at Carolinas Medical Center.
She was born May 30, 1929 in Watauga County to the late Charlie and Virginia Swift Greer.
Mrs. Haas was retired from Holiday Hosiery and was a member of Hudson United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Roger P. Haas of Chesapeake, Va.; one brother, Floyd Greer of Cleveland, Ohio; and four grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul E. Haas.
Services will be held Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Hudson United Methodist Church conducted by Dr. Timothy Brittain. Interment will follow at Hickman Cemetery.
The family received friends Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hudson United Methodist Church, 383 Main St., Hudson, N.C. 28638.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.
Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Edward Ward Hayden
Mr. Edward Ward Hayden, 86, of Doe Branch Road, Zionville, died Saturday evening, Feb. 14, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Sept. 30, 1922 in Mansfield, Pa., to Joseph Lord and Mildred Colegrove Hayden.
Mr. Hayden attended Mansfield State Teachers College and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Before moving to Zionville in 2001, he retired from Gulfstrean Aerospace Corporation of Savannah as a sub-contract administrator. In his retirement, he enjoyed reading, cooking and gardening. Mr. Hayden was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church in Boone.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Hayden-Henry of Zionville and Barbara Kamiyama of Kiryu, Japan; three grandchildren, William Henry IV of Manvel, Tex., Sarah Jones of Sugar Hill, Ga. and Johannah Konoike of Osaka, Japan; and three great-grandchildren, Fiona, George and Lily.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Deirdre Adams Hayden; one brother, Joseph Lord Hayden, Jr.; and his parents.
He will be greatly missed by his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was conducted Thursday morning, Feb. 19, at 10 o’clock at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Savannah, Ga., officiated by Father Mariusz Fuks. Burial followed in the Bonaventure Cemetery.
A private prayer vigil was held Tuesday evening at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home, officiated by Father Joe Mulligan.
Online Condolences can be made to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory in Boone and Fox & Weeks Funeral Home Island Chapel in Savannah, Ga., is serving the Hayden family.

Jane Kirby McCormick
Mrs. Jane Kirby McCormick, 93, of Blowing Rock, N.C., died Sunday evening, February 15, 2009, at the Davant Extended Care Facility.
She was born Jan. 25, 1916 in Darlington, S.C., to Harry Douglas and Lilly Orien Edwards Kirby.
Mrs. McCormick graduated from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C. She and her late husband, George, raised their family in Charlotte, N.C. before retiring to the family farm in Mitford, S.C.
She was well-loved by everyone who knew her.
Survivors include two daughters, Kirby McCormick Maram and husband, Nathaniel, and Dale McCorvey, all of Boone, N.C.; one son, George Samuel McCormick of Carolina Beach, N.C.; and five grandchildren, Cooper Long of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Amanda Riggs and husband, Mark, of Chicago, Ill.; Michael McCorvey of Boone, N.C.; Deborah Cornett and husband, John, of Raleigh, N.C.; and Phillip McCorvey and wife, Alie, of Jacksonville, Fla. She is also survived by one brother, Harry Kirby of Summerville, S.C.; and three sisters, Caroline Brandt of Northampton, Mass.; Zuleika Anderson and husband, Neil, of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Rosemary Laur and husband, Bill, of Keystone Heights, Fla. One great-granddaughter, Emerson Jane Riggs; three step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 58 years, George Francis McCormick.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2009 at 1 o’clock at the Bethesda Methodist Church in Mitford, S.C., officiated by the Rev. Michael Sorrell. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family wants to thank the staff at the Davant Extended Care Facility in Blowing Rock for the love and care given to Jane during the four years she lived there. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her honor be made to the BR Resident Council Fund, and mailed to Davant Extended Care Facility, PO Box 148, Blowing Rock, NC 28605, Attention: Marie Tsourakis.
Online condolences may be sent to austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com and/or dantzlerbakerfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory in Boone, N.C. and Dantzler-Baker Funeral Home in Great-Falls, S.C. are serving the McCormick family.
Selenia Honeycutt McKenzie
Mrs. Selenia Honeycutt McKenzie, 90, of Chattanooga, Tenn., a native and former resident of Watauga County, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at St. Barnabas in Chattanooga.
She was born Oct. 2, 1918, in Watauga County, and resided in Chattanooga for the past 42 years.
Mrs. McKenzie graduated from Cove Creek High School and attended Appalachian State University. She began her career in 1949 with her brother when they opened Howard Business College and then Carolina Business College. She came to Chattanooga upon her marriage in 1964 and continued her career at McKenzie College where she retired in 1982. She was a member of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.
Survivors include two grandchildren, Robert Lindsy, III and Christine P. Collins and husband, Daniel, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; great-grandchildren, Grayson, Rob, Charlie and Luke; a brother, Howard Honeycutt, Sr. and wife, Marian, of Chattanooga; a nephew, Howard Honeycutt, Jr. of Chattanooga, and Sandy Conner of Ooltewah; great-nephew, Eric Conner; and great-niece, Dana Owen of Ooltewah.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Edna Honeycutt of Boone, N.C.; her husband, Dr. Roy McKenzie, Jr.; and her daughter, Joan Lindsy of Chattanooga.
Services will be conducted Friday morning, Feb. 20, 2009, at 10 a.m. at Mount Lawn Mausoleum Chapel.
The family received friends Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Wann Funeral Home in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wann Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

February 18, 2009
Mary Helen Ward McGuire
Mrs. Mary Helen Ward McGuire, 55, of 4384 George's Gap Road, Vilas, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at her home.
She was born July 16, 1953 in Watauga County, a daughter of Vivian Parks Ward and the late John G. Ward.
Mrs. McGuire was employed at Appalachian State University in the Health Services Department, and was a member of Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. McGuire is survived by her husband, Bill McGuire; one daughter, Melanie Tester and husband, Wayne; one grandson, Andrew William Tester, all of Sugar Grove; and one sister, Eula Trivette and husband, Bill, of Vilas. She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts and uncles.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Brother Greg Thompson and the Rev. J.C. Greene. Burial will follow in the Forest Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, from 6:30 until 8:30, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the McGuire family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements

February 16, 2009

Dr. Thomas Henry Furman
Dr. Thomas Henry Furman, 45, passed in his sleep, at home, Saturday morning, Feb. 14, 2009. Tom was born Jan. 23, 1964 in Augusta, Ga.
He moved to Boone, N.C. in 1966 where he graduated from Watauga High School in 1982. Tom attended Appalachian State University and attained a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. Tom's first love was his "circle" that included his wife Renee Mattraw Furman and his children Mollie Kincaid, Bradford Anderson, Margaret Katherine, Lillian Henry and by marriage Carlyle Maye.
He was always up for an adventure, loved rock climbing and the outdoors. His second love was his work at Boone Drug at King Street. Tom was a community pharmacist in every sense of the word and believed that the pharmacy was the last "free healthcare in America." He loved his work, his patients, and his co-workers at the location his father opened in 1966. Tom believed that service was not an option, but an opportunity and a duty to this community and the greater world around. His faith and desire to serve others took him to the ends of the earth traveling to Afghanistan in 2002, Baghdad in 2004, and Vietnam in 2006. Wherever he was, he looked for opportunities to play a part in God's plan, to know Him, and make Him known.
In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his maternal grandmother Loudelle Burroughs Anderson of Athens, Ga.; his parents, Jim and Dolores Furman of Boone; three brothers and wives, Jim and Allison Furman of Asheville, Bill and Leslie Furman of Boone and Drs. Corey and Ashley Furman of Valle Crucis; his parents-in-law, Hal and Doris Mattraw of Boone; his uncle, Dr. Richard Furman and wife, Harriet, of Boone; his aunt, Faythe Furman of Boone; his uncle, Bern Bennett and wife, Malese Anderson Bennett, of Royston, Ga.; and brother-in-law, Bryan Mattraw and wife, Julie, of Ashburn, Va. Uncle Tom is also survived by a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews. He will be dearly missed by his family.
Services will be conducted Tuesday morning, Feb. 17, 2009, at 11:00 o’clock, at First Baptist Church of Boone. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 10:00 until 11:00 o’clock. Officiating will be Pastor Scott Andrews and Pastor Dean Moyer. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., at Hampton Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thomas Henry Furman Scholarship fund at Campbell University School of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1090 Buies Creek, N.C. 27506.
Online condolences may be sent to the Furman family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Cecil F. Greene
Mr. Cecil F. Greene, 83, of 2066 Cranberry Springs Road, Fleetwood, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.
He was born July 11, 1925 in Ashe County, a son of the late James and Ethel Watson Greene.
Mr. Greene was a retired employee of Broyhill Furniture Company and a member of Liberty Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Opal Broyhill Greene; one daughter, Wilma Greene Harmon and husband, Sidney, of Statesville; three sons, Gary Greene, Larry Greene and wife, Billie, and Allen Greene, all of Fleetwood; three granddaughters, Amy Ferron of Statesville, Heather Chamberlin of Fort Worth, Tex., and Wendy Hester of Lenoir; three grandsons, Bradley Greene, and Travis Greene, both of Fleetwood, and Gary Greene, II of Houston, Tex.; and two sisters, Lessie White of Greensboro, and Lea Watson of Hickory. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, and a number nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by twin granddaughters, Melanie Jean and Jodie Anntonette Greene; seven sisters and four brothers.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, 2009, at 3:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 2:00 until 3:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. John Elledge. Burial will follow in the Liberty Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday afternoon, from 2:00 until 3:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 400, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Online condolences may be sent to the Greene family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Joyce Yarber Hilderbrand
Mrs. Joyce Yarber Hilderbrand, 79, of Gastonia, passed away on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Boone, N.C. on Dec. 18, 1929, daughter of the late Leonard Boston Yarber and Galdas Orlean Shook Yarber.
Mrs. Hilderbrand was retired from Wix Corporation after 24 years of service.
Survivors include sons and daughter-in-law, Leonard M. Hilderbrand of Gastonia, Jerry W. Hilderbrand and wife, Linda, of Shelby; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Falls and husband, Keith, of Gastonia, Von Falls and husband, Randy, of Gastonia, Sherry Loiselle and husband, Greg, of Worcester, MA; sister, Shirley Jones of Clover, S.C.; brother-in-law, Carl M. Hilderbrand of Gastonia; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Wylie Hilderbrand; son, Keith D. Hilderbrand; brothers, Floyd, Dallas and Cliffton Yarber; daughter-in-law, Susan "Susie" Hilderbrand; and sister-in-law, Judy McCarter.
A visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 at Greene Funeral Service-West Chapel in Gastonia.
A funeral service will be at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2009 at the funeral home officiated by Dr. Rev. Roy Dean Clark and Dr. Rev. Mike Keough.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Gaston County, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, N.C. 28054.
Condolences may be sent to www.greenefuneral.com
Arrangements are by Greene Funeral Service-West Chapel, in Gastonia.