: OBITUARIES :
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GENE CLAY WHITSON
Gene Clay Whitson, 79, passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Park Ridge Health in Hendersonville. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Malley and Lula Peterson Whitson. He was also preceded in death by sisters: Shirley Johnson and Cleo Byrd and brothers-in-law: Tommy and Pete Johnson and Wayne Byrd.
Gene was born and lived on Coxes Creek in Burnsville until the past few years. At the time of his death, he was residing in Hendersonville. He was a retired ironworker and traveled the US with his job and was an accomplished musician playing mandolin in some of the best bluegrass bands of his day. Gene served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Byrd’s Chapel Baptist Church and Bald Creek Masonic Lodge #397 AF&AM.
Surviving are his sister: Opal Johnson of Hendersonville; a brother: Jack Whitson and wife, Peggy, of Fletcher; life-long friend: Jack Miller of Burnsville and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3 PM Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Jeff Autrey will officiate. Burial will be in the Whitson Family Cemetery at Bent Creek.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
IRENE OGLE BANKS
Irene Ogle Banks, 85, of the Bolens Creek community, was called home by the Lord Tuesday, May 24, 2011. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Landon and Eva Mae McClurd Ogle, and the wife of Kenneth L. Banks who died in 1982. She was also preceded in death by a sister: Agnes Winters; and, brothers: William, Ralph and Earl Ogle. Irene spent all of her adult life in the Pensacola and Bolens Creek communities. She loved studying her Bible and serving her church. Family, home and garden were her major interests. Irene retired from housekeeping in the old Burnsville Hospital. She loved working in her garden, where she could look up at the mountains around her and quote Bible scriptures and talk to the Lord while she worked.
Surviving are 2 daughters: Julia Shepherd and husband, Roger, and Brenda Banks, all of Burnsville; a son: Kenneth Randy Banks and wife, Rebecca Ann, of Brevard; sister: Effie Silvers of Burnsville; 2 brothers: Robert Ogle of Spruce Pine and Charles Ogle of Oregon; 7 grandchildren; and, 11 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 7:30PM Thursday in Bolens Creek Baptist Church, of which she was a member. Dr. Chris Morgan will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11AM Friday in Banks Cemetery on Bolens Creek.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 7:30 PM Thursday prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons International, P. O. Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714, or Bolens Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, C/O Jean Buchanan, 260 Windom Cove, Burnsville, NC 28714.
HOLT MILLER
Holt Miller, 81, of Stony Point, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Charlie and Dollie Wilson Miller. He was also preceded in death by sisters: Blanche Miller and Lala Higgins and brothers: Ross, Jay and Floyd Miller. Holt was a US Army Korean War Veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star for Bravery and the UN Service Medal.
Surviving are a daughter: Carolyn Denise Miller Boggs of Stony Point; 2 sons: Joseph Carr Miller of Black Mountain and Jonathan Bernard Miller of Statesville; sisters: Grace Adkins of Burnsville, Belle Foster and Lassie Buchanan of Erwin, TN; 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Revs. Lee Boggs and Steven Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Erwin, TN.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
ALICE ROBINSON FENDER
Alice Robinson Fender, 75, of Bald Mountain went home to be with the Lord Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Brookside Rehabilitation and Care. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Biss and Georgia Ray Robinson and the wife of Buster Fender who died in 2006. She was also preceded in death by a daughter: Carolyn Lynn Fender, 3 sisters: Pansy, Grace and Lucy; and a brother: J.B. Robinson.
Surviving are a daughter: Denise Phillips and husband, Ronnie; 3 sons: Morrise Fender and wife, Marlene, and Jason Fender all of Burnsville, and Russell Fender of Weaverville; grandchildren: Leslie Bryant, Chasity Fender, Meghan Fender and Jamie Phillips; a great grandson: Levi; 2 sisters: Fairy Tipton and Violet Berliner of Burnsville; and a sister-in-law: Jessie Robinson of Burnsville.
Funeral services will be held at 8PM Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday in the Bruce Fender Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Hospice of Yancey County.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Brookside Rehabilitation and Care and Hospice of Yancey County for the care given to their mother.
VIOLA ROBINSON
Viola Robinson, 97, of the Pleasant Gap community, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the home of a daughter, Jerelean Wilson, in Spruce Pine. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late James and Manassa Boone Jones, and the wife of Bob Robinson who died in 1987. She was also preceded in death by a son: Bobby Lee Robinson; 5 sisters and 2 brothers.
Surviving are 3 daughters: Jerelean Wilson of Spruce Pine, and Edna Eckard and Linda Edge of Hickory; sons: Carroll Robinson of David, KY and Randall Robinson of Green Mountain; a sister: Thula Sparks of Micaville; 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 8PM Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Steve Grindstaff will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11AM Wednesday in the Fred Young Cemetery at Pleasant Gap.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
LLOYD COOK
Lloyd Cook, 67, of Marion, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011, at Mission Hospitals Memorial Campus. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Ralph and Margarette Wilson Cook. He was also preceded in death by his wife: Shelia Blevins Cook; a son: Jeremy Cook; a brother: Luther Cook; and, sisters: Wilma and Deborah Cook.
Surviving are 2 daughters: Janet Nanny and husband, Billy, and Lori Blankenship; a son: Marty Cook, all of Marion; 9 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 3 brothers: James Cook and wife, Ruby, and Thurman Cook and wife, Anna, of Connelly Springs, and Roscoe Cook of Burnsville; 2 sisters: Grace Hughes and husband, Charles, of Morganton and Joyce Wheeling of Valdese; and, numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Friday, May 20, 2011 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Rev. Leonard Lindsey will officiate. Burial will be in the Robinson Cemetery on Halls Chapel Road.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 2PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
JOYCE TILLEY FOX
Joyce Tilley Fox, 80, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, May 12, 2011, at Memorial Campus of Mission Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Roy and Dora Sparks Tilley. She was the wife of Jess Fox who died in 2007. Joyce retired after spending 33 years teaching at Clearmont Elementary School. She was a Carolina Tar Heel fan.
Surviving are 2 daughters: Pam Donnahoo and husband, Charles, of Micaville, and Sue Pittman and husband, Gerald, of Burnsville; grandchildren: Shanna Winters and husband, Jeremy, of Burnsville, Chad Donnahoo of Weaverville and Zachary Pittman of Burnsville; step grandson: Tony Pittman and wife, Laura, of Spruce Pine; 2 step great grandchildren: a brother: Jim Tilley and wife, Dorothy, of Forest City; and, sisters-in-law: Jackie Wilson of Burnsville and Nina Higgins and husband, Sam, of Green Mountain. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 3PM Saturday in Covy Rock FWB Church, of which she was a member. Revs. Randy Laws and Russell Hughes will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Horton Hill. Deacons will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
JULIA DEYTON McCURRY
Julia Deyton McCurry, 84, of the Mine Fork Community, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011 at the home of a daughter, Nancy McMahan. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Marshall and Carrie Edwards Deyton and the wife of Leroy McCurry who died in 1992. She was also preceded in death by sons, Lloyd and Jim McCurry, a grandson, Arthur Lloyd Webb and a sister, Hassie Deyton.
Surviving are daughters: Rena Webb and Bill and Joan Canipe of Burnsville and Nancy McMahan and husband, Darrell, of Micaville, 2 sisters: Jean Laws of Burnsville and Dorothy Greene and husband, Jimmy, of Asheville; two brothers: Budge Deyton and wife, Ida, and Bill Deyton and wife, Shirley, of Burnsville; 11 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Several half sisters and half brothers also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 7 P. M. Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Rev. Keith Blankenship will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11 A. M. Saturday in the Deyton~Laws Cemetery at Bailey Hill.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
IRIS LYNN COOK
Iris Lynn Cook, 61, of the Blue Rock community, went to be with the Lord Friday, April 15, 2011, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of Edna Robinson Geouge of Blue Rock and the late Dale Geouge. She was also preceded in death by a grandson: Andrew Hoilman.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her husband of 46 years: Roscoe Cook; 2 daughters: Leona Whitson and husband, Royce, of Green Mountain, and Leslie Hoilman and husband, Tim, of Bakersville; 3 sons: David Cook of Canton, Daniel Cook of Weaverville, and Travis Cook and wife, Joan, of Connelly Springs; 7 grandchildren: Christopher and Erica Abernethy, Austen and Katie Wilson, Maddison Hoilman and Jordan and Faith Cook; a great grandson: Carson Mennig; 3 brothers: Johnny, Wade and Floyd Geouge; a sister: Wanda Norton; and best friend: Ruby Cook.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Clifton McCurry, Billy Styles and Joe Robinson will officiate. Burial will be in the Robinson Cemetery on Halls Chapel.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Sunday at the funeral home.
LEONARD AYERS
Leonard Ayers, 76, of Green Mountain, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 14, 2011. He died peacefully in the home he was born in on March 29, 1935 to the late Edgle and Ora Fox Ayers. Leonard was a US Navy Veteran, and an employee of the former Diamond Mica Company and Yancey County Schools. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife: Shirley Ayers; a son: Anthony Ayers; 2 sisters: Una Mae Ayers and Mary Callahan; and, a brother: Harley Ayers.
Surviving are his wife: Mary Helen Ayers; 2 sons: Jim Ayers and wife, Renee, and Doug Ayers and wife, Tonya, all of Green Mountain; 4 daughters: Karen Mizell and Linda Edwards of Green Mountain, Barbara Sines and husband, Tim, of Mooresville, and Brenda Roten of N. Wilkesboro; 10 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; a sister: Wilma Hughes of Bakersville; and, 3 brothers: Homer and Dean Ayers of Green Mountain and Allen Ayers of Micaville.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 PM Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Junior Honeycutt and Nathaniel Ayers will officiate. Private burial will be in Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 until 3:30 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, Gideons International, or to Zion Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
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