: OBITUARIES :
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LEONA P. BAILEY

Leona P. Bailey, 89, of Jacks Creek went home to be with the Lord Thursday, September 25, 2008 at Mountain Manor Assisted Living Center.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Jeff and Katherine King Phillips and the wife of Rotha Bailey who died in 2006.  She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kelli Bailey Bartley and was the last of 9 children.  After her husband’s retirement, they were residents of Asheville for 33 years, where they were active members of Reed Memorial Baptist Church.  Upon returning to Burnsville, she became a member of West Burnsville Baptist Church.  Before her illness, she enjoyed all church related activities.  Leona was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Surviving are a daughter:  Jeanette Fox and husband, Max, of Burnsville; 3 sons:  Philip Bailey and wife, Ann, of Easley, SC, Ronnie Bailey and wife, Shirley, of Wallburg, and Richard Bailey and wife, Judy, of  Matthews; 9 grandchildren: Tammy Swafford, Kim Craven, Terry Hendricks, Amy Johnson, Ronnie Bailey II, Max Fox II, Joe, Charlie, and Jason Bailey; 12 great grandchildren:  Anna, Amber, Lindsay, Justin, Bailey, Mia, Emmie, Ella, Cody, Harrison, Maclean and Brinley.         

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Ricky Ray will officiate.  Burial will be in the Jacks Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, West Burnsville Baptist Church, or the Gideons International.

The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to the staff at Mountain Manor Assisted Living Center for their love and care.

ETHEL RAY COX

Ethel Ray Cox, 83, of Mars Hill passed away Thursday, September 25, 2008 at her home.  A native of Madison County, she was a daughter of the late Avon and Carrie Davis Ray and the wife of Donald Cox who died in 2000.  She was also preceded in death by brothers:  Charles and Avon Ray, Jr.  Ethel was retired Assistant to the Registrar at Mars Hill College, a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church and a volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital.

Surviving are her son:  Don Cox, Jr., and wife, Susan, of Hendersonville; 3 sisters:  Jean Brupbacher (Eugene) of Rock Hill, SC, Jane Marett of Anderson, SC, Catherine Fleming (Robert) of Yadkinville and a brother:  Col. (USAF Retired) Robert G. Ray (Betsy) of Niceville, FL.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday in the Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.  Revs. Tommy Justus and Sue Fitzgerald will officiate. 

The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

Memorials may be made to Mars Hill Baptist Church, Window Fund, P. O. Box 218, Mars Hill, NC  28754.

KENNETH LAUGHRUN

Kenneth Laughrun, 85, of Hillside Drive, passed away Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at his home.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Ike and Lena Hensley Laughrun, and the husband of Margaret King Laughrun, who passed away in 2006.  He was also preceded in death by a son:  Randy Laughrun; and, a brother:  Noble Laughrun.  He was a retired U.S. Air Force Veteran with 21 years of service.  Kenneth was the former owner of Laughrun Heating and Sheet Metal.

Surviving are a daughter:  Sherrie Hopson and husband, David, of Burnsville; a son:  Kevin Laughrun and wife, Stacey, of Burnsville; 4 grandchildren:  Jamie, Brett and Tim Hopson and Ike Laughrun; 4 great grandchildren:  Abraham, Bailie, Xann and Levi Hopson; a sister:  Gwendolyn Cherry and husband, Bill, of Colonial Heights, VA; and, a brother-in-law:  Bob King of Johnson City, TN.

Funeral services will be held at 1PM Saturday in Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church, of which he was a member.  The Rev. Wes Sharpe will officiate.  Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery at Horton Hill.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Friday at Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home, where the body will remain until taken to the church to lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

RUTH G. HENSLEY

Ruth G. Hensley, 84, of Plum Branch passed away Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at Brookside Rehabilitation and Care.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Rathey and Delores Boone Stevens and the wife of Pershing Hensley who died in 1992.

Surviving are a son:  Donald Hensley and wife, Jearline, of  Burnsville; a grandson:  Brian Hensley and wife, Lori, of Todd and a brother:  Howard Nelson of Burnsville.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Revs. Dick Westbrook and Dwight Boone, Jr., will officiate.  Burial will be in the Hyatt Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

GEORGE CARROLL BARNES

George Carroll Barnes, 74, of Lower Georges Fork Road, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.  A native of Jackson County, he was a son of the late George Clinton and Fannie Stiles Barnes.  He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, retired from the N. C. Dept. of Corrections after 30 years service, and was Past Master of Cleveland Lodge #202 A.F. & A.M. and Burnsville Lodge #717 A.F. & A.M.

Surviving are his wife of 48 years:  Sarah James Barnes; 2 daughters:  Elaine Wilson and husband, Jim, of Marion, and Lori Aldridge and husband, James, of Robbinsville; 4 grandchildren:  Emily Wilson and husband, John Bailey, Joseph Wilson, and Luke and Hollie Aldridge; a brother:  Brent Barnes and wife, Brenda, of Sylva; a sister:  Sharon Dittenberger and husband, Richard, of Washington State; 3 nephews and a niece; and, 2 sisters-in-law:  Linda James of Sylva and Frances Conner and husband, Lyle, of Candler.

Funeral services will be held at 3PM Thursday in Cane River Baptist Church, of which he was a member and deacon.  The Revs. Shane Cassida and Ken Mashburn will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery with Masonic graverites by Burnsville Lodge.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3PM prior to the service at the church.

LEONARD HUGHES

Leonard Hughes, 78, of Burnsville passed away Monday, September 15, 2008 at Asheville VA Medical Center.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Jeff and Nora Gardner Hughes.  He was also preceded in death by a son: Michael Hughes; grandson:  Jason Hughes; 3 sisters:  Carolyn Ray, Geneva Gouge and Maude Chrisawn and a brother:  June Hughes.  Leonard was a Korean Conflict Army Veteran and a retired carpet installer.

Surviving are his wife:  Chloe Williams Hughes; 3 sons:  Steve Hughes and wife, Rhonda, Scotty Hughes and Tim Hughes all of Burnsville; a sister:  Betty Jean Perkins of Hickory; 3 brothers:  Brown Hughes of Micaville, Bill Hughes of Hickory and Claude Hughes of Burnsville and 7 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Steve Penland will officiate.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday in the Holcombe Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

PAULINE GILLEY GEOUGE

Mrs. Pauline Gilley Geouge, 79, of Burnsville died peacefully Sunday, September 14, 2008, at home in the loving care of her family.

Born in Mitchell County, she was a daughter of the late Tilman and Ethel Miller Gilley.  She was also preceded in death by brothers: Charles, Billy and James Gilley.  Mrs. Geouge is survived by her husband of 62 years: Lee Geouge; children: Rebecca Gosnell and her husband, Bill, of Knoxville, TN, Randall Geouge and his wife, Sandra, of Burnsville, and Susan Rankin and her husband, Jed, of Marion, NC; granddaughters:  Mary Gosnell, Mandy Ward and husband, Travis, and Kasey Rankin: grandsons:  Mark Geouge and wife, Ashley, and Jake Rankin; great grandsons:  Zachary Gosnell, Grayson Ward and Hunter Geouge; and a brother:  Doug Gilley of Burnsville.
 
Mrs. Geouge was an active member of Blue Rock Baptist Church.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She retired from Baxter Laboratories and spent time afterwards traveling with her husband, working in her flower gardens and enjoying her family and friends in her beloved community.  Everyone who knew Pauline received kindness and generosity.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Revs. Kenneth Forbes and Billy Mitchell will officiate.  Burial will be in the Blue Rock Baptist Church Cemetery. 
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. 

Since Mrs. Geouge enjoyed numerous flowers during her lifetime, she asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Building 1, Asheville, NC 28801, or Blue Rock Baptist Church, Building Fund, C/O Debra Hathcock, 1791 Lower Browns Creek, Burnsville, NC 28714 or Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

MARI LUISE RATHBONE CLARK

Long-time Alaskan resident, Mari Luise Rathbone Clark passed away Thursday, September 11, 2008 at her residence in North Pole, Alaska.   A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Commodore and Pansy Arrowood Rathbone. Mari moved to Baltimore, Maryland during World War II with her sisters to assist with the war effort. She worked in munitions factories and was a member of the Ground Observer Corps there.  Mari Luise met a young officer, Lt. Commander, Edward Clark, and they were married on September 12, 1944. She and Ed moved to Miami, Florida and started their family. Mari, Eddie and their two sons Chris and Douglas traveled to Fairbanks in June 1958 to visit her father, mother and brother, Quentin. The family moved to North Pole, Alaska and became "homesteaders." Mari Luise attended the University of Alaska where she met many life-long friends.  She later became a teacher and librarian at North Pole Elementary School. She and her husband Eddie were active in the PTA, and the North Pole Grange. Mari was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She loved to go berry and wild mushroom picking. She had many experiences and stories from the "early years" in North Pole with it's adventures and adversities. Along the way she touched many lives with her charm and humor.  She is also preceded in death by her husband and sisters: Kate Zullinger and Tillie Jenkins.

"Mimi" is survived by her sons:  Douglas of North Pole, Alaska and Edward "Chris" Clark and wife, Susan, of Denver, CO; grandsons:  Christopher and Will; a great grandson, Christian; a sister, Virginia Jarrett of Burnsville; a brother, Quentin and wife, Barbara, of Mobile, Alabama and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Brookside Rehabilitation & Care, P. O. Box 248, Burnsville, NC 28714.

BRUCE BOONE

Bruce Boone, 74, of Micaville, passed away Monday, September 8, 2008, at Brian Center in Spruce Pine.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Hoy and Nola Wyatt Boone.  He was also preceded in death by a brother, Alvin Boone, who passed away in 2005.  Bruce was a member of Pleasant Gap Baptist Church.

Surviving are a son:  Randy Boone of Bakersville; a brother:  Wallace Boone and wife, Freida, of Micaville; sisters:  Gladys Hughes and husband, Brown, of Micaville, and Sylvia Caroway of Lancaster, SC; and, a special niece and caretaker:  Rita Ray of Micaville.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM Wednesday in Morning Star Baptist Church.  The Revs. Billy Mitchell and Dale Banks will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

BEN LEE RIDDLE

Ben Lee Riddle, 77, of Hendersonville, went home to meet the Lord, Sunday, September 7, 2008, in Brian Center of Spruce Pine.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Carl and Mary Gouge Riddle, and the husband of Ruth Edwards Riddle who died January 2008.   He was also preceded in death by a sister:  Marie Blankenship; and, a brother: Jack Riddle.  He was a Korean Conflict US Army Veteran and a former employee of General Electric.  Ben was a member of Inanda Baptist Church in Asheville.

Surviving are 2 sons:  Edward Riddle and wife, Michele, of Hendersonville and Benton Riddle and wife, Charlene, of Asheville; 3 grandchildren: Jeremy Riddle and wife, Victoria, Jennifer Riddle and Meghan Riddle; and, a sister:  Nola Byrd of Milton, FL.

Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Pastor Bobby Smith will officiate.  Burial will be in the Watts Cemetery.

The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Youth Group, 1008 Newfound Road, Leicester, NC 28748.

 

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