: OBITUARIES :
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CHARLES ED ANDERS
Charles Ed Anders, 69, of Pensacola, passed away Friday, January 9, 2009, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late John and Clyde Shepherd Anders.
Surviving are his wife: Evelyn Calloway Anders; 2 daughters: Sherry Anders and Shirley Anders; a son: Doug Anders and wife, Barbara; a niece: Pam Wilson and husband, Terry, all of Burnsville; 3 grandchildren: Ryan, Lacie and Casey; 4 sisters: Pauline Anders, Faye Moody, Nell McLaughlin and Kate Anders; and, 3 brothers: Bob, Tucker and Guy B. Anders.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.
The Rev. Ray Strickland will officiate. Burial will be in the Eddie McMahan Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
JAMES W. McKINNEY
James W. McKinney, 76, of the Jacks Creek Community, passed away Friday, January 2, 2009, in Mission Hospitals St. Joseph Campus. A native of Yancey County he was a son of the late Rama and Stella McCourry McKinney. He was preceded in death by a daughter: Judy McKinney Webb. James was a retired employee of the NC Department of Transportation. He was a Deacon and song leader at Bible Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife of 52 years: Lois Murphy McKinney; a daughter: Wanda Honeycutt and husband, Eddie, of Green Mountain; 2 sons: Pete McKinney and wife, Anita, of Green Mountain and Tim McKinney and wife, Regina, of Burnsville; son in law: Mike Webb of Burnsville; grandchildren: Heather McClure, Adam Honeycutt, B.J. Webb, Brinton McKinney; step grandchildren: Chris Honeycutt and Connie Honeycutt; great grandchildren: Ashlynn and Tanner McClure, Kaitlynn and Natalie Honeycutt; 6 brothers: Wayne McKinney, Eugene McKinney and Wes McKinney of Green Mountain, Royce and Sam McKinney of Peach Bottom, PA and Jack McKinney of Mtn. City, TN; and, 2 sisters: Mary Dale of Burnsville and Helen Murphy of Green Mountain.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Noah Hughes and Blaine Whitson will officiate. Burial will be in the James W. McKinney Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714, or Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
EUGENE “GENE” SHEPHERD
Eugene “Gene” Shepherd, 78, of the Swiss Community, beloved husband for 22 years with his wife, Joan, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, December 28, 2008, at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late B. E. and Virgie Sparks Shepherd. He was also preceded in death by his loving sisters: Lena White and Lillian Tomberlin; half-brother: Horace “Paddle” Shepherd; and, brother: Ray Shepherd. Gene was a US Army Korean Conflict Veteran, and retired from Drexel Furniture after 35 years service.
In addition to his wife, Gene is survived by his loving sister: Gailya Fuller and husband, Dan, of Burnsville; and, sister-in-law: Roberta (Charles) Bonham of Clyde. He will always be remembered and loved by his stepchildren: Cynthia (Jeff) Glenn of Asheville, Neva (Bob) Johnson of Newport, KY, Joseph Johnson of Asheville and Hugh (Donna) Johnson of Kent, OH; many grandchildren and great grandchildren, special nieces and nephews.
Many family and friends grieve his going; but we all know he was tired and needed to rest in the bosom of his Lord.
Special services will be held by Rev. Jerry Shelton, Senior Pastor, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Sunday, January 4, 2009, at 3:00 P.M. Private burial will be at a later date.
BILLY WAYNE ROBINSON
Billy Wayne Robinson, 71, of the Halls Chapel Community, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, December 28, 2008, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Walter B. and Pearl Grindstaff Robinson, and the husband of Pauline Bolick Robinson who died in 2001. He was also preceded in death by a brother: Clarence Robinson; 3 half-sisters; and, 3 half-brothers.
Surviving are a half-sister: Julie Millen of Kings Mountain; and, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Wednesday in Halls Chapel Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Rev. Holt Whitson, Jr. will officiate. Burial will be in Grindstaff Cemetery on Halls Chapel Road.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
ROY EDWARD RIDDLE
Roy Edward Riddle, 58, of Franklin Town Community, went home to be with the Lord Friday, December 26, 2008, at his home. A native of Yancey County he was a son of the late Ben and Cordelia Buchanan Riddle. He was also preceded in death by a sister: Lily Kay Bradford. Roy was a member of White’s Memorial Baptist Church. He was retired from Unimin Corporation in Mitchell County, where he worked for over 30 years as Chief of Environmental Protection. Roy was an avid gardener and loved working in his flowers. His other special loves were his family, children and grandson.
Surviving are 2 children: Amber Riddle of Asheville and Matthew Riddle and wife, Michele, of Burnsville; a grandson: Jonathan Cole Riddle; 8 sisters: Anna McCourry, Minnie Ogle, Rachel Fox, Molly Briggs, Margaret Walker, Polly Fox, Mildred Tomblin and Karen Johnson; a brother: David Riddle; several nieces and nephews in Roy’s family and from his former marriage to the mother of his children: Rhonda Miller, daughter of Rev. Charlie and Virginia Miller; a stepson: James Clark; a step grandson: Kenneth Clark; great nieces and great nephews also survive; a special friend: Martha Biddix; and his beloved cat: Blackie.
Funeral services will be held at 2PM Tuesday in the Double Island Baptist Church. The Revs. Shane Buchanan and Ricky Woody will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Monday 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.
JIM TOLLEY
Jim Tolley, 55, of Baccus Siding Road in the Double Island Community, passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2008 in the St. Josephs Campus of Mission Hospitals. A native of Yancey County, he was the son of the late Earl and Maude Hughes Tolley. Jim was an employee of the NC Department of Transportation.
Surviving are his wife: Debbie Taylor Tolley; a son: Michael McKinney; a daughter: Rebecca Yelton and two grandchildren: Kyle and Nicholas Yelton all of Burnsville.
Funeral services will be held at 8:00 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Billy Mitchell will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday in the Hughes Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
MACK BASCOMBE RAY
Mack Bascombe Ray, 91, went to be with our Lord, December 10, 2008, at his home. Born and reared in the Paint Fork community of Madison County, he graduated from Berea College. He worked in Yancey County for the Farmers’ Home Administration. He pioneered a loan program to help small farmers for which he received the Award of Superior Service from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. His last five years of employment were spent in the far western counties of North Carolina developing an airport, golf course, water system, etc., in one of three pilot programs in the United States.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bascombe and Sue Robinson Ray; siblings: Tennie Anders, Kelly Ray, Sr., Peggy Ledbetter, Ada Chambers, Lena Haynes, Hughie Ray, and their spouses. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Dorothy Stuart Ray; a daughter, Carolyn and husband, David A. Cort; four granddaughters: Lisa Owen and husband, Jeffrey, of Asheville; Heidi Van Til and husband, Ethan, of Traverse City, Michigan, Carrie Friesen and husband, Brad, of Winston Salem, Gretchen Banks and husband, Seth, of Winston Salem; three great-granddaughters: Susannah and Sophia Owen and Greta Friesen; and sister, Fay and her husband, Troy Allen, of Marshall.
He served in World War II as a rifleman in Patton’s Third Army, 83rd Infantry Division. He participated in the Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge campaigns, suffering multiple machine gun and shrapnel wounds. He further was an active farmer growing the traditional tobacco and cattle of this time.
He was active in his church and community. At the Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church, he held virtually all positions of leadership at various times and was a lay speaker. He was active in leadership with the United Way campaigns, was an American Legion commander, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, and a founder of the Burnsville Men’s Club. He served on the N. C. Forestry Council, The N. C. Health Coordinating Council, and the N. C. Highway Commission. He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for helping save two children from drowning despite himself being a weak swimmer. He was twice chairman of the Yancey County Democratic Party and was awarded the Liston Ramsey Democratic Service Award. One of his greatest joys came in helping others in need, often anonymously. As a Christian, he believed this to be his obligation and privilege. Governor James B. Hunt conferred on him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine of the State of North Carolina.
In lieu of flowers, any memorials can be given to the Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund or Benevolence Fund, P. O. Box 85, Burnsville, NC, 28714. His funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. December 20, 2008, at the Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church in Burnsville. Visitation will be at the church at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service and afterwards at the daughter’s home. Burial will be in the Academy Cemetery.
MARGIE ALLEN BURLESON
Margie Allen Burleson, 84, of the Banks Creek Community, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2008, at her home. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Dorothy Scott Allen, and the wife of John Burleson who died in 2006. Margie was a former employee of Blue Bell and Taylor Togs, and a founding member of Banks Creek Union Church, where she was song leader for 50 years. She was also preceded in death by brother: Dallas Allen; and sister: Louise Arrowood.
Surviving are 3 children: Jane Biggs and husband, Phillip, Glen Burleson and Jerry Burleson and wife, Nina, all of Burnsville; 2 grandchildren: Charles Burleson and Sharon Biggs; sisters: Ellen Banks of Burnsville, Jewell Ledford of Myrtle Beach, SC, Evelyn Edwards and Bernice Davis, of Erwin, TN; and, 2 brothers: B.A. Allen of Gray, TN and Roy Allen of Smyrna, AL.
Funeral Services will be held at 8 PM Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Charles Burleson and Kenneth Craine will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 10 AM Wednesday in the Burleson Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
WILLIAM N. FARIS
William N. Faris, 99, passed away Friday, December 5, 2008, at Jonas Ridge Adult Care Facility. A native of San Marcos, TX, he was born October 30, 1909 and was a son of the late Leslie and Mabel Williamson Faris. William was educated from kindergarten through a Master’s degree in education and history at the same campus, Southwest State Teacher’s College in San Marcos, now the University of San Marcos. He devoted 13 years to being a teacher and principal of schools in Texas and New Mexico. While attending college William was close friends with former President Lyndon B. Johnson, and there is correspondence between the two at the Johnson Library in Texas. He married three times and fathered one child by his first marriage to Alice Louise Uy of Kansas City, KS. He fathered two children by his second marriage to Ruth Ann Echols, Dona J. Faris Knudsen and Denisha Ann Faris Schukert. His third wife, Leona Brown, whom he married in Tierra Amarilla, NM, preceded him in death 13 years ago. He is also survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren of KS, MO, TN, NC, GA and FL. His daughter, Dona, encouraged him to move from the Good Samatarian Assisted Living Village in Las Cruces to North Carolina 13 years ago, where he resided until entering Jonas Ridge Adult Care due to colon cancer. Prior to his last marriage he purchased acreage on the Chama River in El Vado, NM, where he built cabins and ran a fishing camp. He donated approximately 350 acres in El Vado to the State of New Mexico for a park, sold his remaining 5 acres and moved to Williamsburg, NM. He later sold this property and moved to Las Cruces prior to moving to Burnsville, NC approximately 13 years ago. William was an artifact appraiser, and was instrumental in the donation of Indian pottery and artifacts to the Burnsville Library for the Yancey Museum.
William was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Burnsville, NC. His prior arrangements made years ago were to be cremated and interred at the family plot in San Marcos, TX. At his request, no funeral or memorial services will be held.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Avery County, P. O. Box 221, Newland, NC 28657. Hospice of Avery County and Jonas Ridge Adult Care staff provided excellent tender loving care during the last weeks of his life. Jonas Ridge held a beautiful surprise 99th birthday party with all staff, residents and Dona and Richard Knudsen, daughter and son-in-law, present, which William enjoyed tremendously. He said it was the best birthday he ever had.
PHILLIP WAYNE LETTERMAN
Phillip Wayne Letterman, 68, of Green Mountain, went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, December 3, 2008, in Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Walter E. and Blanche Gortney Letterman. He was preceded in death by a sister: Peggy Peterson. Phillip was a retired employee of Henredon, a member of Clearmont Fire Department, a member of Ridgeview Presbyterian Church, and of Bakersville Masonic Lodge.
Surviving are a sister: Annette Buchanan and husband, Dennis, of Burnsville; 3 nephews: Joey Buchanan, Rick Peterson and Roger Peterson; 4 nieces: Terri Grindstaff, Rachel Austin, Theresa Briggs and Wanda Miller; 3 great nieces and 8 great nephews; and, an aunt: Helen Letterman Keyes of Johnson City, TN.
Funeral services will be held at noon Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Rev. Roger Laws will officiate. Burial will be in Ridgeview Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Theresa Briggs, 5275 State Highway 197 North, Green Mountain, NC.
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