Obituaries

Jun 17, 2020

Barbara Ann Woods, age 49 of Millers Creek, formerly of Ashe, died Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.  Barbara was born April 3, 1971 in Ashe County to the late Joe and Peggy Hartsoe Woods.  Barbara was a kind and compassionate person who enjoyed spending time doing cross stitch, crocheting and diamond painting.  Her favorite...

Jun 16, 2020

Edward Spaulding Perzel, 81, of West Jefferson, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tenn.

Ed was born in Trenton, NJ, son of the late George John Perzel and Blanche Spaulding Perzel. The family moved to Chelmsford, Mass., his mother’s family home, where Ed enjoyed all...

Jun 14, 2020

Mr. Danny Estel Billings, age 56 of Scottville, died on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at his home. Mr. Billings was born on January 25, 1964 in Guilford County to Johnnie Estel and Mary Watson Billings. He was preceded in death by his father and his stepfather, Dean Bare.

Mr. Billings enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, model cars, painting,...

Jun 11, 2020

Joseph Daniel Himm, better known as Joe, age 84 of West Jefferson, died Thursday, June 11, 2020 at his home. Mr. Himm was born in Plains, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, July 2, 1935 to the late Joseph and Edith Price Himm.  Mr. Himm played baseball for the Mount Vernon Majors at Mount Vernon High School where he also served as...

Jun 8, 2020

Shelby Kermit Boykin, age 73 of Jefferson, the Glendale Springs community, died Monday, June 8, 2020, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.  Kermit, as he was known by his friends, was born November 20, 1946 in Wilson, NC to the late Shelby B. and Reba Ferrell Boykin.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by...

Jun 5, 2020

Virginia “Jenny” Bare Blevins, age 75 of Jefferson, North Carolina, died Friday, June 5, 2020 at her home.  Mrs. Blevins was born in Ashe County, North Carolina on Saturday, August 5, 1944 to the late Cecil Oscar and Cleo Wyatt Bare.  In addition to her parents Jenny was also preceded in death by an infant sister and a son,...

Jun 4, 2020

Norman Joe Brown, age 54 of Saltillo, Mississippi, died Thursday, June 4, 2020. Mr. Brown was born in Mountain City, Tennessee on Saturday, July 4, 1965 to Millard Joe and Edith Ann Spencer Brown.  Norman was preceded in death by his father.  He liked to golf, fish and fly model planes.  Norman enjoyed working as an air traffic controller; ...

Jun 2, 2020

Rev. Wayne Ray Roark, age 90 of Creston, died on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. Rev. Roark was born on December 5, 1929 in Ashe County to Rommie and Hettie Price Roark. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Ruth Roark; his wife, Della Ray Roark; three infant sisters; one brother; two...

May 30, 2020

Elsie Miller Bowen, age 83 of West Jefferson, died Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Margate Health & Rehab Center.  Elsie was born August 22, 1936 in Ashe County to the late Carl and Bessie Faircloth Miller.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her sisters, Louise Osborne, Dorothy Parsons and Thelma Maye.  She was...

May 30, 2020

Walter Uriah Miller age 54 went to be with his Lord on Saturday, May 30, 2020 following a brave fight with cancer. Son, father, brother and faithful friend, he had a passion of music as a music maker and accomplished guitarist. In best of times, jamming with many local groups such as, “Cruizers” and “Footloose” as well as traveling...

May 27, 2020

James Thomas Jones, better known as Jimmy, age 78 of Lenior, North Carolina, died Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Caldwell Hospice Home. Mr. Jones was born in Ashe County, North Carolina on Thursday, December 25, 1941 to the late Tom and Earsel “Ted” Pennington Jones.  In addition to his parents Jimmy is also preceded in death by his first...

May 24, 2020

Mary Maglene Billings Smith, age 76 of Burlington, North Carolina, formerly of Ashe County, died Sunday, May 24, 2020 at her home. Mrs. Smith was born in Grayson County, Virginia on Sunday, October 17, 1943 to the late Conley Ciciro and Myrtle Rose Billings.  In addition to her parents Mary was also preceded in death by all of her...

May 23, 2020

Jerry Lynn Roark, age 70 of Creston, North Carolina, died Saturday, May 23, 2020 at his home. Mr. Roark was born in Johnson County, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 1, 1949 to the late Raymond Jonathan and Wilma Vergie Roark.  Jerry is also preceded in death by a grandson, David Lewis and a nephew, Kevin Mahala.  Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing...

May 22, 2020

Nancy Jo Love (born as Nancy Jo Jones), daughter of Nan and Jimmy Jones, passed away on May 22, 2020 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. A private ceremony will be held at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel and Gardens in Jefferson, NC.  Nancy Jo was born June 23, 1944 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. She spent some time growing up...

May 17, 2020

Allan Reinhold Gitter died peacefully on May 17, 2020 at home in Jefferson, NC. He was born August 26, 1936 in Yonkers, New York to German and Scottish immigrants, George and Katherine Gitter. From early on it was evident Allan possessed the spirit to excel. As a Boy Scout, he earned 62 merit badges and the John Brown award....

May 17, 2020

Hazel Deane Graybeal Pennell, age 92, passed of natural causes and entered into her eternal home on Sunday, May 17, 2020.

Mrs. Pennell was a native of Ashe County, the third of four children born to Fred Carlton and Lois Brown Graybeal of Fig on March 27, 1928.  She was educated at Riverview High School and Draughn’s...

May 16, 2020

Master Sergeant William Lester May, age 91 of Jefferson, died on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at his home. He was born on October 28, 1928 in Ashe County to Marvin and Grace Ragan May. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clara Rupard May; sisters, Edna May, Nancy Pagan, and Mildred Green; brothers, Bradley May, Sam...

May 15, 2020

Jack Vernon Little, age 86 of West Jefferson, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2020 at Margate Health and Rehab. Mr. Little was born on May 4, 1934 in Tazewell County, Virginia to Lacy and Edna Sullivan Little. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 48 years, Constance Joan Dixon Little; a sister,...

May 13, 2020

Louise Shoemate Oaks, age 101 of Crumpler, died on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at Margate Health and Rehab. Mrs. Oaks was born on June 5, 1918 in Ashe County to Robert Lee and Elvira Mullis Shoemate. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Harold Keyes and Cam Oaks; two sons, Harold Keyes and Bill Keyes; two brothers, Bower...

May 13, 2020

Claude William Perkins, age 77 of Warrensville died Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at his home.  Mr. Perkins was born June 18, 1942 in Ashe County to the late William and Gertrude Jones Perkins.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his sister, Emily Greer.  He faithfully attended Appalachian Church.  He was a...