Obituaries

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...

May 12, 2020

On May 12, 2020, Stella Veta Testerman (nee Owen); beloved wife of the late Lafayette "Guy" Testerman; devoted mother of Sue Smith and her husband Dick, Laveta O'Brien, Ronald Testerman and his wife Joyce, Roger Testerman and his wife Donna, and the late Darrell Testerman and his wife Brenda, and Richard Testerman; cherished grandmother of Deborah, Darrell Jr., David,...

May 9, 2020

Lacey Estel Perry Jr., better known as E.J., age 71 of Mountain City, formerly of Ashe, went home to be with the Lord, Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Johnson City Medical Center.  He was born September 18, 1948 to the late Lacey Estel Sr. and Elsie “Granny” Perry.  He owned and operated Perry Septic in Doe Valley, TN until...

May 9, 2020

Ronald Glenn Lawrence, age 78 went to his forever home with the Lord on May 9th, 2020.

Ronnie was born in Ashe County on Sunday, June 22, 1941 to the late Paul Glenn and Ida Blanche Stevens Lawrence.

He grew up surrounded and loved by his siblings. Brothers and spouses include, Kenneth and wife Kitty,...

May 7, 2020

Vernon Robert Roten age 95 of West Jefferson died on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at his home. Mr. Roten was born in Ashe County, North Carolina on Tuesday, April 14, 1925 to the late Francis Marion and Hettie Ann Ham Roten. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by, three brothers, Earl Roten, Buel Roten...

May 5, 2020

Harrison Howard Ray, age 88 of Boone died, Wednesday, May 5, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.  Mr. Ray was born on Friday, April 8, 1932 in Ashe County to the late Jesse and Ruth Grubb Ray.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by brothers, Charles and Letcher Ray and sisters, Grace Ray, Gertrude...

May 3, 2020

William Lester Blevins, better known as Les, age 81 of Lansing, died on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Mr. Blevins was born on August 10, 1938 to Dewey and Minnie Marie Osborne Blevins. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Georgia Stanley Blevins, one sister, Louise...

May 2, 2020

Earl Dean Hamm, Sr., better known as Dean, age 72 of Fleetwood died on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at his home. Mr. Hamm was born on Sunday, March 21, 1948 to the late Earl Edward and Nora Marie Hurley Hamm. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Novella Michelle Hamm, a sister, Ruby...