Obituaries

Mar 7, 2019

Lori Viers, age 35 of Laurel Springs, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Ms. Viers was born on December 20, 1983 in Ashe County to Benjamin Edward and Ellen Miller Viers. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Fletcher Miller; uncle, Dennie Miller; and aunt, Annie Ruth Sheets. She loved animals and...

Mar 6, 2019

Baxter Robert Woodard, age 77 of Rutherfordton, NC, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Mr. Woodard was born on March 29, 1941 in Johnson County, TN to D.J. and Verna Woodard. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Bill Woodard.

Mr. Woodard was a timber inspector in Asheville...

Mar 5, 2019

John Keith Greene, age 81 of Fleetwood died March 5, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Mr. Greene was born December 2, 1937 in Watauga County to the late Ralph and Lura Hampton Greene.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his brother, James Greene.

Mr. Greene graduated from...

Mar 3, 2019

Nathan Paul Osborne, age 35 of Lansing, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at his home. Mr. Osborne was born on May 7, 1983 in Ashe County. Mr. Osborne was preceded in death by his mother, Mary C. Miller; paternal grandparents, Paul and Mary Nell Osborne; maternal grandparents, Earnest and Dorene Miller; aunts, Judy Miller and Shirley Miller;...

Mar 2, 2019

Edlynn David Young, III age 64 of Jefferson passed away Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Johnson City Medical Center. Mr. Young was born in Chester County, PA on January 20, 1955 to the late Edlynn Davis and Mary Evelyn McCoy Young. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Roland. Edlynn enjoyed fishing...

Feb 27, 2019

Stella Mae Reeves Mullis, age 84 of West Jefferson, died Tuesday, February 27, 2019 at Margate Health and Rehab. Mrs. Mullis was born June 30, 1934 in Ashe County to the late Coy and Lear Combs Reeves.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband Clarence “Avery” Mullis, son, Billy Mullis, brothers, Robert...

Feb 27, 2019

Cora Beatrice Pugh Young, better known as Tootsie, age 90 of Grassy Creek died Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at Margate Health and Rehab Center.  Mrs. Young was born July 8, 1928 in Ashe County to the late G. H. and Mary Phipps Pugh.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Young,...

Feb 23, 2019

Ethel Mae Church age 94 of Lansing died Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Margate Health and Rehab Center.  Miss Church was born March 26, 1924 in Ashe County to the late Everett and Celia Osborne Church.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her brother, Walter Church and sisters, Laura Miller and Virginia Roten. ...

Feb 22, 2019

Julie Ellen Jones Riddle age 96 of West Jefferson died on Friday at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Mrs. Riddle was born on Sunday, June 11, 1922 in Ashe County to the late Emmett and Nola Miller Jones.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Lawrence Riddle, four brothers Joe, Howard, John and...

Feb 22, 2019

Carris Roe Church, age 69 of Fleetwood, died Friday, February 22, 2019 at his home.  Mr. Church was born December 29, 1949 in Watauga County to the late William and Blanche Cheek Church. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by sisters, Margie Warrell and Genna Gay Wilcox.  Carris enjoyed wheeling and dealing.  He loved...

Feb 20, 2019

Judith Renee Powers Kilby, age 69 of Lansing, passed away Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at Forsyth Medical Center. Mrs. Kilby was born in Ashe County on July 5, 1949 to the late John Staley Powers and Lorene Powers Eller. Mrs. Kilby was of the Presbyterian faith. She was a long time employee of Dr. Summey and Dr. Rector in...

Feb 20, 2019

Mr. Robert L. Cox, age 100 of Warrensville, passed away on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Mr. Cox was born on March 22, 1918 in Ashe County to Jess and Polly Farmer Cox. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rhea Taylor Cox; a son, Charles Cox; sisters, Pauline Gilley, Omegene Payne, and Bertha Blevins; brothers; Woodrow...

Feb 15, 2019

Ernest J. O'Banion, Jr. of West Jefferson, NC passed at his home on February 15, 2019.

Ernest was born to Effie Zell and Ernest J. O'Banion, Sr. on January 31, 1931.

A native of Pelzer, SC, Ernest discovered the hospitality business as a career while working in food service during his service in the US...

Feb 13, 2019

Scott Turnmyre age 59 of Crumpler, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Ronald Scott Turnmyre was born on Saturday, May 30, 1959 in Caldwell County to the late Ralph James and Mary Edna Whisnant Turnmyre. Scott graduated from Alexander County High School and Lenoir Rhyne College with a degree in Music Education. He served in...

Feb 13, 2019

Quintin Wayne Dickens, age 56 of Lansing, NC died Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at his home.  Mr. Dickens was born September 20, 1962 in Chester County, PA to Billy and Annie Blevins Dickens.  He was preceded in death by his mother and sister, Vadia Ann.

Quintin was a lifetime mechanic and was always a help to anyone...

Feb 12, 2019

Mary Katherine (Kate) Graybeal Rice, age 93 of Greenwood, SC, wife of Dr. William T. Rice, died February 12, 2019 after a brief illness.

She was born on November 17, 1925 in the Little Laurel community of Creston, NC to the late Arthur Garfield and Nancy McCoy Graybeal. Kate loved the mountains and people of Ashe County,...

Feb 7, 2019

Johnny Dale Denny, age 64 of Warrensville, went to his Heavenly home Thursday, February 7, 2019 at his residence following a period of declining health.

Johnny was born December 12, 1954 in Ashe County to the late Rev. Jessie James Denny and Carrie Bell Denny. Johnny was co-owner of Denny Brothers Logging along with his brother Ed...

Feb 6, 2019

John Kenneth Howell, age 79 of Jefferson, died Wednesday evening, February 6, 2019 at Margate Health and Rehab.  Mr. Howell was born Wednesday, April 12, 1939 in Ashe County to the late Wiley and Ola Pennington Howell.  In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by a grandson, Sean Cerda, brother, Joe Howell, sister, Barbara Richardson,...

Feb 5, 2019

Robertine Phipps Francis, age 93, passed away February 5, 2019 at her home.  Mrs. Francis was born February 27, 1925 in Ashe County to the late James Robert and Lessie Dickson Phipps.  She was married to the late Colonel Elijah Francis.

Mrs. Francis is survived by her son, Ronald P. Francis and wife Glenda of Danville, VA,...

Feb 1, 2019

Barbara Ann Dexter Gupton, age 79, of Jefferson went to be with the Lord on February 1, 2019.  Mrs. Gupton was born June 30, 1939 in Pearl River, NY to the late Russell and Mary Rassaert Dexter.  She is proceeded in death by her parents, her husband James Cabot Gupton and her son Russell Gupton. Bobbie graduated from Oglethorpe...