Archived

Hugh W. Reece
Mr. Hugh W. Reece, 91, of Wilmington, a native and former resident of Watauga County, passed away, Monday, April 20, 2009.
He was born in Watauga County on January 1, 1918 to the late Will B. Reece and Lillie Wilson Reece.
Mr. Reece was a member of Stone Drive United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tenn., a proud veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, and a professional book binder and printer during his working career with Kingsport Press and later with the U.S. Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C., from which he retired. He was an active member of many fraternal organizations including St. Johns Lodge #1, AF&AM, Wilmington Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies, Sudan Shrine Center, Arab Shrine Club, Moose Lodge, the American Legion Post #10 and a member of Gold’s Gym.
Survivors include his daughter, Peggy R. Martin of Wilmington; and son, Hugh W. Reece, Jr. of Seattle, Wash.; grandchildren, Julia Reece, Thomas Reece, Michelle Smith, Monique Martin, and Brian Martin; great-grandchildren, Timothy Scott, Vanessa Smith and Isabela Smith; a very special and beloved friend, Lois B. Johnson of Swansboro, N.C.; a number of nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law, Claude Wilder of Evansville, Ind.
In addition to his parents, Will B. Reece and Lillie Wilson Reece, he was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva Mast Reece; one brother, Vaughn Reece; and two sisters, Madge Castle and Madeline Wilder.
The family will receive friends on Friday, April 24, 2009 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Austin and Barnes Funeral Home, 194 Queen St., Boone, N.C. A graveside service with Masonic Rites will follow at 2 p.m. at the Mast-Bingham Cemetery in Sugar Grove, officiated by the Rev. Carl Johnson.
Online condolence may be sent to the Reece family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Reece family.

April 22, 2009

Clara Hayes Baird

Clara Hayes Baird, 89, of Perry Street, Boone, died Monday morning, April 20, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born April 22, 1919 in Watauga County to Leonard Finley and Carrie Emoline Moody Hayes.
Mrs. Baird was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church and was a housewife and homemaker.
Survivors include two sons, W. L. Baird and wife, Myra, of Indian Trail and Kenneth Eugene Baird and wife, Christina, of Valdosta, Ga.; two daughters, Sue Baird Jones, and Mary Lois Hess, both of Boone; nine grandchildren, Teresa Hidgon, April, Jonathan and Aaron Baird, Chris Jones, Kim McAulay, Melissa Eller, Timothy Cornett, and Wendy Parsons; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Nina Banner of Boone, Josephine Herman of Michigan, and Carolyn Farthing and husband, Cecil, of Boone; three brothers, Dwight Hayes of Vilas, Tom Hayes and wife, Grace, of Lincolnton, and Dale Hayes and wife, Betty, of Boone; and two sisters-in-law, Lois Hayes of Boone and Carrie Baird of Vilas. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Lenoir Baird; three brothers, Eugene, Roger and Raymond Hayes; her parents, Leonard Finley and Carrie Moody Hayes; and two sisters-in-law, Dixie Mae Hayes and Juanita Hayes.
Services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Wynn Greer and the Rev. Carl Wilson. Burial followed in the Baird Cemetery in Valle Crucis.
Memorials may be made to the Baird Cemetery Fund, c/o Kathy Otto, 184 Will T. Baird Rd., Sugar Grove, N.C. 28679, or to the Watauga County Project on Aging, 304 West King Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Baird family.

Maggie Leona Bentley Hicks
Mrs. Maggie Leona Bentley Hicks, 82, of Hickory, N.C., passed away Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Frye Regional Medical Center.
She was born May 16, 1926 in Watauga County, daughter of the late Roby Dewey and Ollie Mae Bentley.
Survivors include her husband, William Carson Hicks; son, Michael Ray Hicks and wife, Nancy, of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Chancey Hicks and wife, Heather, Jeremy Hicks and fiancée, Chassidy Elder, and J.C. Hicks and fiancée, Tara Jenkins; great-grandchild, Havic Hicks; two step-grandchildren, Casey and Zachary Boston; sisters, Brenda Cornett and husband, R.A., and Katie Shores and husband, Joe; brothers, Billy Bentley, Ned Bentley and wife, Wanda, Robert Bentley and wife, Geneva, and Perry Bentley and wife, Betty, all of Boone, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Pauline Townsend, Mary Anne Bentley, and Earline Lail; and brothers, Lewis Bentley and Reed Bentley.
A service of remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2009, in the chapel of Drum Funeral Home in Hickory, with the Rev. Van Proffit officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Shull Family Cemetery in Boone, N.C.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.
Condolences may be sent to the Hicks family at www.drumfuneralhome.com.
The Hicks family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Hickory, N.C.

J. Frank Norris
Mr. J. Frank Norris, 86, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Monday, April 20, 2009, at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation.
He was born July 24, 1922 to the late Otto Bart Norris and Mollie Norris Norris,
Mr. Norris was owner and operator of The Town House Restaurant in Boone, for 26 years, and a member of Howards Creek Baptist Church. He was a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving are one son, Oren Frank Norris of Blowing Rock; and a niece, Maxann Ward and husband, Randy, of Mountain City, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Frost Lucinda Brown Norris; his parents, Otto Bart Norris and Mollie Norris; and a brother, Max Norris.
Graveside services for J. Frank Norris will be conducted Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Sands Cemetery officiated by the Rev. Mark Chaney and the Rev. Virginia Peurifoy. The family will receive friends after the service from 11:45 until 12:30 p.m. at Howards Creek Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sands Cemetery Fund, c/o Debbie Greer, 318 Gate Hollow Rd., Mountain City, Tenn. 37683.
Online condolences may be sent to the Norris family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Norris family.

Hazel Louise Broyhill Payne
Mrs. Hazel Louise Broyhill Payne, 85, of Hudson, died Sunday, April 19, 2009, in Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.
She was born May 2, 1923 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Clarence and Beulah Younce Broyhill; and the wife of the late Rex Payne.
Survivors include three sons, Colen Payne and wife, Shirley, of Lenoir; David Payne and wife, Tammy, of Lenoir; and Roger Payne of Hudson; two daughters, Patricia Townsend and husband, Woody, of Lenoir; Diane Suttle and friend, Joe, of Todd; one sister, Opal Greene of Fleetwood; 20 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia Greene; a son-in-law, Ernest Greene; three brothers, J.D. Broyhill, Burl Broyhill, and Dewey Broyhill; and one sister, Evelyn Cole.
A celebration of Mrs. Payne’s life will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Liberty Grove Baptist Church in Deep Gap with the Rev. Edd Warren officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m., one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Pallbearers will be Steven Greene, Scott Greene, Gary Greene, Allen Greene, Dennis Yates, and Tray Sheets.
Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Online condolences may be sent to the Payne family at www.evansfuneralservice.com
Evans Funeral Service of Lenoir is in charge of the arrangements.

Gabrielle L. Reece
Miss Gabrielle Lucinda Reece, 19, of 137 Abercrombie Street, Wake Forest, N.C., passed away, Sunday, April 19, 2009.
She was born in Watauga County. Miss Reece was a former student of Franklin Academy and was currently attending Wake Technical Community College
Survivors include her parents, Ron Reece of Wake Forest and Cindy McGhee of Youngsville; a sister, Jessie Reece, of Raleigh; a brother, Shane Reece, of Raleigh; grandmothers, Thelma Moffitt of West Jefferson, N.C., and Faye Reece of Zionville, N.C.; and many other loving friends and extended family.
Services will be held at 6 o'clock Thursday evening, April 23, 2009, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home.
Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service Thursday evening, April 23, 2009, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, N.C.
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Wake County SPCA, 200 Pet Finder Lane, Raleigh, N.C. 27603. www.brightfunerals.com
Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Wake Forest, N.C. are in charge.

April 20, 2009
Robert W. Barclay
Dr. Robert W. Barclay, 86, of Hunting Road, Boone, died Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born April 15, 1923 in Evansville, Ind., a son of the late Dr. Craig and Nell Walker Barclay.
Dr. Barclay was a veteran of World War II, and served at Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Europe (SHAFE). He received his A.B., M.B.A. and D.B.A. degrees from Indiana University. Dr. Barclay is a former executive with McDonnell Douglas Corporation (1965-1975), where he was in charge of personnel administration, plant-community relations and organization development. While at McDonnell, he was also an adjunct faculty member for Washington University, Southern Illinois and the University of Missouri.
He established the Management Development Center at the University of Houston and served as its director for four years. He also taught at Indiana University, University of Miami and the University of South Carolina, where he held the Citizens and Southern National Bank Chair of Business Administration. Dr. Barclay served as a consultant for trade, business and governmental organizations throughout the Southeast. He was also chairman of the Business Administration Department at Appalachian State University.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Moore Barclay of the home.
Graveside services and burial were conducted Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Officiating was the Rev. Darrell Bare.
Online condolences may be sent to the Barclay family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Ruth Emily Johnson Coffing
Mrs. Ruth Emily Johnson Coffing, 68, of 3rd. Ave. N.W. Hickory, passed away Friday, April 17, 2009, at Carolinas Specialty Hospital in Charlotte.
She was born Feb. 28, 1941 in Watauga County, to the late Coy Arvil Johnson and Dotsy Teams Johnson.
Mrs. Coffing was a member of Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church and also a member of West Hickory Senior Citizens.
Survivors include her son, Jerry Braswell of Lenoir; her daughters, Sandra Braswell, also of Lenoir, and Marie Morrow of Raleigh; her grandchildren, Ralph Baldwin, Allen Braswell, Samantha Baldwin, Carolina Baldwin, Patrick Braswell, Shawna Braswell and Shana Goble; her great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Baldwin, Timothy Baldwin, C.J. Braswell, Cameron Braswell, Prescilla Bodford, Chelsey Bodford and Katelynn Bodford; her brother, Jimmy Johnson and wife, Margaret, of Hickory; and her sister, Joyce Combs of Pineville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Dale Coffing; and her sister, Faye Greene.
Services will be held Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at Pendry’s Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Dale Faulkenberry officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Northside Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family requests that memorials be made to Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church Building Fund at 3320 9th Ave. Dr. N.W., Hickory, N.C. 28601.
Condolences may be placed online at www.mem.com
Pendry’s Funeral Home & Crematory, Lenoir, N.C., is assisting the family with arrangements.

Gary Lewis Deitz
Mr. Gary Lewis Deitz, 55, of Slabtown Road, Zionville, died Friday, April 17, 2009.
He was born Oct. 20, 1953, in Caldwell County, to Curtis and Bernice Carlton Deitz.
Mr. Deitz owned and operated Deitz Wholesale Cars and Trucks in Zionville.
Survivors include his wife, Denise Ward Deitz; two sons, Cory Deitz of Zionville, and Tanner Deitz, of the home; four brothers, John Deitz and wife, Alice, of Granite Falls, Frank Deitz and wife, Lisa, of Davis, Calif., Roger Deitz and wife, Vickie, of Great Falls, Montana, and Eddie Deitz and wife, Carolyn, of Hudson; two sisters, Sarah Raphael and husband, Alan, of Buckeye, Ariz., and Deborah Watts and husband, Lester, of Lenoir; his mother-in-law, Jean Ward of Sugar Grove; and two brothers-in-law, Steve Ward of Boone and Randy Ward and wife, Maxanne, of Mountain City, Tenn.
A number of nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Lackey; and his father-in-law, Rev. Cannon Ward.
Services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Willowdale Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Eugene Braswell and the Rev. Delmar James. The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from noon until 2 o’clock, prior to services, at the church. Burial will follow in the Willow Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Deitz family.

David Patrick Gryder Jr.
Mr. David Patrick Gryder, Jr., 66, died suddenly at Rex Hospital on April 16, 2009.
He was born July 28, 1942, to the late David Patrick Sr. and Lola Lawrence Gryder in Gaston County.
Mr. Gryder retired in 2003 after working with Wake County Public Schools for over 30 years.
Survivors include his wife, Sally Jackson Gryder of Raleigh; sons, David Chadwick (Alice) Gryder of Boone, N.C., and Ian Gryder of Wilmington, N.C.; step-daughter, Ashley Goad of Charlotte, N.C.; grandchildren, Calleigh Dyanna and Everett Wilson; and sister, Jean McKee.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father.
Services were held on Sunday, April 19, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Wynne Center, 300 Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh, N.C.
Condolences may be sent thru www.brownwynne.com
Brown Wynne Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Beth Lavender Haunton
Mrs. Beth Lavender Haunton, 47, of Hickory, passed away April 15, 2009, at Brian Center-Viewmont after a long illness.
She was born Oct. 19, 1961 in Greenville, S.C., to Thomas C. and Margaret Cunningham Lavender.
Mrs. Haunton taught English for 20 years, first at Eastern Randolph High School in Randolph County, then Ragsdale High School in Guilford County, and from 1988 to 2005, at St. Stephens High School. She chaired the St. Stephens English Department for 12 years, and in 2004, earned her National Board certification. She served as the school district’s Certified Writing Trainer as well as an AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) coordinator. She also served as a mentor teacher, and chaired the school’s homecoming committee. She was Catawba County Teacher of the Year in 1992-1993.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, serving in several capacities including teaching Sunday school and children’s church, assisting with vacation bible school and as a member of a church circle.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Haunton; daughter, Anne Haunton, of the home; her parents, Thomas and Margaret Lavender of Hickory; a sister, Sara Jackson and husband, Will, of Raleigh, N.C., and nieces, Katie and Emily Jackson of Raleigh, N.C. Also surviving are her mother and father-in-law, Richard and Barbara Haunton of Boone, N.C.; and a sister-in-law, Carol Haunton of New York City; as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
The memorial service and inurnment was held at First Presbyterian Church, Hickory, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009, with the Rev. Carol N. Seaman officiating. Immediately following the service, there was a reception in the church’s fellowship hall.
The family received friends following the service in the fellowship hall.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Scholarship Fund, 237 2nd. St., N. W., Hickory, N.C. 28601 or to Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, N.C. 28658.
Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Marie Kathleen Hollar
Mrs. Marie Kathleen Hollar, 82, of Connelly Springs Road, Lenoir, died Friday, April 17, 2009 at Caldwell Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 29, 1926 in Johnson County, Tenn. to the late Wesley and Della Cole Blevins.
Mrs. Hollar was a member of Central Baptist Church and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, George Hollar; one son, Jeff Abel and his wife, Deborah, of Wilmington; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Beth Hege and husband, David, of Boone, Mrs. Terri Rhyder and her husband, Scott, of Valdese; one brother, J. D. Blevins of Laurel Bloomery, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Josh Hege of Philadelphia, Pa., Sarah Hege of Asheville, Ashley Abel of Lenoir, Kyle Abel and Kelsey Abel, both of Wilmington, Christopher Rhyder of Lenoir, Matthew Rhyder and Emily Rhyder, both of Valdese.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, James Abel; and nine brothers and sisters.
Services were held Sunday, April 19, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. at Central Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. John Jernigan. Entombment followed in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central Baptist Church, Building Fund, 311 Connelly Springs Road, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.
Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.
Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Edward Mast
Mr. Joseph Edward Mast, 73, of Vero Beach, Fla., died Friday, April 17 at VNA Hospice House.
He was born March 13, 1936 in Boone, N.C., son of Leola Hodges Mast and Edward B. Mast. He was the grandson of Arthur Clyde Mast of Sugar Grove, N.C.
Mr. Mast worked in the Book Publishing Industry. He began his career at Kingsport Press, Kingsport, Tenn., then to New York to American Book Stratford Press and lastly to Webcraft Publishing in North Brunswick, N.J.
He was a Mason belonging to the Snow Lodge in Boone, N.C. He belonged to the First Baptist Church of Boone, N.C., Highland Park, N.J. and Vero Beach, Fla.
Survivors include his son, Mitchell Graham Mast; daughter, Susanne Mast Murray and her husband, David; former wife, Jimmie Graham Mast; and two grandchildren, Cara Mast Murray and Sean Savino Murray.
He was predeceased by a son, Joseph E. Mast, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at the First Baptist Church of Boone.
Condolences may be made at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach.

Henry Harrison ‘Harry’ Sherwood
Mr. Henry Harrison “Harry” Sherwood of Wingate, N.C., went to Heaven on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
He was born on March 7, 1933, the son of the late James Marshall Sherwood and Nannie Brown Farthing Sherwood.
A native of Sugar Grove, Mr. Sherwood received his bachelor’s and masters degrees from Appalachian State University following a stint in the U.S. Navy. He came to Wingate College in 1962 as the assistant director of housing and instructor in history and math. He retired from Wingate in 1996 as the director of community relations.
Following his 34-year career at Wingate, he worked for HealthQuest and Hospice in various capacities. He loved his church, volunteer activities and politics throughout his life. Sherwood received the N.C. Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Wingate University Honorary Alumni awards. He was the Union County Man of the Year in 1979.
Survivors include two sons, David and Brian, both of Wingate; and a daughter, Nancy, of Falls Church, Va. He is also survived by two brothers, Larry, of Oklahoma City, Okla. and Bill, of Sugar Grove; and four sisters, Kathryn, of Wytheville, Va., Genevieve, of Boone, Helen, of Lenoir, and Carolyn, of Cornelius. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Jack; and one sister, Grace.
A memorial service to celebrate Harry Sherwood’s life was held Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in the Hannah Covington McGee Theatre of the George A. Batte Jr. Fine Arts Center at Wingate University. Speakers included Reverends Ed Henegar and John Hewitt.
Memorials may be made to the Harry Sherwood Scholarship Fund at Wingate University, Campus Box 3071, Wingate, NC 28174 or Hospice of Union County, 700 Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110.
On-line condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.
Gordon Funeral & Cremation Service is serving the Sherwood family.