Archived
Georgia McConnell Bingham
Georgia McConnell Bingham of Johnson City, Tenn., died Monday, June 15, 2009 at Lakebridge Health Care Center in Johnson City, Tenn.
She was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary McConnell.
Georgia was a homemaker and a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
She is survived by three sons, Thomas Bingham and wife, Pam, of Brevard, N.C., Barry Bingham and wife, Dawn, of Johnson City, Tenn., Edgar Bingham of Morristown, Tenn.; daughters, Mary Dell Johnson of Brevard, N.C., Linda Setaro and husband, Joseph, of Farragut, Tenn., Lisa Squire of Lansing, England; 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Margaret Watson of Charlotte, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas L. Bingham; a son, Michael Bingham; three sisters, Louise Peeks, Virginia and Ramona McConnell; and two brothers, James and Joseph McConnell.
A service celebrating her life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Brevard, N.C. on Saturday, June 20, 2009, at 2 p.m. with the Revs. Mike Jordan and Kerri Purselle officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall. The burial will follow at Pisgah Memorial Gardens.
To leave a condolence for the Bingham family, please visit “obituaries” at www.moore-fh.com.
Moore Funeral Home is caring for the family.

Frank Allen Hagaman, Sr.
Mr. Frank Allen Hagaman, Sr., 95, of Appalachian Christian Village, Johnson City, Tenn., a native and former resident of Cherry Brook Lane, Boone, died Saturday, April 25, 2009, in Johnson City.
He was born Feb. 17, 1914 in Watauga County, a son of the late George and Margaret Sherrill Hagaman.
Mr. Hagaman was a retired highway maintenance supervisor. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Boone for 51 years.
Survivors include three daughters, Wanda W. Kilby and husband, Dwight, of Blountville, Tenn., Sherrill H. Creed and husband, Jack, of Knoxville, and Carol H. Young of Weaverville, N.C.; one son, Frank Hagaman, Jr. of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Betty Watkins of Cary, Ill.; two sisters, Mary Helen Saylor of Johnson City, and Blanche Childs St. Leonard, Md.; and a sister-in-law, Ernestine Hagaman of Lenoir. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Belle Watkins Hagaman; one son, Bob Watkins; and two brothers, Jake Hagaman and Ralph Hagaman.
Graveside services will be conducted Saturday morning, June 20, 2009, at 11:00 o'clock, at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Officiating will be the Rev. Gordon Noble.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donors choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hagaman family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Albert W. ‘Bert’ Hodgson
Mr. Albert W. “Bert” Hodgson, 46, of Ciscero Valley Place, Lenoir, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.
He was born Jan. 2, 1963 to Blanford Bernard Hodgson, Sr. and Elsie Greene Hodgson.
Mr. Hodgson was a truck driver for Moretz Lumber Company of Lenoir. Bert was an accomplished fiddle player, had a deep love for bluegrass music and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his parents, Bernard and Elsie Greene Hodgson; one sister, Jeanette Lyons and husband, Jim, of Boone; one brother, Barney Hodgson and wife, Diane Ward, of Boone; three nephews, Drew Wallace of Blowing Rock, Brad Hodgson of Kernersville and Justin Hodgson of Boone; one niece, Kerri Brown and husband, Brian, of Boone; a special aunt, Eula Greene of Boone; and (four aunts) Stella Trivette and husband, Harvey, and Maxine Wilcox all of Boone, Reba Wilcox of Wilkesboro, and Virginia Mikeworth of Robinson, Ill.; one uncle, James Clair Wilkinson of Prospect Hill, N.C.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Anne Hodgson; his paternal grandparents, A.W. and Pearl Hodgson; his maternal grandmother, Grace Wilcox; and maternal grandfather, Dwight Greer.
Services will be conducted Friday, June 19, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church officiated by the Rev. Delmar James and the Rev. Herbert McCoy. Burial will follow in the Meat Camp Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family received friends Thursday, June 18, 2009, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the home of his parents, 2694 Meat Camp Road, Boone, N.C.
Online condolences may be sent to austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hodgson family.

Charles Thomas Ward
Mr. Charles Thomas Ward, 65, Pedro Shoun Lane, Mountain City, Tenn., passed away on Monday, June 15, 2009, at the Johnson County Community Hospital.
A native of Macon, Ga., he was born on May 4, 1944 to the late Stacy and Marie Harmon Ward.
Mr. Ward was a retired truck driver and enjoyed working with old cars. He was a member of Beech Valley Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Mary Ward; four daughters, Pam Trivette and husband, Dave, of Blowing Rock, N.C., Angie Smith and husband, Steve, of Lenoir, N.C., Teresa Andrews and husband, Bobbie, of Granite Falls, N.C., and Tina Smith and husband, P.J. of Damascus, Va.; two sons, Wes Ward and wife, Angie, of Mountain City, Tenn., and Bryon Dunn of Wilkesboro, N.C.; one sister, Barbara West and husband, Max, of Boone, N.C.; two brothers, Harold Ward and wife, Paulette, and Dean Ward and wife, Judy, all of Sugar Grove, N.C.; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Fred and Marcella Smith of Elizabethton, Tenn.
The family received friends from 6-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2009, from the Mountain City Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 7:00 p.m. with Mr. Quincy Norris officiating.
A graveside service and interment will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2009, from the Ward Cemetery in Sugar Grove, N.C.
At other times, friends may call at the residence, 165 Pedro Shoun Lane, Mountain City, Tenn.
Condolences may be made online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com
Mountain City Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

June 17, 2009
Frances Younce Reece
Mrs. Frances Younce Reece, 90, of 5119 Flat Springs Road, Elk Park, went to be with her loving Lord Monday morning, June 15, 2009.
She was born March 29, 1919 in Avery County, a daughter of the late Marion and Bonnie Younce.
Mrs. Reece was a member of Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church for 78 years.
Grandma served the Lord, and was faithful to her church. She believed in the truth of Gods Word. Her love and prayers are a testament to all of us. She lived a life of honor and is an example of what it means to walk with the Lord.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Harmon and husband, Clinard, and Brenda Hicks and husband, Jesse, all of Elk Park; two sons, Thomas "Eddie" Reece and wife, Brenda, of Elk Park, and Ronnie Reece and wife, Tammie, of Butler, Tenn.; and one brother, Dennis Younce and wife, Mildred, of Elizabethton, Tenn.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Reece; an infant son, Edward Howell Reece; two brothers, Burette and Melvin Younce; one sister, Doris Bunten; and one great-granddaughter.
Services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, June 17, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 1:00 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Pastor Jerry McCoury and the Rev. Bill Warren. Burial will follow in the Farthing Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to High Country Health Care System/Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Reece family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Barbara Johnson Robbins
Mrs. Barbara Johnson Robbins, 61, of Wildcat Rocks Road, Banner Elk, the Town of Seven Devils, died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at her home.
She was born March 16, 1948 in Ashe County. She graduated, with honors, from Appalachian State University, and served many years on the Seven Devils Town Council. Mrs. Robbins was owner and operator of Carolina Accounting.
Survivors include her son, Michael Craig Presnell of Valle Crucis; one step-daughter, Wendy L. Robbins of Blowing Rock; two step-sons, Chris Robbins and wife, Cathy, of Boone, and Mark Robbins and wife, Lindsey York Robbins, of Lenoir; four sisters, Carolyn Schurter and husband, Don, of West Jefferson, Wanda Rash and Patsy Philips, both of Creston, and Kathaline Johnson of West Jefferson; one brother, Jim Johnson and wife, Susan, of Lansing; and one brother-in-law, Jim Osbourne of Creston. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry C. Robbins; her father; her mother, Helen Eller Johnson; one step-son, Kevin Edward Robbins; and two sisters, Joanne Osbourne, and Linda Hartzog.
Services will be conducted Wednesday morning, June 17, 2009, at 11:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 10:00 until 11:00 o'clock. Officiating will be the Rev. Jimmy Miller and the Rev. Richard Trivette. Burial will follow in the Johnson Cemetery in Ashe County.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the Robbins family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

June 15, 2009
Arlie Lee Eller
Mr. Arlie Lee Eller, 76, of Delta Court, Granite Falls, died Friday, June 12, 2009 at Carolina Rehab of Burke County.
He was born July 4, 1932 in Watauga County to the late James Winfield Eller and Janie Smith Eller.
Mr. Eller served in the U.S. Army and was retired from Catawba Valley Community College.
Survivors include his sons, Michael George Eller and wife, Brenda, of Hickory and Baxter Lee Eller and wife, Beverly, of Swannanoa, N.C.; his grandchildren, James Eller and wife, Anna, and Sarah Eller; his brother, James Eller of Mountain City, Tenn.; and his sisters, Charlotte Lawson of Hillsville, Va., Nan Cornell of Lenoir, Annie Eller, also of Lenoir; and Stella Eller of New York, N.Y.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Hollie Watson Eller; his brothers, Mack and Charles Eller; and his sisters, Vivian Eller, Louise Eller, Ruth Hardin, Maude Westheimer, and Myrtle Eller.
Graveside services will be held Monday, June 15, at 11:00 a.m. at Laurel Haven Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Green officiating. The family will receive friends open hours at the home on Delta Court.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Kevin Ridenhour and the staff of the 6th floor of Catawba Valley Medical Center and Carolina Rehab for all the love and care that they showed Mr. Eller.
Condolences may be placed online at www.dignitymemorial.com\2320
Pendry’s Funeral Home & Crematory, Lenoir, N.C. is assisting the family with arrangements.

William Greggory ‘Billy’ Kunze
Mr. William Greggory “Billy” Kunze, 36, died on June 5, 2009 in Iowa after a brief illness.
He was born June 18, 1972 in Columbus, Ga.
Surviving are his daughters, Bridget Ann Kunze and Brook Leigh Kunze of Boone, N.C.; his mother, Patricia Baldwin of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; his father, Charles Kunze of Sanderville, Ga.; and brothers, Shane and Alvin.

Snow Rupard Preswood
Mrs. Snow Rupard Preswood, 85, of 4297 Highway 105 South, Boone, died Thursday morning, June 11, 2009, at Glenbridge Health Care.
She was born Oct. 24, 1923 in Avery County, a daughter of the late James and Rilla Shook Rupard.
Mrs. Preswood was a homemaker and a member of White Rock Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Harold “Bud” Preswood and wife, Sandy, of Newton; two daughters, Carol Ann Knight and husband, John, of Blowing Rock, and Karen Fitch and husband, Billy, of Boone; two granddaughters, Wendy Crumpton of Wetumpka, Ala., and Anissa Knight of Blowing Rock; three grandsons, Brandon Fitch of Boone, Tim Knight of Blowing Rock, and Matthew Preswood of Cherry Point, N.C.; one sister, Margaret Townsend of Banner Elk; and one sister-in-law, Kate Rupard of Banner Elk. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil C. Preswood; two sisters; and four brothers.
Services were conducted Saturday afternoon, June 13, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating were the Rev. Gordon Noble and the Rev. Delmar James. Burial followed in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.
The family received friends Saturday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, in care of Glenda Hodges, 810 Parkcrest Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Preswood family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Frances Scott Joyner Reed
Frances Scott Joyner Reed, age 85, of Boone, NC, died surrounded by her family at home at 10:03 a.m. EDT, Monday, June, 8 2009. Born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, September 11, 1923, she was valedictorian of the Rock Ridge High School Class of 1939, Rock Ridge, NC. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics (Foods and Nutrition) from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1943 and her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Appalachian State University in 1985. She was awarded a Danforth Fellowship in 1942 and was recognized with a civic award for her volunteer work at New River Mental Health.
She was employed at the U.S. Dept of Agriculture in wartime Washington, D.C., and later managed the kitchen at the Statler Hotel (now the Capitol Hilton). She worked in hospital laboratories in Chapel Hill and in Burlington, and for Appalachian State University's Health Services as a medical and x-ray technician. After her retirement from ASU, she found her calling as a therapist and ended her working career as such at New River Mental Health, where she volunteered her time and talents for several years.
Frances: Mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend — and a “tough old bird.” Fun-loving, a great dancer (jitterbug and Charleston). A class act, a cut-up, party-thrower, gracious hostess. Singer of choral, barbershop, and shape note music. Lover of beauty and laughter, limericks, old movies, Mozart, good conversation, and handsome men. Jokester and storyteller. Nutritionist and nurturer, a great cook. Lover of sunrises, mountains and sea, animals, and walks up Lonesome Road. An ace seamstress, quilter, knitter. Elegant, generous, loyal, friend to many, volunteer. An FDR Democrat, mostly tolerant of others. Big-hearted, broken-hearted. Determined, tenacious, bearer of great grief, forgiving. Meticulously organized. Liberal Methodist, student of Jesus and world religions. Broad-minded, compassionate, curious, ahead of her time. Feminist, coop member, champion of underdogs. Listener, confidant, and counselor. Intelligent, thoughtful, wonder-filled. Courageous, faithful, caring, daring. A great hug-giver. Lover of life. Broken by it. A fighter to the bittersweet end.
Frances is survived by her daughter Josephine Wiley Reed, son-in-law Tomas Hudlicky, and grandson Jason Reed Hudlicky of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; daughter Susan Frances Reed, son-in-law Frankie M. Kelly, and grandchildren Liam Oisín Reed-Kelly and Rhiannon Mae Reed-Kelly of Boone, NC; son Laurie Tully Reed III, daughter-in-law Carolyn M. Dundon, and step-grandsons, Jesse Smith and Donny Philips of Bristol, Vermont; her sister Sara Scott Joyner Lockhart of Lansdale, PA; and nieces and nephews far and wide.
She is predeceased by her parents, Chloe Mae Scott (d. 1929) and Elisha Wiley Robert Joyner (d. 1961), her stepmother Josephine Matilda Reed Joyner (d. 1970); her beloved husband Laurie Tully Reed Jr. (d. 1991) and daughter Katherine Thompson Reed (d. 1991); and her sister Miriam Scott Joyner McRae (d. 1979).
There will be a wake in the home Monday evening, June 8, and a memorial celebration on Thursday, June 11, 4:00 p.m., in the little chapel at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Boone, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Rd, Suite 4, Boone, NC 28607-5038, and/or the Watauga County Humane Society capital campaign, P.O. Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Robert F. Griffith; Stephanie, Colleen, Sarah, Virginia, Janet, and Christy at Hospice of Watauga County; Mike Austin of Austin & Barnes Crematory; Dee Dundon, her neighbor and friend of 43 years; and Zan Valliant.

Billie Kincaid Sipes
Ms. Billie Kincaid Sipes, 54, of Robin Lane, Boone, died Thursday afternoon, June 11, 2009 at home.
She was born in Caldwell County, Jan. 7, 1955, a daughter of the late Bill and Eva Lee Ellison Kincaid.
Ms. Sipes was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are: one daughter, Dawn Harmon and husband, James; and one son, David Miller; one granddaughter, Eva Grace Harmon, all of Boone; three sisters, Iva Dean Proffit and husband, Earl, of Todd, Libby Ward and husband, Rev. David Ward of Sugar Grove, Janie Beach and husband, Tim, of Boone; three brothers, Robbie Kincaid of Boone, Tony Kincaid and wife, Cathy, of Todd, and Mike Kincaid of Sugar Grove.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Eva Lee Ellison Kincaid; and a sister, Minnie Bryan.
Memorial services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating were the Rev. Eric Proffit and the Rev. David Ward.
Memorials may be made to the family in care of Dawn Harmon, 2621 Meat Camp Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
The family received friends Sunday afternoon prior to the service from 1:30 until 3 o’clock.
Online condolences may be made to the Sipes family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Sipes family.