Archived

Beulah Mae Coffey
Mrs. Beulah Mae Coffey, 85, of Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, died Tuesday evening, July 14, 2009 at home.
She was born in Watauga County, March 10, 1924, a daughter of the late Joseph Merritt and Sue Childs Coffey.
Mrs. Coffey was a member of the First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock where she served as a Sunday School teacher and a member of the WMU in her earlier years. She was a devoted loving wife and mother who will never be forgotten. Beulah was a spiritual and compassionate friend to all, and loved doing things for others. She was a kind gentle soul who loved flowers and all living creatures and never met a stranger. Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker, and also worked for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Blowing Rock, and served as a voter Registrar for the town.
Surviving are one daughter; Judith C. Wesson of Blowing Rock; one son, Joe David Coffey and wife, Cathy, of Snowmass Village, Colo.; two grandsons, Michael Jason Wesson and wife, Katrina, of Durham, and Samuel Ryan Coffey of Snowmass Village, Colo.; one granddaughter, Joanna Haley Coffey of Snowmass Village, Colo.; one sister; Evelyn Coffey Hollars of Greensboro; one brother, Joseph Merritt Coffey, Jr. and wife, Coni, of Dysart, Iowa; a number of nieces and nephews, including locally, Gail Pitts, Linda McCulloch and Cathy Wilson; and her beloved pets Sissey and Lily.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Hardin Blaine Coffey; and one brother, Richard Davis Coffey.
Services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Scott Courtney and the Rev. Dean Coffey. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday afternoon prior to the service from 1 o’clock until 2 o’clock at the funeral home.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Watauga County Humane Society, 200 Casey Lane, Boone, N.C. 28607 or to the Blowing Rock Hospital Residents Council Fund, PO Box 148, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605 or to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 North West 9th Avenue, Miami, Fla. 33136 or to High Country Health Care System Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Online condolences may be sent to the Coffey family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Coffey family.

William Clemmer ‘Bill’ Rhyne
Mr. William Clemmer “Bill” Rhyne, 83, of Linville, N.C., formerly of Raleigh, N.C., passed away on Saturday, July 11, at Cannon Memorial Hospital, Linville, N.C., after a brief illness.
He was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Gastonia, N.C., a son of the late Robert Love Rhyne and Annie Mae Clemmer.
Mr. Rhyne graduated from Gastonia High School in 1943, having been the school photographer. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted immediately in the U.S. Navy and served on the DE USS Halloran for two years in the Pacific, including engagements at Okinawa and Iwo Jima. After serving in the military, Bill graduated from NC State University in 1951 with a BS in Rural Sociology.
He was an insurance agent in Charlotte and Lexington, N.C., in the early l950’s. He established his own insurance agency in 1957 in Bradenton, Fla., and then in 1964 moved to Raleigh, N.C. In 1972 he founded Rhyne Associates, a property management company, with his wife. Bill was a member of Highland United Methodist Church, the Copa Dance Club and the Lords and Ladies Dance Club.
In 1986, upon retirement, he moved to Linville Land Harbor, Linville, N.C.
Bill and Marian were square dancers and in recent years Bill came to love swing dancing and shagging. They were members of the Boone Shag Club, the Brushy Mountain Shag Club and the Sandy Beach Shag Club. He was an avid photographer, and in the recent past some of his work was displayed at various venues in the area. He donated a number of his photographs, now on display, to the Behavioral Health Center, Outpatient Unit at Cannon Memorial Hospital. Bill was also a volunteer at the hospital. He was a member of Newland United Methodist Church, where he served on several committees and was the “unofficial” church photographer.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marian Weddington Rhyne; two daughters, Linda Rhyne of Charlotte, N.C.; Candace Blackley and husband, Ron, of Apex, N.C.; one son, Steve Rhyne and wife, Amy, of Asheville, N.C.; six grandchildren, Heather, Patrick, Joshua, Emily, Julia and Abbey. He is also survived by two sisters, Frances Grissom of Memphis, Tenn., and Dorothy Kimbrell of Gastonia, N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of William Clemmer “Bill” Rhyne will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 2 p.m., at Newland United Methodist Church, Newland, N.C. The family will receive visitors in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Newland United Methodist Church, Highway 194, Newland and Volunteer Avery, PO Box 447, Newland, N.C. 28657.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Rhyne family.

Leon S. Silver
Rev. Leon S. Silver, 81, of 3133 Chestnut Hill Road, Crumpler, died Monday, July 13, 2009, at his home.
He was born March 25, 1928 in Burke County, a son of the late Joseph and Ollie Hall Silver.
Mr. Silver was a retired meat cutter for A&P Grocery Store and a member of Scottville Baptist Church in Ashe County. He also was a Major (Retired) in the National Guard for 42 years and was a pilot. Rev. Silver served churches in Watauga and Avery Counties, including Bailey Camp Baptist Church, Sandy Flats Baptist Church, and Long Ridge Baptist Church. He was well known as an accomplished artist and wooden toy maker.
Survivors include his wife, Claudine Coffey Silver; two daughers, Mary Dean Silver of Boone and Rebecca Ann Silver of Crumpler; three sons, Steven S. Silver and wife, Mary Stuart-Silver, of Boone, Randall L. Silver and wife, Wanda, of Blowing Rock, and Joseph C. Silver of Crumpler; two sisters, Ruth Haigler and husband, Rene, and Barbara Pigg and husband, Joseph, all of Lenoir; ten grandchildren, Athen Silver and fiancée, Hilary, and Steven Silver and wife, Angela, all of Boone; Cameron Cooke and husband, Derek, of High Point, James Taylor and wife, Kathy, of Bluff City, Tenn., Nick Taylor and wife, Stephanie, of Boone, Zachary Taylor and fiancée, Emily, of Boone, Amanda Taylor of Boone, Anita Silver-Barnwell and husband, G.W., of Asheville, Aaron Silver and fiancée, Lela, of Blowing Rock, and Allison Silver and fiancé, Chris, of Boone; and seven great-grandchildren, Gracie and Makayla Silver of Boone, Sean, and Sierra Taylor of Bluff City, Chase Taylor-Sudderth of Boone, and Connor and Randall Barnwell, both of Asheville. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Services were conducted Wednesday afternoon, July 15, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was the Rev. Max West. Military graveside rites and burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cyberknife Center, in care of Wellmont-Bristol Medical Center, 1 Medical Park Boulevard, Bristol, Tenn. 37620.
Online condolences may be sent to the Silver family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Benjamin Franklin Tugman
Mr. Benjamin Franklin Tugman, 80, of Winston-Salem, passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at his home.
He was born May 19, 1929 in Watauga County to Thomas Jonathan and Essie Jackson Tugman.
Mr. Tugman was retired from McLean Trucking Company with 31 years of service.
Surviving are four sons, Jim (Diane) Tugman of Pfafftown, Dan (Sue) Tugman, Glenn (Donna) Tugman and Don Tugman, all of Winston-Salem; two daughters, Ella Willard and Joyce Tugman, both of Winston-Salem; three sisters, Ruth Watson of Ferguson, Edith “Peggy” (Don) Arey of Staunton, Va. and Carrie Canter of Winston-Salem; ten grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 46 years, Mary “Betsy” Tugman; three brothers, Bill, Wade and Glenn Tugman; and one sister, Mary Moody.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday at Parklawn Memorial Park with Chaplain Randy Hillman officiating. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.
Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

July 15, 2009

Doris Elsie Potter
Mrs. Doris E. “Granny” Potter, 86, of 849 Greggs Branch Road, Butler, Tenn., passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2009, at the Watauga Medical Center of Boone, N.C.
She was born on Jan. 31, 1923 to the late David and Hattie McElyea Potter.
Mrs. Potter was a faithful member of Sugar Grove Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir, was an assistant Sunday school teacher and cleaned the church for many years.
Survivors include four daughters, Evelyn Cable and husband, Jessee, of Butler, Tenn., Jeanette Greene and husband, Rev. Ray Greene, of Vilas, N.C., Roetta Harmon and husband, Ronald, of Boone, N.C., and Elouise Fletcher and husband, Paul, of Butler, Tenn.; one son, Truman Potter and wife, Edith, of Mountain City, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Kathleen Hodges of Johnson City, Tenn., Betty Jenkins of Mountain City, Tenn. and Eula Hatley of Hudson, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Potter; one daughter, Montine Potter Clawson; one son, Bud Potter; four brothers; and four sisters.
The family received friends on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Sugar Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Greg Thompson leading in a special prayer.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at Sugar Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Ray Greene, the Rev. Eric Cornett and the Rev. Doug Ranshaw officiating.
A graveside service and interment will follow from the Sugar Grove Cemetery with Pastor Ray Sorrels and the Rev. Bill Warren officiating.
Active Pallbearers will be Joe Clawson, Jeff Cable, Myron Harmon, Phillip Clawson, Walter Norris and Lyle Wolfe.
Honorary Pallbearers will be grandsons Kevin Potter, Lester Potter, Jason Clawson, Tony Swift, Ernest Pope, Brad Dugger, Jeffery Williams and Steve Poole; Staff of Mountain City Care Center and Staff of Watauga Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mountain City Care Center, 919 Medical Park Drive, Mountain City, TN 37683.
At other times, friends may call at the residence of Evelyn Cable, 818 Greggs Branch Road, Butler, TN 37640.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff of Mountain City Care Center and Watauga Medical center for the loving care shown to Mrs. Potter.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.
Mountain City Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

July 13, 2009

Clarica White Anderson
Mrs. Clarica White Anderson, 88, of Grand Blvd., Boone, died Saturday morning, July 11, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.
She was born Sept. l6, 1920 in Watauga County to Luther White and Bina Lyons White Townsend.
Mrs. Anderson retired as the bakery manager for Giant Food Stores in Annandale, Va.
She is survived by one son, Gary G. Anderson and wife, Marie, of Vilas; one granddaughter, Lynn Anderson Clary and husband, David, of Cornelius; two great-granddaughters, Lindsay and Addison Clary, both of Cornelius; two sisters, Irene Henson of Roanoke, Va. and Norma Henson and husband, Elwood, of Alexandria, Va.; two sisters-in-law, Rosalee Townsend of Chapin, S.C. and Kate Burkett of Zionville; and one aunt, Daisy Lyons Adams of Boone. Several nieces, nephews and the Ollie Baird family also survive.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Glenn William Anderson; her second husband, Howard James “Andy” Anderson; her step-father, R. H. Townsend, Sr.; one brother, R. H. Townsend, Jr.; and one brother-in-law, Dean C. Henson.
Services will be conducted Tuesday evening, July 14, 2009, at 7:30 at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Mr. Kenneth Caswell. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 until 7:30, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. At other times, the family will be at the home of Gary and Marie Anderson, Laurel Fork Road, Vilas.
Graveside services will be conducted Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Anderson family.

Carl Jackson Carter
Mr. Carl Jackson Carter, 70, of Warrensville, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson.
He was born in Ashe County to the late Mathis and Ruby Badger Carter.
Mr. Carter served in the United States Army. He loved to read and work in his garden.
Survivors include Beryl Carter of Lansing, N.C.; one son, Eddie Carter and wife, Lesia, of Crumpler, N.C.; two daughters, Sherry Carter of Lansing, N.C. and Carla Propst and husband, Lonnie, of Vilas, N.C.; one brother, Norris Carter of Fleetwood, N.C.; one sister, Sylvia Carter Barker of Lansing, N.C.; four grandchildren, Kayla Carter, Ashley Carter, Jacob Propst, and Jackson Propst; special friends, Gay and James Rose; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Friday, July 10, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Badger Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charlie McCoy and the Rev. Tommy Stevens officiating. Burial followed in the Perry Cemetery in Lansing. The family received friends from 1-2 p.m. Friday prior to the funeral service at Badger Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Perry Cemetery Fund, c/o Mark Hart, 4368 Big Horse Creek Road, Lansing, N.C. 28643. Condolences may be sent or can be viewed at www.badgerfuneralhome.com. Badger Funeral Home of West Jefferson, N.C. was entrusted with these arrangements.

Chloe Cannon Presnell
Mrs. Chloe Cannon Presnell, 79, of 211 Milton Brown Heirs Road, Boone, died Friday morning, July 10, 2009, at Glenbridge Health Care.
She was born March 23, 1930 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Leonard John Cannon and Daisy Icenhour Cannon.
Mrs. Presnell was a retired employee of Taylorsville Furniture.
Survivors include her husband, Richard H. Presnell; one son, Tony Presnell and wife, Lois, of Banner Elk; one daughter, Sandy Fekete and husband, Steven, of Lenoir; three sisters, Melvina Conrad and Ivalee Willingham, both of Hudson, and Ruby Hagaman of Sugar Grove; and one brother, J.R. Cannon of Hudson. She is also survived by one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
There will be no funeral services for Mrs. Chloe Cannon Presnell.
Online condolences may be sent to the Presnell family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Roland Claude Simmons
Mr. Roland Claude Simmons, 70, of Hickory, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2009, at Walden House.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be made at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com
Bass-Smith Granite is serving the family of Mr. Roland Claude Simmons.

Mary Lee Watson
Mrs. Mary Lee Watson, 100, of 303 Pine Drive NW, Aiken, S.C., died Friday evening, July 10, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center in Boone.
She was born April 19, 1909 in Aiken, S.C., a daughter of the late John and Iva Redd Taylor.
Mrs. Watson was a resident of Boone for the past six years. She was a long-time member of St. John United Methodist Church in Graniteville, S.C., where she was head of the Junior Department, and later became Sunday School Teacher of the Loyalty Class. She was best known for her culinary skills and especially for her chili and her peach pie.
Survivors include one daughter, Jan C. Watson of Boone; one brother, Willis Arthur and wife, Emily, of Camden, S.C.; one brother-in-law, Jerry Duchow of Charlotte; two nieces, Betty B. Chapman of Aiken and Teri Salane of Columbia, S.C.; and two nephews, Osma Hutson and wife, Sallie, of Spartanburg, S.C., and Randy Arthur and wife, Jane, of Charlotte. She is also survived by a number of grand nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, C.J. "Pert" Watson; five sisters, Lucille Johnson, Elizabeth Fox, Johnsie Bradley, Frances Duchow, and Ruth "Jackie" Hutson, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and burial will be conducted Wednesday afternoon, July 15, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Aiken Memorial Park in Aiken, S.C.
The family will receive friends following the graveside service, at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John United Methodist Church, PO Box 38, Graniteville, S.C. 29828.
Online condolences may be sent to the Watson family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com. Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service of Boone, and Shellhouse Funeral Home, in Aiken, S.C. are in charge of the arrangements.