Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, July 14, 2003 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Monday, July 14, 2003 Today's Deaths Glen Edwards Hopkins, 59, Marion Mary Lee Smith Wallace, 63, Cleveland, Va. Rosie Harr Willen, 88, Piney Flats Earl W. Yates, 90 Helen K. Baker BLUFF CITY -- Helen K. Baker, age 74, 1073 Mount Holston Road, went to be with the Lord, Friday, July 11, 2003, at her residence. She was born Nov. 12, 1928, a daughter of the late Edgar and Dollie Susan Smith, and was a lifelong resident of the Mount Holston Community. She was a member of the Bluff City Chapter 414 of the Eastern Star and attended the Mount Holston Baptist Church. She was the widow of Howard Lee "Bud" Baker Sr. and was preceded in death by a sister, Nellie Larimer. Survivors include children, Dianna Buchanan and husband Frank and Howard Lee "Sonny" Baker and wife Janet; grandchildren, Rallie Buchanan, Jack Baker, Jordan Baker and Howard Lee Baker III; brother, Omer Smith; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, in the Mount Holston Baptist Church, with Dr. Dennis Fields and Dr. Danzel Fink officiating. Burial will follow in the Crumley Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jerry Baker, Bob Baker, Jeremy Baker, Charles Robert Jenkins, Jack Payne and Allen Pope. Honorary pallbearers will be Howard Robbins, Bill Baker, Johnny Webb and Clifton "Tip" Jenkins. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Edgar Charles The funeral service for Edgar Charles will be conducted at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning in the National Cemetery at Mountain Home, with Fred Charles officiating. Burial will follow. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Monday evening at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley- cook.com. Mr. Charles, 79, died Thursday, July 10, 2003, at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tenn. Mr. Charles and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, Volunteer Parkway, Bristol Tennessee. Jewell Lee Grizzle ST. PAUL, Va. -- The funeral service for Jewell Lee Grizzle will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. John A. Kiser officiating. Burial will follow in the Kiser Family Cemetery, Carbo. Serving the family as pallbearers will be Billy Joe Grizzle, Michael Grizzle, Mitchell McReynolds, Curtis Powers, Jeff Chandler and Scottie Williams. Mrs. Grizzle, 51, died Thursday, July 10, 2003, in the Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. Hazel Hickman Harr BLOUNTVILLE -- Graveside services for Hazel Hickman Harr will be conducted at noon Monday, July 14, 2003, in Harr Family Cemetery on Seneker Lane, Blountville. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Harr at akardfh@peercom.net. Mrs. Harr died Friday, July 11, 2003, in Wellmont Hospice House. Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Harr. Fred G. Hawkins NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Funeral services for Mr. Fred Garland Hawkins will be conducted Monday at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Stafford Compton officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Hawkins, age 78, of 51 Huxley Place, formerly of Raven, Va., died Thursday, July 10, 2003, at a Newport News hospital, following a brief illness. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Glen E. Hopkins MARION, Va. -- Glen Edwards Hopkins, age 59, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 13, 2003, at his home in Marion. He was born in Smyth County to the late Paul V. and Susie Elizabeth Heffinger Hopkins. He was a dedicated member of the Lowman Valley Church who loved to preach about Jesus and the Gospel. Survivors include wife of 40 years, Betty Hopkins; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Amy Hopkins, Marion; one daughter, Susie Hopkins, Marion; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Shelby Hopkins, Chilhowie and Nathan and Jane Hopkins, Marion; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Jean Hopkins, Marion and Faye and Wayne Wright, Greeneville, Tenn.; and several special nieces, nephews and many, many friends also survive. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Monday from the Bradley's Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with Brother Michael Hopkins, Brother Larry Hopkins and Brother Steve Hutton officiating. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Lowman Valley Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Lowman Valley Church Building Fund. Bradley's Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the Hopkins family. Jackie Lynn King BLUFF CITY -- Jackie Lynn King, age 61, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, July 12, 2003, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. A lifelong resident of the Bristol area, he was born Oct. 23, 1941, to the late James Cecil "Jack" and Edith Virginia Hagy King. He was an electrician, was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Leroy King. Survivors include wife, Frances Osborne King; two sons, Kevin King and wife, Leslie, Bristol Tennessee, and Kelly Wayne King of the home; two daughters, Katrina Hamby and husband, Tony, Bristol Tennessee, and Kristi Nelson and husband, John, Bristol Tennessee; two granddaughters, Katie King and Jordan Nelson; stepmother, Rachel King; three sisters, Mrs. Bradley K. (Mary Sue) Johnson, Piney Flats, Mrs. Ralph (Beverly) Hall Jr., Piney Flats and Mrs. Bobby (Carol) Booher, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Lewis D. and Carol King, Bluff City, and Danny W. and Vera King, Piney Flats; half sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Keith Cross, Bristol Tennessee; half brother, Billy Hutton, Abingdon; several nieces; nephew; and special dog, "Rusty." Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Scott Price and Brother Tony Hamby officiating. The committal will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Glenwood Cemetery. Special thanks to Bristol Dialysis Center and Wellmont staff on 4 West and Dr. Doug Green at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. prior to the service at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Jackie Lynn King. Nell Ruth Owens NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. -- Mrs. Nell Ruth Owens, age 72, passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mason W. Owens; her parents, Baughn and Cirga Wimmer; and one sister, Marilyn Young. Survivors include her daughter, Verna Crouthers of Tennessee; one grandson, William Crouthers of Washington; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Linda Collins and Lorene Lemons, both of Arkansas, and Lela Cotter and Betty Palmer, both of Washington; one sister-in-law and two brothers-in-law, Ed and Gay Childress and Lester Clark, all of Honaker. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Clark Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Va., with Rev. Jerry Clark officiating. Interment will follow. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to assemble at the cemetery. Honaker Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Eugene Ratliff DAVENPORT, Va. -- Mr. Eugene Ratliff, age 56, of the Hurricane section, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, July 12, 2003, in a Kingsport hospital. Born Dec. 7, 1946, in Buchanan County, Va., he was a son of the late Lon Ratliff and Irene Perkins Ratliff Ray. A lifelong resident of the Buchanan County area, he was a graduate of Council High School and a member of the Full Gospel House of Prayer at Drill, Va. A U.S. Army veteran, he had served in Vietnam. He was a retired coal miner, having been employed by Clinchfield Coal Company. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Claude Ray. Survivors include his wife, Brenda Ratliff of the home; one daughter and son-in- law, Paula and Larry Owens of Council, Va.; one son, Zacharias Ratliff of Prestonsburg, Ky.; one brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Cathy Ray of Hurricane, Va.; one sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jim Brown of Sterling, Va.; two grandsons, Ryan Owens and Ethaniel Ratliff; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Basil and Beulah Gibson of Sheffield Lake, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Gerald Lester officiating. Interment will follow in the Frank Smith Cemetery on Big A Mountain, Va. Pallbearers will be Eric Wampler, Jerry Ray, Lester Ray, Giles Ball, Guy Tiller, Walter Jackson, Lin Hess and Joe Presley. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Vance, Grayson Perkins, Guy Ray, Keithel Breeding, Gary Smith, Don Wampler, David Harris and the men of the Full Gospel House of Prayer. Military graveside honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 164 of Grundy. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Monday, where an evening service will be conducted at 7 p.m., with Rev. Carson Powers and Rev. Peerman Lester officiating. Kermit M. Thomas GLADE SPRING, Va. -- Kermit M. Thomas, age 69, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2003, at his residence. He was a life long resident of Washington County, Va., and was the son of the late James Mack and Lola Jane Thomas. He was a retired dairy farmer and was a member of the Glade Hills Church of God. Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Margie E. Thomas; one son, Roger Thomas and his wife, Elsie, of Glade Spring; four daughters, Ruthie Abrams and her husband, Tim, of Meadowview, Renie Widener and her husband, Tim, of Meadowview, Rachel Nichols and her husband, Ronnie, of Glade Spring and Mary Hicks and her husband, John, of Glade Spring; two sisters, Esther Thomas and Lois Barlow, both of Glade Spring; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one grandson-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in the Glade Hills Church of God in Glade Spring, with Rev. James L. DeBord and Rev. Kenneth Poston officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Pallbearers will be the following grandsons: Doug Thomas, Mack Thomas, Chad Abrams, Rodney Nichols, Kellie Nichols and John "P-Wee" Hicks. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Wyatt, Anthony Hicks, Cody Hicks, Josh Widener and Devon Wyatt. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, at Garrett Funeral Home or at anytime at the residence. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Mr. Thomas. Mary Lee Wallace CLEVELAND, Va. -- Mary Lee Smith Wallace, 63, died Saturday, July 12, 2003, at home. Born March 13, 1940, in Russell County, the daughter of the late Dave Smith and Lillian Breeding Smith, she was an employee of Teleflex Automotive in Lebanon. She was a member of the Cleveland Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Carrinette Wallace, Orlando, Fla., and Michelle Artrip and husband Benny, Cleveland; a son, Dave Wallace, Kissimmee, Fla.; four grandchildren, Sarah Artrip, Justin Artrip, Jessee Artrip and Bree Alexandria. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2003, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Russell Baldwin and the Rev. Rick Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Puckett-Amos Cemetery in Reeds Valley near Cleveland. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at the funeral home. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the Wallace family. Mary Jane Wheeler ABINGDON -- A committal service for Mrs. Mary Jane Wheeler will be conducted Monday at 11 a.m. in the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, with Rev. John Stapleton. Pallbearers will be David Cross, David Burnette, Donald Hinchey, Floyd McVey, Ralph Price and Adam Hamilton. Honorary pallbearer will be Harold Hilt. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 246, Abingdon, VA 24212. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Wheeler, age 70, died peacefully at home, July 11, 2003, and is now with the Lord. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Wheeler. Rosie Harr Willen PINEY FLATS -- Rosie Harr Willen, age 88, of 886 Fairview School Road, went home to be with the Lord Saturday evening, July 12, 2003, at her residence. Born on March 20, 1915, in Blountville, a daughter of the late Henry T. and Ella Moore Harr, she has resided in this area her entire life. Mrs. Willen was a homemaker and a member of Bethel View Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Willen; one daughter, Geneva Slaughter; two sisters, Margaret Hicks and Kathleen Ketron; and two brothers, Claude Harr and Howard Harr. Survivors include five daughters, Mary E. Thompson, Leona Gibson, Darlene Garrett and Judy Pope, all of Blountville, and Dinah Mitchell of Greeneville, Tenn.; two sons, Ardean Willen of Newark, Del., and Richard Willen of Piney Flats; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. John Culp and staff, Dr. Michael Bible and staff and to Wellmont Hospice. Calling hours will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, at East Lawn Funeral Home and at other hours at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2003, in the chapel, with the Rev. John Rayburn and the Rev. Michael J. Pope. Burial will follow graveside services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in Gunnings Cemetery. Those attending the graveside services are asked to assemble at the graveside by 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Please visit us at www.mem.com to place a condolence to the Willen Family. East Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Earl W. Yates Earl W. Yates, 90, passed from this life at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 2003, at his home after an extended illness. He was born and resided in Buchanan County, Va., where he was employed as a coal miner until he moved his family to Sullivan County, Tenn., in 1959. Mr. Yates was a member of the Central Church of Christ of Johnson City. He owned and operated the Beulah Park Shell Service Station from 1959 to 1969 and Konnarock Shell Service Station from 1969 to 1972. He loved and enjoyed his family and friends and loved talking with people. Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Violet Keene Yates, Kingsport; two sons, Richard C. Yates and wife, JoAn, Yorktown, Va., and Frederick R. Yates and wife, Sherri, Phoenix, Ariz.; two daughters, Glenna Leonard and husband, Jim, Blountville and Brenda Steadman and husband, Pat, Statesboro, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Casey Steadman, Atlanta, James Leonard and wife, Peggy, Limestone, Tenn., Krista Renee Enright and husband, Matt, Atlanta, Amanda Ward and husband, Jeff, Phoenix, Rich Yates and wife, Susan, Phoenix, Derrick Yates and wife, Andrea, Phoenix, Brent Steadman, Augusta, Ga., and Seth Yates, Phoenix; three great-grandchildren, Jonathan Leonard, Katrina Ward and Christopher Leonard; two brothers-in-law, Melvin Keene Jr. and wife, Anna Rae, Grundy and Aldy Keene and wife, Jackie, Elkton, Md.; a sister-in-law, Nell Tedder, Lansing, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hamlett- Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport Chapel. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in funeral home chapel, with Tim Hall officiating. Pallbearers are his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are his friends in Christ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Central Church of Christ Building Fund, P. O. Box 4021, Johnson City, TN 37602-3961 or Parkinson Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032-9982. E-mail condolences may be sent to violet.yates@charter.net.