Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, August 24, 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 Sunday, August 24, 2003 Today's Deaths David C. Bolling Jr., 76, Bristol Tennessee Polly James Johnson, Elizabethton Gary Brown Mottern, 53 Rebecca L. Necessary, 38, Damascus Dallas Clayton Owens, 59, Gray, Tenn. Ira Curtis Rasnake, 69, Birchleaf, Va. Louis Shuman, 88, Abingdon Walter M. Slaughter, 94, Bristol Virginia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David C. Bolling Jr. BRISTOL, Tenn. -- David C. "Ol' Blue" Bolling Jr., age 76, went to be with Lord, Friday, Aug. 22, 2003. A native and lifelong resident of the Bristol area, born July 14, 1927, he was a son of the late David C. Sr. and Florence Brown Bolling. He was an employee with TVA and was retired from Fluor Construction Company and he was owner and operator of Bolling Produce Market. He was an avid bowler, loved to dance and loved sports -- football and baseball. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War, was a member of the Avoca Christian Church and was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Jane Campbell Bolling. Survivors include five daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and Phil Tuell, Blountville, Debbie and Allen Johnson, Bristol Tennessee, Karen and Mike Duckett, Bristol Virginia, Lori and Barron Herrington, Sharpsburg, Md., and Amy and Chris Barkley, Bristol Tennessee; three brothers, Dub Bolling, Bristol Tennessee, Walt Bolling, Bristol Tennessee, and Jack Bolling, Arcadia, Okla.; two sisters, Nell Simerly, Bristol Tennessee, and Ann Lawson, Blountville; grandchildren, Brent Tuell, Brian Tuell, Cody Johnson, Dace Johnson, Megan Duckett, Morgan Duckett, Caleb Herrington, Levi Hardin and Wyatt Barkley, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Bob Robinson officiating. The committal will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Glenwood Cemetery Mausoleum, with burial in the Glenwood Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975. Honorary pallbearers will be sons-in-law and grandsons. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Sunday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Joshua Allen Carrier BLUFF CITY -- Funeral services for Joshua Allen Carrier will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Frank Blevins and Rev. Darrell Pickle officiating. The burial will follow in Susong Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rocky H. Hayes, Shane Trivette, Allen Trivette, Travis Trivette, Rocky M. Hayes and Travis Rush. Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Cox, Mikey Cox, Edwin McCarthy, Mickey Hyatt and classmates at East High School. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:45 p.m. prior to the service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mr. Carrier, age 18, of 570 Cedar St., died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, at his residence. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Lester Collins TAYLORS VALLEY, Va. -- The committal service for Lester Collins will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in the Mausoleum Chapel of Monte Vista Memorial Park, Johnson City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren, c/o Beth Richardson, 23660 Taylor Valley Road, Damascus, VA 24236 or the Mt. Rogers Volunteer Rescue and Fire Department, P. O. Box 47, White Top, VA 24292. Condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Mr. Collins, age 87, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is serving the family of Lester Collins. Luther R. Dotson VANSANT, Va. -- Mr. Luther R. Dotson, age 70, of the Fletcher Ridge section, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, in a Bristol Tennessee hospital. Born May 25, 1933, in Drill, Va., he was a son of the late Conley and Catherine Lowe Dotson. He was a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant, having served in the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. He received various awards including Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal and Sigmond Ree Citation. He was a disabled coal miner, having been employed by Island Creek Coal Company. He attended Fletcher Ridge Free Will Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one infant son, his previous wife, Phyllis Jackson Dotson, five brothers and six sisters. Survivors include his wife, Ola Dotson of the home; three daughters, Lynn Mathis and Tammy Fuller, both of Honaker, and Toni Viers of Council, Va.; one son, Tim Dotson of Bristol Virginia; one stepdaughter, Patty Dorton and her husband Carl of Vansant; three stepsons, Tommy Jackson and his wife Jennifer of Vansant, Michael Jackson and his wife Mary of Fredricksburg, Va., and David Ray and his wife Henrietta of Vansant; two sisters, Ruby Barton of Lebanon and Fannie Lester of Drill, Va.; six grandchildren and four step-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Troy Harris and Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Interment will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens at Lebanon. Pallbearers will be Dean Vance, Bobby Vance, Willard Meade, Tommy Jackson, Michael Jackson, David Ray, Byron Dorton and Neil Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Lester and the men of the Fletcher Ridge Free Will Baptist Church. Military graveside honors will be conducted by VFW Post 9864 of Lebanon. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Sunday. Polly James Johnson ELIZABETHTON -- Polly James Johnson, 201 W. Mill St., died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at Johnson City Medical Center Hospital following a brief illness. A native of Boone, N.C., she was the daughter of the late William M. and Callie Miller James. She was of the Baptist faith. She was owner/operator of Betsy Beauty Salon and had been instructor for Paul's School of Hair Design. She was a member of National Hair Dresser Association. She was also a member of Order of Eastern Star 163. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Johnson, two sisters, Lahoma Taylor and Margaret Greenwell, and two brothers, Jesse James and Vilas Miller. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Sherry Johnson, Blountville; daughter and son-in-law, Glenda and Joseph Broyles, Johnson City; one granddaughter, Becky Jenkins, Gray; three grandsons, Tim Vines, Jonesborough, Aron Johnson, Jonesborough and Dewey Johnson, Johnson City; four great-grandchildren, Landon Jenkins and Lauryn Jenkins, both of Gray, and Meghan Vines and Andrew Vines, both of Jonesborough, and special friends, Jean Shelton, Germaine Greer and Eula Mae Morrell, all of Elizabethton. The funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at Tetrick Funeral Home Chapel of Peace, with Rev. Don Page officiating. Music will be under the direction of Kim Garland. Committal and entombment services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at Mausoleum of Peace, Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be emergency room doctors and nurses at Johnson City Medical Center Hospital, ICU, 3300 Wing at Johnson City Medical Center Hospital and Jim Leslie. The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at the funeral home chapel or friends may call at the residence, 201 Mill St., Elizabethton, on Sunday, from noon - 4 p.m. or Monday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home, 423-542-2232. Jimmy P. Martin BRISTOL, Tenn . -- Jimmy P. Martin, 72, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born in Bristol, a son of the late Carl and Nellie Wagner Martin, and lived most of his life here. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and had served in personal sales and sales management with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company since 1958. He was a member of Reynolds Memorial United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Countiss Martin; two sons, Bill Martin and his wife Deborah of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and Jimmy Martin and his wife Cathy of Tampa, Fla.; three grandchildren, Amanda, Carl and Billie Renee Martin, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 o'clock Monday morning in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with Rev. Ralph M. Kidd Jr. and Rev. Malcolm Wansley officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Caldwell Jr., Greg Countiss, Barry Countiss, Jimmy Lawrence, Seth Lawrence and Jim Robinette. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Countiss, Rick Goad, Walter Hawkins, David Hughes and Tom McGlothlin. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Sunday evening at Oakley- Cook Funeral Home. The family recognizes with grateful appreciation the support of Doctors Jane Toothman, Jeffrey Allerton, Ben Cowan Jr. and Sue Prill, Doctors Jack Butterworth and Greg Griffith and the entire staff of Bristol Urological Associates; the nursing staff of 2 West at Bristol Regional Medical Center and the Wellmont Home Health nurses. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting to www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Martin and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Gary Brown Mottern Gary Brown Mottern, age 53, passed away after a brief illness on Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at the North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, Fla. Gary was the son of Mack H. Mottern of Bristol Tennessee and the late Helen Brown Mottern. Kraeer Funeral Home in Pompano Beach is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete. Local information courtesy of Weaver Funeral Home. Rebecca L. Necessary DAMASCUS -- Rebecca L. Necessary, age 38, of the Green Cove Community, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at her residence. She was born July 22, 1965, in Abingdon to James and Janie Cross Necessary. Surviving: parents, James and Janie Necessary of the home; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Alan Necessary, Elizabethtown, Ky., Tom and Michelle Necessary, Green Cove, Va.; one sister and brother-in-law, Angela and Dennis Blevins, Whitetop, Va., and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles also survive. The body is at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence, Va. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, in Green Cove Christian Church, with interment in Green Cove Cemetery, with Brother Harley Farmer and Brother Dennis Blevins officiating. The body will be brought to the church Sunday evening, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 325 Cummings St., Abingdon, VA 24210 or Mount Rogers Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 47, Whitetop, VA 24292. The family will be at the residence, 24151 Buckeye Hollow Road in Green Cove, where friends may call at any time. The family wants to extend their heartfelt thanks to Wilma Shumate and all the aides who took such loving care of Becky for all those years. In our thanks, we also want to include all the very special people who work for Hospice and a big "thank you" to Dr. Janice Gable who has always listened to our concerns and gave Becky such loving care. We are most grateful to all the people who have touched our lives through the caring of Becky. May God bless all of you. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Independence, in charge of arrangements. Dallas C. Owens GRAY, Tenn. -- Mr. Dallas Clayton Owens, 59, 125 Rockingham Road, died on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at his residence following an extended illness. A native of Tazewell, Va., he was the adopted son of the late Robert Stewart and Mary Etta Whitt Owens. Honorably serving his country for 20 years in the U.S. Army, Mr. Owens served three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired from the Army in 1982. Mr. Owens was a member of the Capt. Lynn H. Folsom VFW Post 166 in Elizabethton. He loved playing pinochle and was a coin collector. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Wood Owens, Gray; a daughter, Shelia Mowdy, Gray; three sons, Glen Owens and his fiancÈe, Debbie Baird, both of Gray; Barry Owens and his wife, Anita, Lebanon; and Steven Owens and his fiancÈe, Christy Ann Shell, both of Limestone; his mother, Doris Taylor, Parisburg, Va.; four granddaughters, Chelsey Owens, Christal Mowdy and Ashley Mowdy, all of Gray, and Danielle Owens, Lebanon; four grandsons, Patrick Owens and Dylan Mowdy, both of Gray, and Robert Owens and Joshua Owens, both of Lebanon. The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Owens will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, in the Sunrise Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Services, with Brothers Jimmy Moore, Ronnie Beavers, Elmer Lester and Willard Owens officiating. Music will be under the direction of Hope Primitive Baptist Church Choir. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. and continue until the service hour on Monday. The committal service will be held in the chapel following the funeral, with military honors being conducted by the Charles Dewitt Byrd VFW Post 3382 of Kingsport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society, 508 Princeton Road, Suite 102, Johnson City, TN 37601. Condolences may be sent to the Owens family via our Web site, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services, 3001 Peoples St., Johnson City, 423-610- 7171, is in charge of arrangements for the Owens family. Ira Curtis Rasnake BIRCHLEAF, Va. -- Mr. Ira Curtis "Curt" Rasnake, age 69, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, in Southhampton Memorial Hospital. Born Dec. 3, 1933, in Buchanan County, Va., he was a son of the late Roy and Venia Barton Rasnake. He had spent most of his life in the area and was a farmer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Jason Rasnake, one sister, Dolly Coleman, and two brothers, Clyde Rasnake and Elmer Rasnake. Survivors include his former wife, Fayrene James Rasnake of Davenport, Va.; seven daughters, Glenda Deel of Vansant, Shirley Sullivan, Charlotte Presley and Becky Deel, all of Davenport, Alma Breeding of Bee, Va., Robin Dye of Lebanon and Joni Rasnake of Honaker; three sons, Ivan Rasnake of Hazel Mountain, Va., and Johnny Rasnake and Leon Rasnake both of Birchleaf; one sister, Rita Vance of Statesville, N.C.; one brother, Lee Roy Rasnake of Blacksburg, Va.; one stepbrother, Raymond Horn of Abingdon; two grandsons, Shawn Sullivan and Marty Rasnake; five granddaughters, Kimberly Sullivan, Brandy Rasnake, Carrie Breeding, Leann Presley and Kristin Deel; his stepmother, Grace Rasnake of Lebanon, and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Robert Tiller and Rev. Roy Lee Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in the Barton Cemetery on Sandy Ridge, Va. Pallbearers will be Ivan Rasnake, Shawn Sullivan, Randall Rasnake, Larry Coleman, Jerry Dye, Gary Rasnake and Kenny Rasnake. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Sunday. Louis Shuman ABINGDON -- Louis Shuman, a civic and business leader and former member of the Town Council and county Board of Supervisors, died Friday at his home. He was 88. Shuman was manager of Abingdon Harwood Co., a textiles manufacturer, for more than 35 years. He served on the Abingdon Town Council, the Washington County and Abingdon planning commissions, and the County Board of Supervisors. Shuman had been president of the Abingdon Rotary Club, the William King Parent- Teacher Association, the Virginia Highlands Festival and several other civic organizations. He was a member of B'Nai Sholom Congregation in Bristol, Tenn., and was a former congregation president. Shuman was a New York City native and a graduate of St. Johns University and New York Law School. He and his wife, the late Verbeth Shuman, moved here from New York in 1950, after he served in the Pacific as a member of the Army Air Corps during World War II. Survivors include a brother, Max Shuman of New York; a daughter, Leslie Kronz of Austin, Texas; a son, Kenny Shuman of Abingdon; and a granddaughter, Sidney Adele Clendenen Shuman of Abingdon. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to a favorite charity in his name. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials and messages of sympathy may be sent online at www.farrisfuneralservice.com or e-mailed to shu@netva.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., is in charge of the arrangements. Walter M. Slaughter BRISTOL, Va. -- Walter M. Slaughter, 94, went home to be with the Lord Friday, Aug. 22, 2003. He was born in Washington County, Va., and was a son of the late George W. and Mary Catherine (Kate) Pettyjohn Slaughter. He was a retired farmer in the Benhams community. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and attended Camp Ground United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by two wives, Margaret Catherine Slaughter and Rose Carter Slaughter, and a grandson, David Slaughter. He is survived by a daughter, Pat Smith of Bristol Tennessee; two sons, Marvin Slaughter and wife Sharon and Scott Slaughter and wife Carolyn, both of Bristol Virginia; five stepchildren, Ann Campbell and husband Dallas of Lynchburg, Va., Jane Jessee and husband Harold of Jacksonville, Fla., Joy Eveland and husband John of Monticello, Fla., Helen Bushnell of Palm Desert, Calif., and Rosemary Rankin of Hendersonville, N.C.; a brother, Arthur P. Slaughter of Bristol Virginia; four grandchildren, Sonya Owens, Chris Slaughter, Regina Slaughter and Kevin Slaughter; one step-granddaughter, Dianna Privette; three great- grandchildren, Kayla and Anna Owens and Kassidy Slaughter, and one step-great- granddaughter, Ashley Brown. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at the graveside in Camp Ground Cemetery, with Rev. Lester MacKinnon, Rev. Scott Price and Rev. Keith McGrew officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24, at Akard Funeral Home. Memorials may be sent to Camp Ground Cemetery Association or Camp Ground United Methodist Church. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mr. Slaughter at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Walter M. Slaughter. Helen F. Smith LINDEN, Mich. -- Funeral services for Mrs. Helen F. Smith will be conducted Monday at 11 a.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Clarence McCall officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands from 6 till 9 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. Smith, age 71, formerly of Richlands, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at her home following an extended 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. Bradley Strouth SWORDS CREEK, Va. -- Funeral services for Mr. Bradley Strouth will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Leo Hess and Rev. Edward Dye officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be Mitchell Hess, Nelson Hess, Lynn Hess, Lee Saunders, Scott Miller, Anthony Miller and Vince Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Miller, Tommy Whited, Randall Fuller, Dewayne Miller, David Miller and friends. Mr. Strouth, age 67, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at his home. Joyce D. Tester BRISTOL, Tenn. -- A graveside memorial service for Mrs. Joyce "Jo" Ann Dayton Tester will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, in Forest Hills Memory Gardens, with the Rev. Walter Statzer and the Rev. Jerry Fleenor. The family will receive friends Sunday evening at Mrs. Tester's residence, 2439 Broad St., Bristol, Tenn., from 7-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Wellmont Hospice, 280 Steele's Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mrs. Tester, 70, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at her residence. Farris Cremation & Funeral Center is serving the family of Joyce "Jo" Tester.