Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, January 30, 2004 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 Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 Today's Deaths Sammy L. Blevins, 72, Marion Jessie Allen Dillard, 62, Bristol Virginia Daniel Lee Fern, 51, Conover, N.C. William Goodman, 74, Bristol Virginia Lucille Bourne Horne, 89, Glade Spring Paul Pair, 58, Gray, Tenn. Virginia Ruth Puckett, 87, Pounding Mill, Va. Jane Barker Rush, 60, Abingdon Margaret Louise Sallie Salter, 69, Bristol Virginia Mary Ellen Shoemaker, 88 N.L. Baker Jr. BRISTOL, Va. – The burial for Norman Lester "N.L." Baker Jr. will be at 11 o’clock Friday morning, Jan. 30, 2004, in Booher’s Cemetery, with military rites presented by the Highlands Fellowship Veterans Honor Guard. Active pallbearers will be Gilbert Baker, Bradford Baker, Lloyd Baker, Ralph Baker, Tommy Baker, Wayne Anderson, Roger Hartsock and Howell Mumpower. Honorary pallbearers will be Norman Baker, Tom Baker, Vincent Baker, Claude Smith, Robert Booher and all the members of Lime Hill Baptist Church. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Baker Jr., 79, went home to be with our Savior, Christ the Lord, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, from the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tenn. Mr. Baker and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol Tennessee. Sammy L. Blevins MARION – Sammy L. Blevins, age 72, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, in Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. Survivors and funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Bradley’s Funeral Home of Marion. Anna Kate Breeding Earl B. Breeding CLEVELAND, Va. – The funeral service for Anna and Earl Breeding will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Rhea officiating. Burial will follow in Ketron Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Josh Erley, Jason Thomas, Steve Harder, Adam Rhea, Jack Thomas and Michael Saint. Honorary pallbearers will be Radfert Rhea, John Rhea and Dr. Dwight Bailey. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at the funeral home. Mrs. Breeding, 74, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, and her husband, Earl B. Breeding, 74, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, from injuries received in an automobile accident on Route 19 in Hansonville. Combs Funeral Service in Lebanon is serving the family of Mr. and Mrs. Breeding. Jessie Allen Dillard BRISTOL, Va. – Jessie Allen Dillard, age 62, of 2100 Catherine St., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was born July 15, 1941, in Bristol Virginia, to the late Keckle and Sallie Mitchell Dillard. He was a retired welder for Bristol Metals, where he worked for 15 years. He was a member of Fellowship Chapel. He is survived by wife of 33 years, Lillian G. Dillard. Also surviving: daughters, Sherrie Vaughn and husband J.R., Linda Roe and husband Tim and Yvonne Purdy and husband Randal; sons, Allen Dillard and wife Bobbie, Mike Sneed and wife Mary Beth, Steve Sneed and wife Lisa and Jeff Sneed and wife Lynn; sister, Geraldine South; brothers, Carson Mitchell and wife Eldine, Harmon Dillard and wife Sue and Larry Dillard and fiancée Vickie Cross; several nieces and nephews; 14 grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, Fred Dillard, Artie Dillard and Gene Dillard, and a granddaughter, Lisa Mitchell. Funeral services will be held Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at 3 p.m. at the Fellowship Chapel, with Rev. Scott Price and Rev. Lester MacKinnon officiating. Burial will follow in the Susong Cemetery. Pallbearers will be friends of the family. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 1:30-3 p.m. or any time at the home of Mr. Dillard or the daughter’s home, Linda Roe, 356 Raytheon Road, Bristol Tennessee. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Daniel Lee Fern CONOVER, N.C. – Daniel "Dan" Lee Fern, age 51, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at his home. He was born May 6, 1952, in Sullivan County, Tenn., to James S. Fern Jr. of Bluff City and the late Jennie L. Boone Fern. He attended Huntington Hills Church of God in Hickory, N.C. He was formerly employed with Gary Chrysler- Plymouth-Dodge in Morganton, N.C. He had served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Morganton Jaycees and associated with the North Carolina State Troopers Association. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, James W. Fern. Survivors include wife, Jo Ann Miller Fern of the home; father, James S. Fern Jr. of Bluff City; daughter and son-in-law, Donna Simmons and husband Todd of Clarksville, Tenn.; son and daughter-in-law, Russell Swanner and wife Gina of Bethlehem; sisters, Judy Massouras of Piney Flats, Angela Cameron of Piney Flats and Karla Brooks of Bluff City; brother, Jeffery Fern of Bluff City; three grandchildren, Courtney A. Reed Simmons, Michael A. Simmons and Rylan Cole Swenner; three aunts and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Weaver Funeral Home Chapel in Bristol Tennessee, with Rev. Dr. Bill Christian and Pastor Randall Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:45 on Sunday evening at Weaver Funeral Home. The burial will be 11 a.m. Monday at Sunrise Cemetery in Bluff City. Pallbearers will be Jeffery Fern, Mike Cameron, John Massouras, Frank Schmitz, Russell Swanner and Skip Winkler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Huntington Hills Church of God, 2123 5th St., NE, Hickory, NC 28601; American Diabetes Association, 1820 East 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204; North Carolina State Troopers Association, c/o Trooper R.E. Sales, 3957 Ram St., Claremont, NC 28610. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Willard N. Gent AVON PARK, Fla. – A memorial service commemorating the life of Willard N. "Dink" Gent will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Tazewell, Va. A reception will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a favorite charity. Mr. Gent died suddenly Jan. 17, 2004, in a Florida hospital. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Tazewell is serving the Gent family. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. William Goodman BRISTOL, Va. – William "Ned" Goodman, age 74, of 127 Oak St., passed away on Jan. 29, 2004, at the Wellmont Hospice House. He was the son of the late Jack and Thelma Pinion Goodman and had been a resident of Bristol since 1943. He was retired from the City of Bristol Virginia and was a member of Higher Ground Fellowship Church. Survivors include wife, Kate Goodman; brothers, Zed Goodman of Bristol Virginia, Lawrence Goodman of Bristol Virginia and Jimmy Goodman of Bristol Tennessee; one nephew and three nieces. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at the Glenwood Mausoleum, with Rev. James Norris officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Weaver Funeral Home. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Madeline Helmandollar BRISTOL, Tenn. – Graveside service for Madeline Evelyn Reedy Helmandollar will be held Friday at 1 p.m. from the Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell. Pallbearers will be Kenny Johnson, Kris Worley, Bucky Elledrige, Brian Heffinger, Chris Story and Travis Johnson. The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of memorial contributions to the Christian Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 5157, Kingsport, TN 37663, or to the Appalachian Christian Village, 2012 Sherwood Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mrs. Helmandollar, age 79, went to meet her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, in the Appalachian Christian Village, Johnson City. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lois H. Henderson CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mrs. Lois Hillman Henderson, age 83, formerly of Richlands, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at the Laurels at Highland Creek in Charlotte. She was the daughter of the late Joseph C. and Elsie T. Owens Hillman of Finney and later Honaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Walter Tillou Henderson, and two brothers, Miles and Bud Hillman. Lois was a 1936 graduate of Honaker High School, attended Emory & Henry from 1936 to 1938 and graduated cum laude from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Bluefield, W.Va., on Oct. 28, 1941. She attended the University of Virginia for a brief internship in teaching methods and became director of nursing at St. Luke’s. Lois joined the U.S. Army in April of 1943, and was commissioned as a lieutenant and served as a nurse in Ora Bay, New Guinea, and later in Manila in the Philippines, where she remained until the end of the war. She was also a member of the Richlands Presbyterian Church. She was the loving mother of seven children who loved her dearly and will cherish her memory: three sons, Mr. Steve Henderson of Columbia, S.C., Mr. Dean Henderson of Richlands and Mr. Dow Henderson of Tazewell; four daughters, Mrs. Merry Tillou Thompson of Lexington Park, Md., Mrs. Kathy Adams of Davidson, N.C., Mrs. Jane Hasko of Bluff City and Ms. Holly Henderson of Charlotte; one sister, Patsy Junker of Nashville; one brother, Bob Hillman of Lebanon; nine grandchildren, Jessica Stone, Ashley and Morgan Weatherly, Emily and Erin Redden, Trevor, Sydney and Kristen Henderson and Nick Kilgore, and one great- grandson, Kyle Joseph Stone. Family will receive friends at noon on Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at the Emory United Methodist Church on the campus of Emory & Henry College at Emory, Va., and the funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. with Rev. Tim Cobler officiating. There will be a graveside service at 3:30 p.m. at Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va., with Rev. Henry Johnson officiating. Pallbearers will be Steve Henderson, Dean Henderson, Dow Henderson, Bob Hillman, Trevor Henderson, Nick Kilgore, Bill Junker and Randall Hillman. Members of the Casey-Shortt VFW Post 9640 of Richlands and Disabled American Veterans Tazewell County Chapter 31 will conduct military graveside rites. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601- 7633. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Lucille Horne GLADE SPRING, Va. – Lucille Bourne Horne, 89, passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, in Johnson Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Va. She was born July 14, 1914, in Wytheville, Va. She was the daughter of the late Edgar D. and Flora Clyde Bourne. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert A. Horne, and also preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth B. Warrick, Edith B. Cox and Edna B. Blair, and one brother, Dr. George S. Bourne. She was a member of Old Glade Presbyterian Church and held offices in local Women of the Church, Presbyterian Synodical and was former church elder. She was a loving aunt and blessed by numerous friends. Survivors include her sister, Evelyn B. Harris, Radford, Va.; three nieces, Patricia Hollingsworth, Salem, Va., Nancy Bourne, Virginia, and Edith Paderick, Virginia; seven nephews, William E. Cox, Raleigh, N.C., S.H. Harris III, Kentucky, Edgar B. Harris, North Carolina, Brownie Harris, North Carolina, Andrew Bourne, Virginia, Edgar D. Bourne, Virginia, and George S. Bourne, Virginia; also numerous great and grand-nieces and great and grand-nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Old Glade Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Frank C. Preston officiating. Interment will be in the Glade Spring Baptist Cemetery. Pallbearers will be W.E. Cox, Edward Cox, S.H. Harris III, Edgar B. Harris, Brownie Harris, Edgar D. Bourne, Andrew Bourne, James Hatfield, C.E. "Ned" Allison, John R. Robinson and Sonny Porterfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Glade Presbyerian Church. The family will receive friends from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church prior to the service. There will be no viewing or visitation at the funeral home. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, Va., is serving the family of Mrs. Horne. Paul Pair GRAY, Tenn. – Paul Pair, 58, passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at Johnson City Medical Center following a lengthy illness. He was the son of the late Lloyd and Louise Pair. He was a native of Bristol Tennessee and had lived in Gray since 1974. He had previously owned Prime Rib Butcher Shop for 12 years. He had also been previously employed at Texas Instruments for eight years and as a supervisor for Raython for eight years. He is survived by his wife, Frances "Fran" Pair of the home, and two daughters, Pamela Kraft and Melissa Pair, both of Gray. A memorial service will be conducted 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at Snyder’s Funeral Home of Gray. Officiating will be Rev. Don Foster. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Paul Pair to American Liver Foundation Mid-South Chapter, 5583 Murray Rd., Suite 205, Memphis, TN 38119. Serving the family of Mr. Paul Pair is Snyder’s Funeral Home, Gray, 477-7911/ 239-5671. Virginia Puckett POUNDING MILL, Va. – Miss Virginia Ruth Puckett, age 87, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at a Tazewell hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born in Cleveland, Va., and was a daughter of the late Lonnie L. and Ava Dye Puckett, both Tazewell County, Va., natives. She was a lifelong resident of the Richlands area, was a retired LPN at the Mattie Williams Hospital for over 40 years and attended the Cedar Bluff Community Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Bertha Puckett, and four brothers, Clyde, Charlie, Dewey and Clarence Puckett. Survivors are two sons, Mr. Eugene Puckett of Pounding Mill, Mr. Ronald Fuller and wife Rita of Pulaski, Va.; one sister, Miss Beulah Puckett of Claypool Hill, Va.; one adopted brother, Mr. Junior Boyd of Claypool Hill; two grandchildren, Rhonda Gail Dykeman and Sarah Lynn Fuller; one great-granddaughter, Olivia Dykeman; one niece and several nephews also survive. Funeral services for Miss Virginia Ruth Puckett will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Darrell Sutherland and Rev. Charles Hubbard officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill. Pallbearers will be Don Puckett, Randy Puckett, William Puckett, Cleaburn Newberry, Edward Coleman and Andrew Puckett Jr. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands after 6 p.m. Friday. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Jane Barker Rush ABINGDON – Jane Barker Rush, age 60, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. She was a native of Damascus and had lived in Abingdon since 1996. She was a daughter of the late Edd and Pauline Barker. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Roger Musser. Mrs. Rush briefly attended ETSU and graduated from Steed College. She retired from federal service as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration and worked for Washington County Schools for 10 years, at Damascus Middle School in Damascus and at the Central Office in Abingdon. She was a lifelong member of Damascus United Methodist Church. Jane was a precious friend, beloved wife and mother and award winning employee. Her special home decorating skills were well-known to friends and co-workers. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Michael Rush, and three loving sons, Roger "Skip" Musser and his fiancée, Michelle Groves, of Bristol Virginia, David Musser and his wife Rhonda of Damascus and Jason Rush and his wife Katherine of Bristol Tennessee. She adored her two grandsons, Alex Rush and Justice Musser; one brother, George Edd Barker and his wife Ginny of Abingdon, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at Damascus United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jane Ayers and Rev. Helen Phillips officiating. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum at Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon. Pallbearers will be her sons, Roger "Skip" Musser, David Musser and Jason Rush, her uncle, Joe Martin, her nephew, Chip Barker, and her brother-in-law, William T. Rush III. Honorary pallbearers will be George Edd Barker, Kip Wallace and Joe Bert Rhea. Remembrances can be made in Jane’s memory to the Damascus United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 358, Damascus, VA 24236. The family would like to express their special thanks to Dr. Forrest Swan and the Cancer Outreach Associates for their kindness and care. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, prior to the funeral service at Damascus United Methodist Church. 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 Mrs. Rush. Margaret Salter BRISTOL, Va. – Margaret Louise Sallie Salter, 69, of 718 Portsmouth Ave., went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, from her residence. Mrs. Salter was born on Aug. 17, 1934, in Bristol Tennessee to Ella Mae Guinn and the late J.C. Sallie. She was preceded in death by her son, Gary Lee Turner. She was a member of Open Door Baptist Church. Survivors include husband, Bill Salter, Bristol Virginia; daughter, Sherry Lynn Oliver, Bristol Virginia; son, David Warren Turner, Bristol Virginia; two brothers, Louis Sallie and Jimmy Earl Sallie, both of Bristol Virginia; two sisters, Marie Dunaway, Bristol Virginia, and Anna Jones, Dayton, Tenn.; two stepdaughters, Annette Blue and Cindy Earl, both of Florida; grandsons, Christopher Lee and Andrew Warren Oliver; four step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Margaret Louise Sallie Salter will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mike Leonard officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday at the funeral home from 6 until 7:45 p.m. or any time the home of the daughter, Sherry Lynn Oliver, 110 Mary St., Bristol Virginia. Committal services will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, in the Mountain View Mausoleum Chapel. E-mail condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mary Shoemaker Mary Ellen Shoemaker, age 88, former resident of Pennsylvania Avenue, Bristol Tennessee, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, in NHC Health Care. She was born Dec. 7, 1915, in Cleveland, Va., to the late Jackson Roy Purcell J.R. and Frances D. Gray Purcell. She lived most of her life in the Bristol area, and was a former resident of Abingdon. She was an employee of the Shell Plant during World War II and she was a member of Holly Springs United Methodist Church of Blountville. She was the widow of Blaine E. Shoemaker and preceded in death by a sister, Betty Clatterbuck, and a brother, Joseph C. Purcell. Survivors include sister, Virginia Kiser and husband Paul; special niece, Betty Clatterbuck Hurt and husband John Hurt, and several other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dale Greenwell and Rev. James Clatterbuck officiating. The interment will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Jeff Hurt, James Hurt, Brad Hurt, Eddie Kiser, Robert Kiser and Brian Kiser. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Kiser, Jack Kiser, Gary Clatterbuck, Roy Clatterbuck and Mike Clatterbuck. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at Weaver Funeral Home. The family would like to wish a special thanks to the caring staff of NHC of Bristol. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Helen Marie Sholes GLADE SPRING – Mrs. Helen Marie Sholes passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. She will be forever remembered for her kindness and hospitality to others, including helping with the March of Dimes and United Way drives. Mrs. Sholes was born in Kingsport and lived most of her life in Glade Spring. She was a member of Glade Spring Baptist Church. She was retired from Raytheon Corporation in Bristol and worked many years as a caregiver.. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carson and Ola Perry, her husband, baseball great Leo "Muscle" Sholes, and three sisters, Lillian Salyer, Phyllis Wells and Billie Mellons. Surviving are four sons, Ronnie Sholes and wife Melissa of Church Hill, Tenn., Tim Sholes and wife Stella of Bristol Virginia, Gary Sholes of Kingsport and Gregory Sholes of Glade Spring; one daughter, Yvonne Archer and husband Michael of Church Hill; one brother, Carson C. Perry Jr. and wife Clara of Kingsport; sisters, Mildred Hare of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Evelyn Archer and husband Aaron of Kingsport; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Farris Funeral Chapel. Rev. Steve Turner will officiate. Entombment will follow in Mount Rose Mausoleum in Glade Spring. Pallbearers will be Kenny Miller, Wade Larkin, James Marsh, Jeff Stanley, George Stone and Chris Chapman. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Glade Spring Volunteer Life Saving Crew, 412 E. Glade St., Glade Spring, VA 24340. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service of Abingdon is serving the Sholes family.