Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, April 2, 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, April 2, 2004 Today's Deaths Tracy Lynn Ball, 34, Blountville Helen Virginia Call, 77, Saltville Margaret Cox Cleek, 76, Kingsport Josie Koontz, 95, St. Paul, Va. Lona Pauley Mullins, 52, Marion Elmer J. Oliver, 77, Bristol Virginia Lillie Vina Selfe Reynolds, 92, Lebanon Violet Marie Colyer Sanders, 85, Wise Jack D. Taylor, 77, Wise Tracy Lynn Ball BLOUNTVILLE – Tracy Lynn Ball, age 34, of 1702 Highway 126, Lot 2, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Weaver Funeral Home. Helen Virginia Call SALTVILLE – Helen Virginia Call, 77, died Thursday, April 1, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the family. Marcella Cantrell WHITEWOOD, Va. – Mrs. Marcella M. Cantrell, age 81, died peacefully Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at her home following a lengthy illness. She was born at Red Ash, Va., and was a daughter of the late William Jerry and Gracie Stilwell Cordill, both Red Ash natives. She was a lifelong resident of the Whitewood area and was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, David Lee Cantrell, one sister, Ruby Vance, and one brother, Curtis Cordill. Survivors are her husband of 56 years, Mr. Robert L. Cantrell; four daughters, Mrs. Roberta Neal of Cedar Bluff, Mrs. Frances Holmes of Whitewood, Mrs. Betty Lowe and husband Donald of Whitewood and Mrs. Eva Gay Davis and husband James of Richlands; two sons, Mr. Roy Lee Cantrell of the home and Mr. Lawrence Cantrell of the home; three sisters, Mrs. Helen Shelton of Doran, Va., Mrs. Thelma Cantrell of Whitewood and Mrs. Emily Lowe of Doran; one brother, Mr. Arvil "Jaybird" Cordill of Raven, Va.; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive. The family wishes to express special appreciation to all nurses and care givers at Heritage Hall Nursing Center at Grundy and Buchanan General Hospital. Funeral services for Mrs. Marcella C. Cantrell will be conducted Saturday, April 3, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Ancil Childress, Rev. Troy Lester, Rev. Freddie Dobbs and Rev. Darrell Sutherland officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be Bobby Lowe, Michael Lowe, Robert Davis, Charles Neal Jr., Donald Lowe and Marvin Lowe. Honorary pallbearers: Richard Vandyke, Burns Mullins, Roger White, Kenny Hunter, Joe Whitt and Bill Teague. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands from 6 to 9 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. Mervin Benton Casey LEBANON – The committal service and burial for Mervin Benton Casey will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon, where military honors will be conducted by the Lebanon VFW Post 9864. Those attending should meet at the funeral home to go in procession to the cemetery by 1:15 p.m. Pallbearers will be Larry E. Mims, Kevin Alexander, Johnny Taylor, Maynard Helton, Delmer Vencill, Ernest W. Vencill, Mike Taylor, Raymond Linkous and Ryan Linkous. David Helton will serve as honorary pallbearer. Mr. Casey, 64, of the Hansonville community, died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tenn. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Casey. Margaret Cox Cleek KINGSPORT – Margaret Cox Cleek, 76, died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Wexford House after a long illness. She lived in Kingsport her entire life and was an active member of Reedy Creek Presbyterian Church. Preceding her in death were her parents, Reuben Cox and Mary Brickey Cox, two sisters, Connie Ramsey and Ruby Myers, and a son, Charles Alan Cleek. Surviving are her husband, Charles Cleek, Kingsport; two daughters and sons-in- law, Betty Ann and Phillip Carpenter, Knoxville, and Kay and Zane Vanover, Kingsport, and four grandchildren, Manda Vanover, Kelly Vanover, Chris Carpenter and Katie Carpenter. Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, downtown Kingsport. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel, with Dr. Elias Dantas and Dr. Ira Howard officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Gale Ramsey, Carl Ramsey, Worley Crowe, Harold Robertson, Ernest Williams, Doug Hauk, Edmond Norton and David Thomas. Memorial contributions may be made to Reedy Creek Presbyterian Church, 6044 Orebank Road, Kingsport, TN 37664. Bill Lee Grubb BRISTOL, Tenn. – Funeral services for Bill Lee Grubb will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Roger Carter and Rev. Mike Able officiating. The burial will follow in the Rooty Branch Cemetery. Pallbearers will be friends of the family. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Mr. Grubb, age 79, of 268 Sinking Springs Rd., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House. Basil K. Hutton MARION – Basil K. Hutton, age 70, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in the Smyth County Community Hospital. He was born in Smyth County and preceded in death by his parents, Carmon and Lillian Hutton, and his wife, Barbara Elizabeth Hutton. He was retired from the VDOT after 40 plus years of service and was a faithful Christian. Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Lester and Deloris Hutton, Marion, Basil "Benjie" Hutton, Chilhowie, and Lowell and Veronica Hutton, Marion; daughter, Susan Hutton, Marion; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Alton and Betty Hutton, Marion, Rabon and Barbara Hutton, Marion, and Conway Hutton, Tazewell, Va.; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Aloma and Vester Walton, Newport, N.C., Sharon Quesenberry, Abingdon, and Velda Frye, Marion; special aunt, Marie Bare, Marion; 12 grandchildren, Tina, Laura, Becky, Ethan, Basil Keith, Chase, Marc, Nancy, Rebecca, Ricky and Aime; nine great-grandchildren and three foster grandchildren, Tabitha, Lisa and Karie. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 3, 2004, at 11 a.m. from the Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion, with Minister Don Turnmire officiating. Interment will follow at the Attoway Cemetery.The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the Hutton family. Jean M. Johnson ABINGDON – Mrs. Jean M. Johnson, age 73, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at her home. She was born in Smyth County but had lived most of her life in Abingdon. She was the daughter of the late Hurley and Vennie Martin. Jean was a 1948 graduate of Chilhowie High School and had worked over 29 years at the Johnston Memorial Clinic in the pediatrics department. She was a very active member of the Shady Grove United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s Society. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bruce Johnson Sr., and a brother, Ray Arthur Martin. She is survived by a son, Bruce Johnson of Abingdon; two daughters, Lelia Rash and husband Joe and Susan J. Kidd and husband David A., all of Abingdon; two brothers, Fred A. Martin of Chilhowie and Donald Dean Martin of Fries, Va.; five grandchildren, Michael Rash, Kayla Fulwider, Shannon Johnson, Daniel Kidd and Wesley Kidd; two great-grandchildren, Chase Johnson and Brianna Hopkins, and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, April 3, 2004, at 10 a.m. in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Don Watkins and Rev. Bill Graybeal officiating. Entombment will follow in the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be the men of Shady Grove Untied Methodist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Adam Steinberg, Dr. Herman Pinkerton, B.F. DeBusk, Roy Grubb, Dewey Roe and Albert Blevins. The family would like to acknowledge a special care giver, Sheila Taylor, a very special caregiver, who became a part of her family, Sonya Eller, Southwest Virginia Home Health nurses and aides and Total Care & Hospice for all the care and kindness shown Jean during her illness. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 335 Gillespie St., Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to express a memory of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Johnson. Pauline Kiser LEBANON – The funeral service for Pauline Kiser will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Darrell Sutherland and the Rev. Lester Sexton officiating. Burial will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park in Castlewood. Pallbearers will be Butch Kiser, Travis Kiser, David Miller, Justin Kiser, Jason McFaddin and Daniel Honaker. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, at the funeral home. Mrs. Kiser, 67, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in the Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol Tennessee. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Kiser. Josie Koontz ST. PAUL, Va. – Josie Koontz, 95, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. She was born in Dickenson County, Va., daughter of the late Meredith and Ann Phillips. She was the last member of her family, and she loved her flowers and garden. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lamer Koontz, and one daughter, Lela Nicely. She is survived by one daughter, Charlotte McCoy and husband Curtis of St. Paul; six grandchildren, Dennis McCoy, Sherri Wood, Lester Nicely, Gary Nicely, Roxie Nicely and Judy Pulver; four great-grandchildren; one special niece, Thelma Phillips, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Josie Koontz will be conducted at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with the Rev. Denver Winebarger officiating. Committal services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 4, 2004, in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Koontz family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Randy Lee Lawson The funeral service for Randy Lee Lawson will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, at the Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Ross Mangrum officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gary Mumpower, Michael Mumpower, James Perkey, Bobby Vestal, Freddie Vestal, Scotty Vestal, Jeff Snodgrass, Roger Robins and Tracy Barr. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Mr. Lawson went to be with the Lord on March 29, 2004, at his home. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423)989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Lawson. Lona Pauley Mullins MARION – Mrs. Lona Pauley Mullins, age 52, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, March 31, 2004. Mrs. Mullins was a LPN at Grace Health Care in Abingdon and attended the Blessed Hope Baptist Church. Survivors: husband, Ronnie Mullins; mother, Virginia Talbert, Marion; two brothers, Allen Pauley and wife Carol, Troutdale, Va., and Robert Pauley and wife Bonnie, Troutdale; five sisters, Freda Miller and husband Pete, Chilhowie, Rosalie Bordwine and husband John, Chilhowie, Jancie Cregger, Pulaski, Va., Audrey Jones and husband Terrence, Adkins, Va., and Lisa Pauley, Saltville; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Herbert and Pauline Mullins, Bristol Virginia; four sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Mullins will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, at the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kevin Welch and Rev. Avery Sheets officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Westwood Cemetery in Chilhowie. The family will receive friends from 6- 8 p.m. Friday evening prior to services at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Mullins family. Elmer J. Oliver BRISTOL, Va. – Elmer J. Oliver, age 77, of 609 Portsmouth Ave., went to be with the Lord Thursday, April 1, 2004, in the Bristol Regional Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Oliver. Arrangements are incomplete. Lillie Reynolds LEBANON – Lillie Vina Selfe Reynolds, 92, of the Hansonville community, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, April 1, 2004, in the Russell County Medical Center. Born Sept. 12, 1911, in Russell County, a daughter of the late Henry Jackson Selfe and the late Millie Carroll Selfe, she was the wife of the late Samuel Patton Reynolds. She attended Chestnut Grove Community Church. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Madge Statzer, a granddaughter, Rachel Lynn Reynolds, three sisters, Ida Kennedy, Tilda Fields and Mabel Selfe, and a brother, Walter Selfe. Survivors include two daughters, Audra Jeane Kidd and husband Lonnie Kidd, Hansonville, and Millie Smith, Bristol Virginia; three sons, Rev. Bill Reynolds and wife Patsy Reynolds and Evangelist Sammy Reynolds and wife Ada Sue Reynolds, all of Hansonville, and Eddie D. Reynolds and wife Carolyn Reynolds, Tazewell; a son-in-law, Rev. Walter Statzer, Bristol Virginia; 14 grandchildren; 18 great- grandchildren; a sister, Georgia Gobble, Mountain City, Tenn.; also several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 4, 2004, in the Combs Funeral Service Chapel, with the Rev. Olan Cassell and the Rev. Walter Statzer officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens in Abingdon. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Bobby Reynolds, Samuel James Reynolds, Joe Mitchell, John Mitchell, Jim Mitchell, Luke Statzer, Lee Statzer and Chris Asbury. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the funeral home or at the home at any time. Combs Funeral Service is serving the family of Mrs. Reynolds. Violet Sanders WISE – Violet Marie Colyer Sanders, 85, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Norton. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Annie Bell Colyer, two sisters, Kanzie Colyer and Tessabell Carty, two brothers, Bo Colyer and Bill Colyer, her husband, William Benson Sanders, one son, Donald Benson Sanders Sr., and one grandson, Donald Benson Sanders Jr. Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Eddie Wayne and Louise Sanders; two daughters, Greta Sue Covell and Violet Louise Sturgill; a daughter-in-law, Jean Delores Sanders; five grandsons, David, Dennis and Billy Sanders, Todd Covell and Jonathan Sturgill; two granddaughters, Tia Marie Shaver and Karen Louise Sanders; three great-grandsons, David Scott Sanders, Matthew Ryan Sanders and Nicholas Stone Shaver; two great-granddaughters, Michelle and Brittany Sanders; three sisters, Lillian Bennett, Geraldine Pittman and Janice Owens; two brothers, Bobby Harold Colyer and Franklin Delano Colyer; several nieces and nephews and numerous friends. Funeral services for Violet Marie Colyer Sanders will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel in Wise, with the Rev. James Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in the Sanders Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. till time of services at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise. Sturgill Funeral Homes in Wise is in charge of arrangements. Jack D. Taylor WISE – Jack D. Taylor, age 77, passed away early Thursday morning, April 1, 2004, at his home. He was born at Wise County, Va., and was a lifelong resident of the county. Jack was the owner and operator of the Colonial Trailer Park in Wise. He was a 32- degree Mason and member of Hoge Lodge 8, Wise, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and was also a member of the Shrine. He had also been a member of the Royal Arch and the Commandry. Jack was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Wise Chapter 56. He was of the Baptist faith and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a son of the late Robert and Mollie Stapleton Taylor, and was also preceded in death by three daughters, Bertha Mullins, Juanita Williams and Otellia Taylor, and three brothers, Charles Taylor, Clayton Taylor and James Taylor. Survivors include his wife, Estelle Taylor, Wise; two daughters, Linda (T.J.) Skorupa, Wise, and Priscilla (John) Murphy, Louisville, Ky.; four grandchildren, Meghan Murphy, Elizabeth Woods, Shelly Perry and Eddie Paul Perry; a great- granddaughter, Amber Perry; three sisters, Laura Jacobs, Wise, Margaret Black, Detroit, and Leah Davis, Richmond; three brothers, Robert Taylor, Anderson, Ind., Doc Taylor, Herford, Ariz., and Bailey Taylor, Wise; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Calling hours are from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2004, at Carty Funeral Home, Norton-Wise, where a Masonic service will be held at 8 p.m. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. April 3, 2004, to travel in procession to Powell Valley Memorial Gardens, Big Stone Gap, where interment and military rites will be given at 11 a.m. Friends and family members will serve as pallbearers.