Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, June 23, 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 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Mack A. Bennet, 60 Allen Dexter Pless, 54, Meadowview Josephine Matney Stacy, 86, Richlands Vivian Tuggle Warren, 81, Abingdon Homer S. Alley CEDAR BLUFF – Mr. Homer S. Alley, age 74, passed away Sunday, June 20, 2004, in a Richlands hospital following a long illness. Born at Cedar Bluff, he was the son of the late James Harvey and Narcie Naomi Lankford Alley. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving with the Military Police and was a disabled coal miner. Mr. Alley was a member of the Christian Advent Church at Middle Creek, Va. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Midford Alley. Mr. Alley is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mrs. Doris Blankenship Alley; one son, Michael S. Alley and wife Kathy of Cedar Bluff; four daughters, Karen Brown and husband Gene of Cedar Bluff, Teresa Alley of Cedar Bluff, Rhonda Earls and Gene Laney of Tazewell and Keitha Yates and husband Mickey of Cedar Bluff; eight grandchildren, Mandee Brewer, Adam Brown, Craig Earls, Amber Earls, Rachel Alley, Hannah Alley, Matthew Yates and Halee Yates; one great-granddaughter, Lauren Earls; two brothers, Homer Ralph Alley of Abingdon and John H. Alley of Cedar Bluff; and two sisters, Freda Rose and Olivia Bokish, both of Bluefield, Va. Funeral services for Mr. Homer S. Alley will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, in the Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, with Rev. Bill Shook and Roy Meadows Jr. officiating. Entombment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Va. Pallbearers will be family and friends. The family will receive friends at the Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff, from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Alley Family. Mack A. Bennett Mack A. Bennett, age 60, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 22, 2004, at James H. Quillen VA Medical Center with his wife by his side. He fought a courageous three-year battle with cancer. He hadbeen a minister for 34 years, having served the Mt. View Church of Christ, Bluff City, from September, 1993 to August, 2002. He had touched many lives and was loved and admired by all who knew him. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam. Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his parents, Arville and Lydia Bennett, three brothers and one sister. Survivors are his wife of 40 years, Janice Bennett; two sisters, Grace Bennett and Carolyn Bennett of Limestone; one sister and brother-in-law, Bessie and Terry Moffitt of Bakersville, N.C.; one sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Mark Blevins of Elizabethton; two brothers, Coy Bennett of Limestone and Russell Bennett of Piney Flats; one uncle, Walter Wayne Bennett of Limestone; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Hawk and Jean Thompson of Jonesborough; two nieces, Katie and Molly Blevins; and one nephew, Robbie Moffitt. The funeral service for Mack A. Bennett will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, in the Tetrick Funeral Home Riverside Chapel, with Mr. Ed DeVault, Mr. Milton Mathers, and Mr. Eddy Craft, ministers, officiating. Congregational singing will be led by Chris Jordan. The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday prior to the service or at the residence, 425 Laurel Court, Piney Flats, at any time. The graveside service and interment will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2004, at the National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tenn., with Mr. Wesley Simons and Mr. Dan Bailey, ministers, officiating. Everyone will meet at the funeral home chapel at 9 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Dean Ray, Tim Bridges, Crawford Scott, Harold Manis, Golden Wise, Jim Wolfe, Kyle Webb and ene Oaks. Honorary pallbearers are all men and women of the Mountain View Church of Christ, all ministers, men and women of the Churches of Christ, Dr. Michael Kaplon, Dr. Anard Karnard and the nursing staff of the Oncology Department, all doctors and staff of CG Ward, Tim Bridges and pharmacy staff, all of VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, and special friends, Sam and Brenda Banner, Lester and Stephanie Lattany, Tim and Denise Bridges and Salena Cox. Thanks and appreciation is extended to all the wonderful nurses and caregivers at the VA Medical Center, CG floor. They are very special people, whom Mack loved. They gave Mack excellent care and for this he was very grateful. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to one of the following: James H. Quillen Medical Center, Voluntary Services (mrked for family support and/or patient care), P. O. Box 4000, Mountain Home, TN 37684-4000, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (in honor of Zeth Norman), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905, American Cancer Society, c/o Helen Wilson, 209 S. Riverside Dr., Elizabethton, TN 37643, Mt. View Church of Christ, 584 Mountain View Road, Bluff City, TN 37618 or Elizabethton Church of Christ, 137 East C St., Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is in charge of the arrangements 423-542-2232. Jeannie Sue Blevins BRISTOL, Va. – Jeannie Sue Blevins, age 49, passed away on June 20, 2004. She had lived in the Bristol area for most of her life and, along with her late husband Jeffrey Blevins, had served as foster parents for many children over the last 30 years. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by her father, Rudolph Rhea. Survivors include: son, Kevin Blevins of Bristol Virginia; granddaughter, Kelsey Blevins; foster son, Steve Wilson; foster granddaughter, Brittany Wilson; mother, Carrie Rhea of Bristol Virginia; sisters, Mary Ann Leonard and Judy Carrier of Bristol Virginia; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, wth Rev. Walter Statzer officiating. Interment will follow at Mendota Cemetery. Pallbearers include: Matthew Owens, Gary Carrier, John Mason, Chris Billings, Mike Leonard and David Owens. The family will receive friends on Wednesday 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. Muriel Scott Bundy ABINGDON – The funeral service for Mrs. Muriel Scott Bundy will be conducted Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Farris Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Knollkreg Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 1-11 a.m. in the funeral home. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 136 East Main, Abingdon, VA 24210. Mrs. Muriel Scott Bundy, age 103, passed away Saturday, June 19, 2004, at her home. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Bundy family. Penny S. Culbertson ABINGDON – Funeral services for Penny Sue Culbertson will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at Knollkreg Memorial Park, with Rev. Kenneth Grindstaff officiating. Thre will be no visitation. Friends may meet at the cemetery for the services. Those who wish to send messages of sympathy online may do so at farrisfuneralservice.com. Penny Sue Culbertson, 43, died Sunday, June 20, 2004. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Culbertson family. Dorothy F. Gardner ABINGDON – Graveside services for Dorothy Fleenor Gardner will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, in th Mendota Cemetery, with Pastor Bill Pealer officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday morning at her home. The family requests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Gardner to the Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211. Those wishing to express sympathy to the Gardner family online may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Dorothy Fleenor Gardner, died Sunday, June 20, 2004, in the Johnston Memorial Hospital. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. Pauline Gentry ABINGDON – Mrs. Pauline Gentry, age 84, died at Johnston Memorial Hospital Monday, June 21, 2004, the day she would have celebrated her 63rd wedding anniversary. She was a resident of the Wyndale community and was a member of Pleasant View United Methodist Church. Mrs. Gentry was preceded in death by her parents, Howard F. and Eliza Smith; two children; four sisters; and two brothers. Survivors include her husband, Tom Gentry; one son, Sam Gentry of Charlottesville, Va.; one grandson, Miles Gentry, Blacksburg, Va.; one brother, Robert Smith, Bristol; one sister, Margaret Watson of Bristol; and a special great-great-niece, Katie Neeley. Funeral services for Mrs. Paulne Gentry will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 24, 2004, at Farris Funeral Chapel, East Main Street, in Abingdon, with the Rev. Jim Goddard and the Rev. Maurice Lay officiating. The family will receive friends following the funeral service. Private committal services will be held at Forest Hills Memory Gardens on Friday, June 25, 2004. Pallbearers will be Gordon Munsey, Bill Jones, Tanner Collins, Steve Smith, Donald Hagy, Dickie Kiser and William D. Fleenor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Pleasant View United Methodist Church, 18416 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210. Those who wish to send messages of sympathy online may do so at www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, Main Street Chapel, is serving the family of Mrs. Gentry. Tommie V. Harris BLUFF CITY – Funeral service for Tommie Virginia Harris will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jim Sproles officiating. Burial will follow in the Weaver Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Earl Smithson, Wayne Smithson, Walter Peters, Jim Peters, Junior Peters and Jimmy Holt. The family will receive friends any time at the home of her daughter, Tammie Fasano, 702 Moore St., Apartment 3. Tommie Virginia Harris, age 68, of 391 Big Spring Road, passed away Monday, June 21, 2004, at her residence. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Jacqueline Hathaway BRISTOL, Tenn. – Funeral service for Jacqueline M. Hathaway will be held Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Cecil Reed officiating. Burial will follow in the Shelby Hills Cemetery. Pallbearers will be nephews and friends. Online condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Jacqueline Marie Hathaway, age 48, of 833 East Mary St., passed away June 1, 2004, at her residence. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Leler Keen ROWE, Va. – Mrs. Leler Keen, age 84, went to be with Jesus and join her loved ones gone before her on Sunday, June 20, 2004, at Maple Grove Health Care Center in Lebanon. Born May 23, 1920, in Rowe, she was a daughter of the late Fullen and Alice Street Hess. She had spent most of her life in the area and was of the Pentecostal faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Keen; one daughte, Dollie Keen; two sisters; and two brothers. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Harlis and Patty Keen of Rowe; one daughter and son-in-law, Macie and Gene Beck of Rowe; three grandsons, Douglas Beck and his wife Fely of New Mexico, Tim Keen and his wife Joanie of Wheeling, W.Va., and Adam Keen and his wife Michelle of Roanoke; one great- granddaughter, Ellexis Beck; three great-grandsons, Gabriel Beck, Aksel Beck, Tanner Keen, Noah Keen and Braeden Keen; two brothers, Brady Hess of Rowe and Elihue Hess of Honaker; one honorary granddaughter, Susie Street; and special neighbors, Duke and Phyllis Street also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Michael Justice officiating. Interment will follow in the Street Cemetery a Rowe. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Douglas Beck, Tim Keen and Adam Keen and nephews, George Helton, Darrell Hess and Brian McGraw. Honorary pallbearers will be Herman Hess, Raymond Hess and the entire staff of Maple Grove Health Care Center. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Thursday, where an evening song service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Solemon Osborne CASTLEWOOD – Funeral services for Solemon "Tommy" Osbore will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Arville Dingus officiating. Burial will follow in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Online condolences may be sent to the Osborne family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Solemon "Tommy" Osborne, 68, died Sunday, June 20, 2004, in Russell County Medical Center, Lebanon. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Allen Dexter Pless MEADOWVIEW – Allen Dexter Pess, age 54, died Tuesday, June 22, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. Richard L. Russell ABINGDON – The funeral service for Mr. Richard Larry Russell will be conducted Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Farris Funeral Chapel, with Pastor David Gibson and Rev. Paul Stanley officiating. Interment will follow in Foret Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Mr. Richard Larry Russell, age 82, of 604 Norfolk St., Lot 5, went home to be with the Lord June 21, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Russell family. Terry A. Shuemaker BRISTOL, Va./font> – A Celebration of Life for Terry Allen Shuemaker will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Shady Valley Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Thomas R. Peake officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Adam Lane Fund, c/o Bristol Tennessee School System, Director of Schools, 615 Edgemont Ave., Bristol, TN 37620. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@peercom.net. Mr. Shuemaker, 65, died Saturday, June 19, 2004, at Wellmont Hospice House. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, 423-989-4800, is serving the family of Mr. Shuemaker. Josephine M. Stac RICHLANDS – Mrs. Josephine Matney Stacy, age 86, died Monday, June 21, 2004, at a Tazewell hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born in Buchanan County, Va., and was a daughter of the late Milton and Lydia Dawson Matney, both Buchanan County natives. She had made her home in the Richlands area most of her life and was of the Pentecostal faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. John J. "Jeff" Stacy; one daughter, Wilma Jean Stacy; two sons, John and Wayne Stacy; one granddaughter, Guyda Lynn Lester; one sister; and one brother. Survivors are: three daughters, Mrs. Phyllis Cox of Oakwood, Va., Mrs. Audrey Looney and husband, Larry of Lebanon and Mrs. Belva Mitchellof Spartanburg, S.C.; four sons, Mr. Harrial Stacy and wife, Linda of Vansant, Mr. Bill Stacy and wife, Wanda of North Tazewell, Va., Mr. Bob Stacy and wife, Mary Ann of Chula Vista, Calif., Mr. James Stacy and wife, Janice of Tazewell, Va.; one brother, Mr. Elzie Matney of Grundy; 26 grandchildren; and 15 great- grandchildren. Funeral services for Mrs. Josephine Stacy will be conducted Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, with Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Interment will follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands after 6 p.m. Wednesday. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online maydo so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com. Mary Steffey NICKELSVILLE, Va. – Committal services for Mary Ellen Helbert Steffey will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2004, in the Steffey Cemetery, Castlewood. The family and friends will meet at the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jarrol Salyer, Rick Surber, Shawn Greer, James Surber, Stephen Surber, Kenneth McCulley and Ernest Hicks. Online condolences may be sent to the Steffey family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Mary Ellen Helbert Steffey, 86, died Saturday, June 19, 2004, at Maple Grove Health Care Center, Lebanon. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Vivian Tuggle Warren ABINGDON – Mrs. Vivian Tuggle Warren, age 81, died Monday, June 21, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Ray Warren Sr. and a son, Carl Ray Warren Jr. Mr. Warren was a graduate of Meadowview High School and the Johnston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She was a retired registered nurse with Johnston Memorial Hospital, where she had worked for 25 yeas. She is survived by a daughter, Jane Warren Edwards of Abingdon; a grandson, Rob Edwards of Abingdon; her sisters, Gladys Kestner and husband Silas of Saltville and Charlotte Branson and husband Don of Monroe, Va.; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Farris Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Knollkreg Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. In place of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Hyatt Nursing Scholarship Fund at Virginia Highlands Communit College, c/o VHCC Education Foundation, P.O. Box 828, Abingdon, VA 24212. Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Mrs. Vivian Tuggle Warren.