Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, June 25, 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, June 25, 2004 Today's Deaths Mary Frances Ager, 81 Shirley H. Bishop, 74, Alvarado, Va. Leta Fuller Davis, 98 Roger Hibbert Deel, 51, Vansant, Va. Evan Parnell Ellis, 78, formerly of Kingsport and Bristol Fredrick Roscoe Greer, 83, Saltville James Lester Jackson, 53, Richlands Maxie L. Loyd, 72, Abingdon William C. McElyea, 63, Coeburn Dorothy Marie Cahill Woodward, 83, Abingdon Mary Frances Ager Mary Frances Ager, 81, passed away Monday, June 21, 2004, at Oak Crest Care Center, Baltimore. She was born in Waverly, Va., a daughter of the late Allen B. and Mary Virginia Mayfield Carpenter. Survivors include her husband, Ellis C. Ager; a daughter, Jeni Ager Woock and her husband Del; a son, William C. Ager and his wife Diane; three grandchildren, Truly and Chris Ager and Rebecca Ager Long; one great-grandchild, James Long, and two sisters, Catherine Tochterman and Dolly Faiser. The funeral service will be conducted at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, June 27, 2004, in the Mausoleum Chapel in Mountain View Cemetery, with Rev. Larry Stallard, Rev. Tom Holliday and Dr. Kyle Barr officiating. Burial will follow the service. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-blevins.com. Mrs. Ager and her family are in the care of Oakley-Blevins Funeral Home, 417 Lee St., Bristol, Va. Shirley H. Bishop ALVARADO, Va. – Shirley H. Bishop, age 74, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Tennessee. She was a native of Tazewell, and had lived in the Alvarado community since 1979. She was a daughter of the late Joe and Elizabeth Brooks Hankins. She was a member of the Greenwood Freewill Baptist Church. Mrs. Bishop was the widow of the late James V. Bishop and was preceded in death by one son, Wayne Bishop, and two brothers, Jim Hankins and Joe Hankins Jr. She is survived by four sons, James A. Bishop of Akron, Ohio, Roger L. Bishop and Charles E. Bishop, both of Abingdon, and Daniel E. Bishop of Bristol Tennessee; four sisters, Clara Woods, Della Phillips and Pearl Fox, all of Ohio, and Edna Patton of Virginia; five brothers, Bill Hankins and Charlie Hankins of Virginia, Fred Hankins of North Carolina, Otis Hankins of South Carolina and Stanley Hankins of Ohio; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandsons and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Larry Bales and Rev. Howard Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery, Alvarado. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 2-3:45 p.m. Saturday prior to the funeral service at Garrett Funeral Home. 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. Bishop. Shirley Lee Chappell BLOUNTVILLE – Shirley Lee Chappell, 72, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., a daughter of the late John W. and Nora C. Roberts Whiteman and was the widow of Benny Chappell, who passed away in November 2003. She was also preceded in death by a special friend, Fred Harlan. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Blountville High School in 1949. She was employed by the Sullivan County Library for the past 19 years. Shirley was instrumental in the establishment of the Genealogy Room at the Blountville Library and was an avid researcher of family histories. Her extensive knowledge of the region will be an irreplaceable asset to the library. She was a member of Bellemont Presbyterian Church. Survivors include two daughters, Joanne Tolliver and husband Earl of Bristol Tennessee and Sharon Lauderbaugh and husband John D. "Skip" of Jacksonville, Fla.; her son, John Mark Chappell and wife Sue of Blountville; six grandsons, Benjamin Tolliver, T.J. and Cody Lauderbaugh, Jonathan and Jared Chappell and Wesley Smeltzer; her brother, Harold Whiteman of Blountville; special friends, Peggy Harlan, Blountville, and Ray and Virginia Grant of Pickens, S.C., and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Friday evening, June 25, 2004, at Oakley-Cook Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, June 26, 2004, in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, with Rev. Scott Watson and Rev. Larry Stallard officiating. The committal service and interment will follow at East Lawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ritchie Phillips, Don Whitaker, Jason Denton, Michael Whiteman, Kevin Whiteman and Buddy Bates. Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Bates, Fred Wagner, Howard Fox, Earl Tolliver, Ray Grant and William C. Folkner. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorial gifts to Sullivan County Library, P.O. Box 510, Blountville, TN 37617. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mrs. Chappell and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Leta Fuller Davis Leta Fuller Davis, age 98, died in her daughter’s home in Savannah, Ga., on June 23, 2004. She was born in Blackwood, Va., and lived 73 years in Wise, with her late husband David Preston Davis. She was in the first class of Clinch Valley College in 1954 (now UVa-Wise) and a graduate of the University of Virginia. She retired from teaching in Wise County at age 65 and continued as a substitute for 19 years. She was a member of Wise Trinity United Methodist Church, the Wise Study Club, Retired Teachers of Wise County and her bridge group. She was a dedicated teacher, a wonderful cook and hostess, a great friend and a conversationalist (especially on the phone) and a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother. She was predeceased by her parents, Henry Fuller and Anna Fuller Hoskins, her husband, D.P., and her daughter and son-in-law, Gene and Betty Davis Cury. She is survived by one sister, Jeannine Owens of Pikeville, Ky.; one daughter and son-in-law, A.L. and Sue Addington of Savannah; six grandchildren, James Davis Cury and wife Raegan of Jacksonville, Fla., Neal Gene Cury and wife Romany of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Renee Cury and husband Danny Booker of Jacksonville, Phillip Cury and wife Jennifer of Jacksonville, David Preston Addington of San Francisco and Hannah Addington of Ponte Vedra, Fla., and seven great- grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, at Hardage- Giddens Funeral Home in Jacksonville for Leta and her granddaughter, Renee Cury, who died June 24. The Rev. Chris Schuller of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Jesup, Ga., will officiate. On July 10 at 1 p.m., a memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wise. A committal service will follow in Wise Cemetery, as well as a reception for family and friends. The Rev. Chris Stanfield and the Rev. Bill Carter will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 110 Main St., Wise, VA 24293, or UVa’s College at Wise Foundation, 1 College Ave., Wise, VA 24293. Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel. Roger Hibbert Deel VANSANT, Va. – Roger Hibbert Deel, 51 years of age, passed away June 23, 2004, at Phelps, Ky., following a trucking accident. Born in Buchanan County, May 30, 1953, he was the son of Ruby Owens Deel of Vansant and the late Hibbert Deel. He was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, a self-employed coal truck driver, a member of Coleman Methodist Church and a loving husband and father. He is survived by his mother, Ruby Owens Deel of Vansant; his loving wife of 21 years, Martha Gay Raines Deel of Vansant; one daughter, Brittany LaGay Deel of Vansant; two sons, Jason Roger Hibbert Deel and Brian Matthew Deel, both of Vansant; one sister, Carol Ann Ramey and husband Dennis of Grundy, and two brothers, Jerry Clayton Deel and wife Arlene and Danny Fearl Deel, all of Haysi. Funeral services for Roger Hibbert Deel will be held Saturday, June 26, 2004, at 1 p.m. at the Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with Elders Garnell Gilbert and Frank Viers and Pastor Darrell Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in the Edwards Cemetery at Birchleaf, Va. The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 6 p.m. Friday evening. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers will be Danny Deel, Jerry Deel, Fayne Owens, Mike Phillips, Brett Sykes and Dennis Ramey. Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Ramey, Jason Vance, Tim Raines, Phillip Raines, Donna Souleyrette and fellow drivers of Teco Coal Co. Memorial condolences may be sent to the family at www.shortridge.com. The family of Roger Hibbert Deel is being served by Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy. Timothy Wayne Deel VANSANT, Va. – Funeral services for Timothy W. Deel will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Rev. Harry Hight and Rev. Sylvia Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the George W. Deel Cemetery, Route 2, Haysi. Aaron Deel, Mark Deel, Stoney Deel, Teddy Looney, Bobby O’quinn, Sammy Owens, Nicholas Vanover and Wade Vanover will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Heritage Hall staff, Dr. Dan Patel, Dr. H. Patel and Dr. J.G. Patel. The family will receive friends from 9 until 11 a.m. Friday morning at Haysi Funeral Home. Timothy W. Deel, age 43, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2004, at Heritage Hall in Grundy, where he was a resident since 1991. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Virginia Dowell Burial for Virginia Mae Hicks Dowell will be at 11 o’clock Friday morning, June 25, 2004, in the Fauver Family Cemetery in Blountville. Pallbearers will be Mark Fauver, Chris Fauver, Matthew Fauver, Gabriel Fauver, Roy Leonard, and Billy Balthis. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Virginia Mae Hicks Dowell, 84, passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2004. Mrs. Dowell and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tenn. Evan Parnell Ellis Evan Parnell Ellis, age 78, formerly of Kingsport and Bristol and more recently of Life Care of Jefferson City, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2004. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Kingsport and was preceded in death by his parents, Parnell L. and Mona L. Wassom Ellis; maternal grandparents, Benjamin Issac and Ida Josephine Childress Wassom; paternal grandparents, Rev. Charles G. and Laura Ann Wilson Ellis; brother, Charles Benjamin Ellis, and special aunt, Ruby Elizabeth Wassom. He is survived by brothers, James W. Ellis of Talbott and F. Douglas Ellis of Hermitage, and sisters, Laura Jo Goode of Dallas, Marie Hamrick of Maitland, Fla., Elizabeth Maupin of Kingsport and Nancy Baldrew of Damascus. Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2004, at Stubblefield Funeral Home, with Dr. William (Bill) Purdue and Rev. George Miller officiating. Family and friends will meet at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol for interment 1 p.m. Saturday, with Rev. Ron Davis officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday prior to the service at Stubblefield Funeral Home in Morristown. Fredrick Greer SALTVILLE – Mr. Fredrick Roscoe Greer, age 83, died Thursday, June 24, 2004, in Bristol Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Greer family. Hazel Hagy Hayter ABINGDON – Funeral services for Hazel Hagy Hayter will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2004, in the Carvosso United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Leonard Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be John Hayter, Bob Fields and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Street and men of Carvosso United Methodist Church. The family asks that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to the Carvosso United Methodist Church, 19429 Rustic Lane, Abingdon, VA 24210. Those wishing to express sympathy online to the Hayter family may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Hazel Hagy Hayter, 94, passed away at her home on June 23, 2004, after a brief illness. Campbell Funeral Home of Abingdon is in charge the arrangements. James Lester Jackson RICHLANDS – Mr. James Lester Jackson, age 53, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2004, in a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness. Born in Richlands, he was the son of Rosa Richardson Jackson of Richlands and the late Homer (Pie) Jackson. Mr. Jackson made his home in Louisiana for 25 years, before moving back to Richlands one year ago. He was of the Holiness faith. In addition to his mother, he is survived by one brother, Douglas W. Jackson and wife Rosa Lee of Pine Creek, Va.; four sisters, Jewell Casey and fiancé George Johnston of Cedar Bluff, Shirley Jamison and husband Hank of Swords Creek, Va., Linda Cruey and husband Bill of Kannapolis, N.C., and Janet McGlothlin and husband Denny of Richlands, and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2004, at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, with Rev. Danny Short and Rev. Jim Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Richardson Family Cemetery at Pine Creek. Friends and neighbors will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff. Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.singletonfuneralservice.com. Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Jackson family. Leler Keen ROWE, Va. – Funeral services for Mrs. Leler Keen 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 at 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. 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. Harry Wayne Leonard BRISTOL, Tenn. – Graveside services for Harry Wayne Leonard will be conducted on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Mountain View Mausoleum. Rev. Clarence Love will officiate and Rev. Cecil Reed will assist. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Harry Wayne Leonard, age 63, passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at Johnson City Medical Center. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Maxie L. Loyd ABINGDON – Mrs. Maxie L. Loyd, age 72, died Thursday, June 24, 2004, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Glass, and a granddaughter, Lisa Fields. She was a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Nicholson and Sue Blevins, both of Abingdon; a brother, Red Anderson, Abingdon; three sisters, Ruth Gobble, Valley Health Care Center, Chilhowie, and Ann Fugate and Kate Trent, both of Abingdon; three grandchildren, Randy Glass, Leslie Barrett and Gavin Blevins; three great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. At the request of Mrs. Loyd, a private graveside service will be held Saturday in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Mr. Junior Gobble will officiate. There will no visitation in the funeral home. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Loyd family. William C. McElyea COEBURN – William C. (Billy) McElyea, 63, passed away Monday, June 21, 2004, in the North Crest Medical Center Springfield, Tenn. He was a retired employee of the Lilly Corporation and was preceded in death by his parents, Buford and Ethel Mae McElyea. He was of the Baptist faith. Surviving are a son, Brian K. McElyea of Greenwood, Ind.; a daughter, Pamela Borders of Cedar Hill, Tenn.; a brother, Darrell McElyea of Mooresville, Ind.; three sisters, Brenda Johnson of Greensboro, N.C., Teresa Humphrey of Lafayette, Tenn., and Valerie McElyea of Mooresville; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday in the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Coeburn, with Elder Donald Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens Big Stone Gap. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Friday at the Sturgill Funeral Home, Coeburn. Sturgill Funeral Homes, Coeburn, is in charge of arrangements. Allen Dexter Pless MEADOWVIEW – Funeral services for Allen Dexter Pless will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2004, in the Campbell Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Thomas Capron officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Jack Orr, Eddie Thomas, Loyde Alexander, Joe Mitchell, John S. Mitchell and Trevor Orfield. Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Lamie, Jack McCracken, Paul Ed Scyphers, Glenn Orfield, James V. Mitchell, Larry Orr, Tony Surber, James McCray and Bill Neese. Those wishing to express sympathy online to the Pless family may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Allen Dexter Pless, age 54, a resident of 14575 Cedar Creek Road, died Tuesday, June 22, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. Terry A. Shuemaker BRISTOL, Va. – 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. Dorothy Woodward ABINGDON – Mrs. Dorothy "Dot" Marie Cahill Woodward, age 83, died Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at her home. Mrs. Woodward was preceded in death by her first husband, E.H. "Kay" Cahill of Saltville, one son, Samuel Edward Cahill, one daughter, Linda Faye Cahill, and her parents, John W. Hammonds and Cora Goff Hammonds. Mrs. Woodward was of the Methodist faith. She retired from Piggly Wiggly in Saltville and was a member of the Pythian Sisters. She was known to many generations as "Mommy Dot." Survivors: two daughters, Patricia Cahill Frye of Abingdon and Brenda Cahill Cardwell and husband Ryburn of Saltville; four grandchildren, Lynn Cardwell Hamm and husband Rodney of Meadowview, Mitzi Cardwell Stables and husband Richard of Meadowview, Donald D. (D.J.) Frye Jr. and wife Susan of Houston and Holly Marie Frye and special friend, Ryan Sanders of Abingdon; two great-grandchildren, Derek Coleman and Jared Hamm of Meadowview; one sister, Mrs. Lillian Hensley of Bristol Tennessee; one brother, Harrison M. Hammonds of Florida; five stepchildren, John and Billie Cummings of Woodstock, Va., Jim and Mary Clark of Williamsburg, Va., Sue Woodward of Woodstock, Kathy Woodward of Vienna, Va., and Kenny and Norma Woodward of Maureltown, Va.; several step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Woodward will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2004, at Henderson Funeral Home, with Rev. William Cahill officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the family.