Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, September 27, 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 Monday, Sept. 27, 2004 Today's Deaths Bessie Jane Booth Casteel, 107, Lebanon James V. Duncan III, 50, Marion Mary Alice Dye, 94, Honaker John Edward Hill, 82, Saltville John Albert Hopper Jr., 76, Bristol Tennessee Margaret Evelyn Counts Jessee, 84, Kingsport Robert G. Lawson, 71, Coeburn Kathleen Deel Matney, 82, Vansant, Va. Marion Lowe Newman McCrory, 80, Pearl Brooks Neel, 90, Atkins, Va. James Arthur Olinger, 76, Chilhowie Bobby Glen Phillips, 70 Audrey Mae Reynolds, 76, Coeburn Mary Elizabeth Cardwell Sheets, 52, Chilhowie Robert Edward Spiva, 63, Bristol Virginia Bessie Casteel LEBANON – Bessie Jane Booth Casteel, 107, with to be with the Lord, Sept. 25, 2004, at the Hummingbird Retirement Villa, Lebanon. She was born in Russell County, Va., but lived in south St. Paul most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Alfred and Betty Elizabeth Johnson Booth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sherman Casteel; one son, Homer Casteel; one grandson, whom she raised, Ronald Lee Casteel; four brothers; four sisters; two nieces, Cornelia Brummett and Lou Ellen Ingle; and several other nieces and nephews. She was inducted into the Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens Centenarian Hall of Fame on Friday, May 28, 2004. She is survived by one grandson, Larry "Diesel" Casteel of Bristol Tennessee; one granddaughter, Sandra Jean Casteel of Abingdon; one special nephew, whom she raised, Paul Booth of Crown Point, Ind.; three nieces, Tina Owens, Lebanon, Gay Hawkins of Bristol Tennessee and Betty Chaffin of Castlewood; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral services for Bessie Jane Booth Casteel will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Glenn Hammacker officiating. Committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. Friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery, leaving at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Online condolences may be sent to the Casteel family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. James V. Duncan III MARION – James V. Duncan III, age 50, passed away Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at his residence. Survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced later by Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion. Mary Alice Dye HONAKER – Mrs. Mary Alice Dye, age 94, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, in Lebanon. Born April 24, 1910, in West Virginia, she was a daughter of the late William Henry and Matilda Steiner Snyder. She married Earl Herman Dye on Jan. 27, 1930, and they made their home in Honaker. She was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Valley View Freewill Baptist Church in Honaker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Herman Dye, one infant daughter, five brothers and two sisters. In her generation, she was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Helen Jean and Robert J. "Bob" Keene of Honaker; two sons and daughters-in-law, William Beverly "Dub" and Narcie Dye and Earl Harvey and Patty Dye, all of Honaker; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Kenny Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Johnson Cemetery at Wysor Valley, Va. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the employees of Mountain View Retirement Home, as well as the doctors and nurses of Russell County Medical Center for their care and attention. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Monday. John Edward Hill SALTVILLE – John Edward Hill, 82, passed away Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon. Arrangements are incomplete. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, Saltville, will be serving the Hill family. John A. Hopper Jr. BRISTOL, Tenn. – John Albert Hopper Jr., 76, 308 Wimberly Way, died Saturday at the James A. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Mr. Hopper was a Johnson City native and had lived in Bristol for the past 35 years. He was a son of the late John Albert Hopper Sr. and Bessie Gervin Hopper, and was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. Mr. Hopper was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He was retired from Universal CIT Finance and vice president/controller at Campbell Corporation. Mr. Hopper was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church and attended Altars Gate United Methodist Church. He was a former scoutmaster with Boy Scout of America. Mr. Hopper is survived by his wife, Genevieve Baker Hopper; one daughter, Ginger Baker, Bristol; and one granddaughter, Misty Harrison and her husband Cameron, Gastonia, N.C. A funeral service for Mr. Hopper will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday. Sept. 27, 2004, from the Morris-Baker South Chapel. Reverend Richard C. Campbell will officiate. Military graveside honors will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday by the Tennessee Army National Guard and the VFW Post 3382 at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Baker, Ed Bogart, Lawrence Tester, Wade Beverly, Allen Haga, Garnett Day, Jim Grant, Jimmie Peters, Dick Campbell, Morris Arnold, Cecil Hankins, John Lussier, Dwight Owens, Wayne Barningham, Robert Marks and special friends, Andy Murray, Vance Murray and Andrew Glover. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, the family requests memorial contributions to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 136 Highridge St., Bristol, TN 37620. Hermie M. Jackson BRISTOL, Tenn. – The funeral service for Hermie Mullins Jackson will be conducted at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon in the Heritage Chapel of Memories in Glenwood Cemetery, with Dr. Gary Knapp, minister, officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Hermie Mullins Jackson, 84, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2002, at her home. Mrs. Jackson and her family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tennessee. Evelyn C. Jessee KINGSPORT – Margaret Evelyn Counts Jessee, 84, died on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, in Bristol Wellmont Hospice House. Born on March 12, 1920, in Russell County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Earl Cecil Counts and Stella Meade Counts. She taught in the Russell County School System and for 30 years in the Sullivan County School System. She was a member of the Ketron Memorial United Methodist Church, Kingsport. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son, Kyle Counts Jessee, and a brother, Earl Cecil Counts Jr. Surviving are husband of 63 years, Robert W. Jessee of the home; daughters, Kaye Jessee Peters and husband Gary of Greensboro, Ga., and Kathy Jessee Layton and husband Johnny of Dublin, Ga.; six grandchildren, Amy Peters Manto and husband Aurelio of Bedford, Mass., Rob Peters of Atlanta, Jason Spears of Chattanooga, Joseph Spears and wife Mandy of Miche, Tenn., Summer Spears Bailey and husband Matt of Valdosta, Ga., and Jay Layton of Atlanta; three great-grandchildren, Garrett Peters, Pearl Spears and Georgia Manto; stepmother, Trula Counts; two sisters, Nell Herndon and husband Roland and Bonnie Scyphers and husband Evans; and four brothers, Tom Counts and wife Connie, Ted Counts and wife Pat, Danny Counts and wife Betty and David Counts and wife Becky. Funeral services will be conducted at Ketron Memorial United Methodist Church at the corner of Tip Top Avenue and Virgil Avenue, Kingsport, on Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at 6 p.m., with Rev. Aaron Pierce officiating. The family will receive friends in the church immediately following the service. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Russell Memorial Park, Lebanon. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephew. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:50 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bristol Hospice House, c/o Wellmont Foundation, P.O. Box 1069, Kingsport, TN 37662; or to Ketron Memorial United Methodist Church, Tip Top Avenue, Kingsport, TN 37665. The family wishes to express love and appreciation to Inez Herrmann and to Bob and Jane Murph for all the love, care and company they have provided to our mother. Condolences may be sent to the family via e-mail at cartertrentfh@earthlink.net. Carter-Trent Funeral Home is serving the family of Evelyn Counts Jessee. Robert G. Lawson COEBURN – Robert G. Lawson, 71, went to be with his Lord at his residence on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at Sturgill Funeral Home in Coeburn. Kathleen D. Matney VANSANT, Va. – Kathleen Deel Matney, 82 years of age, passed away Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at Grace Health Care Center, Abingdon. Born in Dickenson County, Va., she was a daughter of the late Basil and Crissie Edwards Deel. She had been a resident of Buchanan County most of her life and was a member of Grundy Church of Christ. Her father, Basil Deel, moved his family from Dickenson County to Buchanan County to an area known as Nickolsville, which is now known as Deel, Va., and established the Deel Post Office, where Kathleen served as post mistress for several years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and was a homemaker. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Mrs. Matney was preceded in death by her husband, Edeam Matney, Sept. 3, 1999. She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Virgie Vandyke, Fern Scott and Edna Shortridge, and one brother, Dewey Deel. She is survived by one daughter, Lois Ann and husband, Keaster Dawson, Vansant; two grandchildren, Jennifer Leigh Dawson and husband Brian McGough, Norton, and Kevin Lee Dawson, Richmond; also, she is survived by several special nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Kathleen Deel Matney will be conducted Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel, with Evangelists Steve Hagy, Tom Cooper, Bill Neeley and Mike Trent officiating, with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va. Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel Monday at 6 p.m., with services Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. Active pallbearers will be Kevin Dawson, Robert Neeley, Bill Scott, Keaster Dawson, Jimmy Vandyke, Eddie Deel, Sonny Vandyke and Johnny Scott. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Larry Mitchell, Arnold Matney, Carl Vandyke, D.J. Keen, Brian McGough, staff of Grace Health Care Center, elders and deacons of Grundy Church of Christ and nephews. Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements. Marion McCrory Marion Lowe Newman McCrory, age 80, passed away Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at her home. She was a longtime member of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon, a Stephen minister and was involved in the Monday morning prayer group and other prayer ministries within the church. She was graduated from the University of Tennessee and a past member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She worked at Lakeshore Mental Health Institute in occupational therapy for 17 years. Marion wanted to thank her many good friends for all their sustaining prayers during her illness and, particularly, Dr. Mike Passarello. Also special thanks to her devoted caregivers, Sandra Cox and Millie Harness. Marion was preceded in death by her mother and father, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Haller Newman, and her youngest daughter, Carter Cotham McCrory. She is survived by her daughter, Marty McCrory Pratt, Knoxville; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jefferson Harrell McCrory Jr. and Barbara Vickers McCrory of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law, Robert Haller McCrory and Peggy Ford McCrory, Knoxville; grandchildren, Michael Pratt and wife Heather Pratt, North Richland Hills, Texas, Hal McCrory and Cate McCrory of Laguna Niguel and Patrick McCrory and Christine McCrory of Knoxville; great- grandchildren, Alexander and Nicholas Pratt of North Richland Hills; sister, Carol Newman Biegler, Bristol Virginia and Grand Cayman, B.W.I; niece, Susan Greer Craig and husband George Craig of Grand Cayman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church Missionary Fund, 3700 Keowee Ave., Knoxville, TN 37919. Arrangements will be announced later by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Alma Mullins HONAKER – Funeral services for Mrs. Alma Mullins will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Ancil Childress and Rev. Carl Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Va. Relatives and friends will serve as pallbearers. Mrs. Alma Mullins, age 66, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, in a Bristol Tennessee hospital. Pearl Brooks Neel ATKINS, Va. – Pearl Brooks Neel, age 90, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, in the Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion. She was born in Nebo to the late Oscar Lee Brooks and Flossie Mae Tibbs Brooks and was preceded in death by her husband, Leland J. Neel, and three brothers, Leon, Elmer and Maynard Brooks. She was a member of the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church and had worked at Roses in Marion. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, James and Alice Neel, Atkins; one daughter and son-in-law, Mona and Ronnie Buchanan, Marion; one brother, James Brooks, Marion; four grandchildren, Terri Kinder, Candice Buchanan, Barry Neel and Gary Neel; one great-granddaughter, Kimberly Neel; and special friends, G.C. and Stella Musser. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church, with Rev. Eddie Beck officiating. Interment will be Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Rosewood Memorial Gardens in Rural Retreat. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. The family will receive friends Monday evening at the Cedar Bluff Baptist Church from 6:30- 8 p.m., or at the home of Mona and Ronnie Buchanan, 4587 Lee Highway, Marion. Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, is serving the family of Pearl Neel. James Arthur Olinger CHILHOWIE – Mr. James A. "Jim" Olinger Sr., age 76, went to be with the Lord, Sept. 26, 2004, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon. He was a retired employee from the State of Virginia, owner of the Tastie Freeze in Chilhowie, founder and first pastor of the Chilhowie Pentecostal Holiness Church and a veteran of World War II. He was the son of the late W.J. and Mamie Olinger. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Edna Lois Olinger; two sons, Ron Olinger, Chilhowie, and James Olinger Jr., Jonesborough, Tenn.; four brothers, Richard Olinger, Maryland, Ralph Olinger, Jonesville, Va., David Olinger, Damascus, and John Bill Olinger, Rural Retreat, Va.; four sisters, Polly Roberts, Saltville, Juanita Sturgill, Bristol Virginia, and Nancy Holmes, Saltville; three granddaughters, Amy, Angel and Carrie; two great-granddaughters, Emma and Tanna; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Olinger will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at Henderson Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Mount Rose Cemetery The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, just prior to the funeral service. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Olinger family. Bobby Glen Phillips Bobby Glen Phillips, age 70, of Bristol Nursing Home, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Lissie Phillips. Survivors include Betty Mason Phillips of Bristol; sons, Rocky Phillips I of Bristol and special friend, Angela Faidley; daughters, Vicki White and husband Bill of Bristol, Debbie Norman and husband Harry of New Lenox, Ill.; brothers, Paul (Hal) Phillips and wife Hazel and Buddy Phillips and wife Flo of Bristol; the mother of his children, Maxine Phillips; and four grandchildren. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Rooty Branch Cemetery, with Rev. Noah Stout and Brother Howard Campbell officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Norman, Bobby Norman, Billy Norman, Rocky Phillips II, Bill White, Curtis Phillips, Ray Sage, Dowd Rutherford and Lawrence Stout. The family will receive friends on Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, 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. Rebecca P. Reeves Graveside services for Rebecca Preston Reeves will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Knollkreg Memorial Park, Abingdon. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Rebecca Preston Reeves, age 52, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at her residence in the Lodi community. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main St., Abingdon, is serving the Reeves family. Audrey Mae Reynolds COEBURN – Audrey Mae Reynolds, 76, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at her daughter’s home in Coeburn. Mrs. Reynolds was a former cook at the Banner School and was a member of the Banno-Knockus Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Reynolds; her parents, Charlie and Gertie Quinley Couch; grandson, Anthony Plaster; and several brothers and sisters. Survivors include three daughters, Linda Markham, Joyce Reynolds and Shirley Adams and husband, Sam, all of Coeburn; two brothers, Hubert Couch, Coeburn, and Willard "Bud" Couch, Dover, Del.; sister, Ruth Hamm, Kingsport; three grandsons, Brian Markham, Billy Joe Markham and Travis Collins, all of Coeburn; great- granddaughter, Kaela Sanders, Bristol Tennessee; special friends, Louise and Stafford Jordan; and several nephews and nieces. Visitation for Audrey Mae Reynolds will be held Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, after 6 p.m. at Estes Funeral Home Chapel, and funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m., with Rev. Charlie Couch officiating. Burial will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Little Tom Cemetery in Coeburn. Pallbearers will be family members. Estes Funeral Home Inc., (276) 395-2441. Mary C. Sheets CHILHOWIE – Mary Elizabeth "Cissy" Cardwell Sheets, 52, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, in the University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville. She was a member of the Grosses Creek Baptist Church. She was employed by Valley Health Care Center for over 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Roger Allen Sheets; one daughter, Penny Sheets Pickel and husband Jeff, Chilhowie; one son, Brandon Sheets and wife Amanda, Chilhowie; her mother, Gladys Cardwell, Chilhowie; one brother, Roger Dale Cardwell and sister-in-law, Peggy, Chilhowie; two grandsons, Troy Pickel and Travis Pickel, both of Chilhowie; also several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Melvin Cardwell. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Grosses Creek Baptist Church, with Revs. Darrell Lambert and Charles E. Blevins officiating. Interment will follow in Grosses Creek Church Cemetery. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Grosses Creek Baptist Church. Williams Funeral Home, Chilhowie, is serving the family of Mary Elizabeth "Cissy" Cardwell Sheets. Robert Edward Spiva BRISTOL, Va. – Robert Edward Spiva, age 63, passed away on Sept. 25, 2004, at the Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mr. Spiva was born on June 14, 1941, in Washington County, Va. He lived in the greater Bristol area all his life, where he worked as a salesman for Virginia Wholesale. Mr. Spiva also served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife, Jean Pickel Spiva; son, William Andrew Spiva and wife Amber of Bristol Virginia; grandchildren, Brooks and Natalie Spiva; brother, Ernest Spiva and wife Linda, Huddleston, Va.; niece, Lisa Rankin and husband Dave; nephews, Jay Spiva, wife, Bridges, and children, Wagner and Waylon, and Sammy Pickel, wife, Amy, and children, Emily and Austin; and brother-in-law, Sam Pickel and wife Evelyn. The funeral service for Mr. Robert Spiva will be held at 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dennis Burnette officiating. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the Forest Hills Cemetery, with military honors presented by VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post 6975. The family will receive friends Monday at the funeral home from 6- 7:45 p.m., prior to the service. Pallbearers will be William Andrew Spiva, Sammy Pickel, Jay Spiva, John Cannan, Mike Shaver and Jason Haas. E-mail condolences may be sent at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.