Bristol, Virginia, Obituaries: Bristol Herald Courier, October 24, 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 Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004 Today's Deaths Edward L. Barger, 66, Blountville Cicero W. Bowers, 72, Taylors Valley, Va. Thomas Edward Keesee, 57, Saltville Ira Lee Mays, 54, Vero Beach, Fla. Thomas Edward Morton, 45, Bristol Tennessee Kyle David Murray, 54, Blountville Thurmond Rose, 89, Richlands Curtis Ray Stapleton, 54, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Dixie Lee Selfe Sutherland, 95, Clintwood Draxie O’Quin Viers, 76, Vansant, Va. Edward L. Barger BLOUNTVILLE - Edward L. (Parkie) Barger, age 66, passed away Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at his residence. He was born in Blountville to the late Henry H. (Buck) Barger and his surviving mother, Mattie Shankle Barger. He was preceded in death by an infant son, who died at birth. Parkie served in the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged after serving in Korea. He was a member of Patton Crosswhite VFW Post 6975 and the American Legion Post 145. He was a retired Teamster Local #549 employed by Mason/Dixon. Most recently retired from the Sullivan County Highway Department. Parkie was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Blountville. Survivors include daughters, Deliesa Barger and Edwienna Love; two grandsons, Jared Tunnell and Logan Love; one sister, Brenda B. Kangas; aunt, Rose Fleenor; uncles, Harry Shankle and Grady Shankle; and beloved cousin, Mary Houston. Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in Immanuel Cemetery, with Pastor Donald Fritz officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Rodefer, Buddy Fleenor, Lynn Shankle, Gale Fleenor, Nat Tunnell, Howard Kangas and Paul Jones. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, at Akard Funeral Home. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family of Mr. Barger at akardfh@peercom.net. Akard Funeral Home 1912 West State Street, Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800 is serving the family of Mr. Barger. Cicero W. Bowers TAYLORS VALLEY, Va. - Cicero W. "C.W." Bowers, age 72, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Garrett Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Bowers. Sam W. Campbell ABINGDON - Funeral services for Sam W. Campbell will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, in the Macedonia Church of Christ, 25350 Watauga Road, Abingdon, with Evangelist Mike McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Kroll, Randell Campbell, Jeff Campbell, Dan Campbell, Ronald "Hump" Anderson and Lucky Hicks. Flowers will be accepted or an expression of sympathy may be in the form of a memorial contribution to the Cancer Outreach Foundation Inc., 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.campbell-funeralhome.com. Sam W. Campbell, age 47, died Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at his residence. Campbell Funeral Home, Abingdon, is in charge of the arrangements. Flem Everette Cross LEBANON - A graveside service for Flem Everette Cross will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 1:30 p.m. at Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dallas Hubbard, Bill Cross, Dwayne Gobble, David Miller, Dewey Campbell, Carl Jack Dale, Cecil Salyers and John Salyer. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Dale, Bill McCarty and Tommy Kegley. Flem Everette Cross, 88, of the Crossroads section, passed away on Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. Owens Funeral Service, Lebanon, is in charge of arrangements. Beulah E. Dean ROANOKE - Funeral services for Beulah E. Dean will be held at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in Castlewood Funeral Home Chapel, Castlewood, with Rev. Kermit Evans officiating. Committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, in Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood. The family will meet at the funeral home and go in procession to the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at Castlewood Funeral Home, Castlewood. Flowers will be accepted, but memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216; Cancer Outreach Foundation Inc., 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211; and Midway Church, P.O. Box 1723, Coeburn, VA 24230. Online condolences may be sent to the Dean family through our Web site at www.castlewoodfuneralhome.com. Beulah E. Dean, 88, died Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke. Castlewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. W.S. Fleenor BRISTOL, Va. - The committal service and interment for W.S. Fleenor, son of the late W.S. and Cordia Whitaker Fleenor, will be conducted at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2004, at Boohers Chapel Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Duane Goff, D.J. Goff, Mike Wigand, Jennings Whicker, Shane Poe and John Denton. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Leonard, Ronald Whicker, Jerry Blaylock, and Dwayne Blaylock. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. W.S. Fleenor, 85, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, from Bristol Regional Medical Center. Mr. Fleenor and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol Tennessee. Margaret B. Johnson BLUFF CITY - The funeral service for Margaret B. Johnson will be conducted at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, in the Akard Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Dixie Miller and Rev. Randy Hensley officiating. The committal service and interment will be conducted at 1 p.m., Sunday at the graveside in Glenwood Cemetery. She led her life with faith and love and so shall she be remembered. She will live forever in our hearts. Memorials may be made to Wellmont Hospice House, 280 Steele’s Road, Bristol, TN 37620; or Rockhold UMC, 4157 Rockhold Rd., Bluff City, TN 37617. E-mail condolences for the family may be sent at akardfh@peercom.net. Margaret K. Boy Johnson, age 88, went to be with the Lord, Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at her residence. Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN 37620, (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Johnson. Thomas E. Keesee SALTVILLE - Mr. Thomas Edward "Tom" Keesee, age 57, died Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, in Johnston Memorial Hospital. Mr. Keesee was preceded in death by brothers, Robert and Herbert Keesee, and a sister, June Canter. Survivors include his wife, Lillie Keesee; one daughter, Velma Keesee, Martinsville, Va.; four stepchildren, Ruth Ann Hoffman, Columbia, Pa., Michelle Lee Hoffman and Tonia Lynn Hoffman, both of Saltville, and Ray E. Hoffman, Chilhowie; four brothers. William Keesee, Salem, James Keesee, Chilhowie, George Keesee, Rock Falls, Ill., and Frank Keesee, Saltville; two sisters, Hattie Barbrow and Betty Lou Harris, both of Saltville; 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Thomas E. Keesee will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at the D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Clarence Frye officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 till 8 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home. D.R. Henderson Funeral Home of Saltville is serving the Keesee family. Ira Lee Mays VERO BEACH, Fla. - Ira Lee Mays, age 54, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, in Gainesville, Fla., after a brief illness. He was born in Bristol Virginia and had lived in Vero Beach for 30 years. He was a graduate of John S. Battle High School and a Vietnam veteran. He was owner/operator of Terra Tech Landscape Company. He was a member of the V.F.W. in Sebastian, Fla., and a member of the Sebastian United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, the late Ira Dalton Mays. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Mays and two sons, Matthew and Jeremy Mays, all of Vero Beach; his mother and stepfather, Geraldine and Joe Parker of Kingsport; one brother, Michael Mays of Middleburg, Fla.; and four sisters, Connie Smith of Indianapolis, Ind., Sharon Mays of Sebastian, Velma Mays of Abingdon and Marcine Eastridge of Bristol Virginia. A memorial service with military honors was held on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at the Sebastian United Methodist Church, with Dr. Ronald Thomas officiating. Kathryn L. McCool ABINGDON - A Mass of the Resurrection for Kathryn Louise McCool will be celebrated on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2004, at 9 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 820 East Main St., in Kathy’s honor. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. at the church, where a memorial service celebrating Kathy’s life will be held at 6 p.m. A wake (reception) will follow the memorial service in the Parish Hall. Honorary pallbearers will be Bo Catron, Bill Andrews, Tyler King, Bill King, Bob LeGard and Jim Baldwin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, so that the creation of a memory garden may be formed, which was a request of Kathy’s. It was also her wish to thank Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. John Fincher, Dr. Martin Monahan, Dr. Emory Robinette, Dr. Forrest Swan and their staffs for the kindness and care they provided her during her struggle with cancer. It was her sincere wish for everyone to continue to support efforts in the research and development of finding cures for cancer. The family extends its gratitude for the support, love and sympathy shown by the community and friends honoring Kathy’s life and her many contributions to her students and community. Kathryn Louise McCool, 53, well-known educator in the Washington County Public School System, passed away on Oct. 21, 2004, after a long battle with cancer. Those wishing to share a memory of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Kathy McCool. Thomas E. Morton BRISTOL, Tenn. - Thomas Edward Morton, age 45, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, at his residence. He was the son of the late Jack and Pat F. Morton and was a lifelong resident of Bristol. He was a graduate of Tennessee High School and ETSU. He was a Registered Nurse and had attended Avoca Christian Church. Tom Ed will be remembered as a loving father. Survivors include wife, Allyson S. Morton; children, Matthew Morton, Zachary Morton and Allye Morton; grandfather, Carmack Morton; siblings, Julia F. Gustafson of Kentucky, John L. Morton, Kingsport, and Jane Morton of Bristol Tennessee; niece and two nephews. A memorial service will be held Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at 8 p.m. in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel, with Minister Bob Robinson officiating. The family will receive friends Monday from 6-7:45 prior to the service. Online condolences may be registered at www.Weaverfuneralhome.net. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Kyle David Murray BLOUNTVILLE - Kyle David "Doodle" Murray, age 54, passed away, Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, in the Greystone Health Care Center. He was born in Abingdon, and was a lifelong resident of the Bristol area. He was a former butcher for Valleydale and was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Murray was a U.S. Army veteran, serving his country during the Vietnam era. He was preceded in death by his mother, Aline Bradley Murray, and a brother, Samuel Murray. Survivors include a son, Jason D. Murray and wife, Angie, Bristol Virginia; sister: Tommy Catherine Shultz, Abingdon; three brothers, Jeff Bradley, Texas, Lester Murray and Bobby Murray, both of Bristol Tennessee; grandsons, Micah D. Murray and A. Caleb Murray; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in the Weaver Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dennis Burnette officiating. Burial will follow in the Eastern Heights Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the VFW Patton-Crosswhite Post #6975. Pallbearers will be Lester Murray, Jr., Sammy Murray, Andy Murray, David Murray, Roger Thomas and David Steele. Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Weaver Funeral Home. Weaver Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Thurmond Rose RICHLANDS - Mr. Thurmond "Pedro" Rose, age 89, died Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at a Salem, Va., veterans hospital following a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands. 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. Curtis Ray Stapleton PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Curtis Ray Stapleton, age 54, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville. He was born in St. Paul and lived in Bristol for several years before moving to Grundy. He was a graduate of King College and was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Delmer Stapleton, Sr., and a sister, Mary Lou Stapleton Lyon. Survivors include mother and stepfather, Mabel and James Vanover of Pound; sons, Chris Stapleton and wife, Beverly, of Bristol Virginia and Brian Stapleton of Abingdon; brothers, Delmer Stapleton Jr. and wife, Carolyn, of Temple, Texas, James Stapleton and wife, Peggie, of Sparta, Tenn., Wayne Stapleton and wife, Linda, of Maryville, Tenn., Jackie Stapleton of Grady, Ark., Kent Stapleton and wife, Sharon, of Sevierville, Tenn.; sister , Lisa Stanley and husband, Jackie, of Sevierville; granddaughters, Halley and Briona; several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Crumley Cemetery, with Rev. Dave McClellan officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Tony Myers and Gary Hardoby. The family will receive friends on Sunday 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. Dixie Sutherland CLINTWOOD - Dixie Lee Selfe Sutherland, age 95, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, at her home. Born Jan. 7, 1909, the daughter of the late Joseph and Vesta Artrip Self. She was a lifelong resident of Clintwood and was a schoolteacher with the Dickinson County School System for 37 years. She was a member of the Virginia Extension Homemakers Club, Virginia Retired Teachers Association and Senior Citizens. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, William Greear Sutherland, and daughter, Billie Kathleen Crum. Survivors include her brother, Jasper A. "Jack" Selfe, Skippers, Va.; son, Bobby Ray Sutherland; six grandchildren, Eric Crum and wife, Kimberli, of Elizabethton, Charlotte Wright and husband, Donnie, of Clintwood, Bobby Ray Sutherland Jr. of Royal Oak Mich., Pamela Sue Webb and her husband, Wilson, Buchanan, Va., Martha Lynn Sutherland of Roanoke, Rick Sutherland of Harrison Township, Mich.; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, along with several nieces and nephews and a very special caregiver, Barbara Kendrick. Funeral services for Dixie Lee Sutherland will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday Oct. 25, 2004, from the graveside at the Phipps Memorial Cemetery, Main Street, Clintwood, with Rev. Lynn Vanover officiating. Friends may call Sunday evening at the Clintwood Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Clintwood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Draxie O. Viers VANSANT, Va. - Draxie O’Quin Viers, age 76, of Rt. 2 passed away Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, at her residence. Born in Dickenson County, she was a daughter of the late Malikiah and Minnie Jane Deel O’Quin. She was a homemaker and a member of Russell Prater Old Regular Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Coy Viers; two daughters, Erma Kay Oquinn and Neva Jo Viers; three sisters, Sarilda Boyd, Snoda Owens and Emily Deel; and four brothers, Muncie, Floyd, Lilburn and Lawrence Oquinn. Survivors include a daughter, Edna Sue Stiltner of Rosedale, Va.; a son, Coy Roger (Linda) Viers of Vansant; a brother, Milton O’Quin of Haysi; a sister, Sarah Ann Deel of Prater, Va.; four grandsons; three granddaughters; two great- grandsons and two great-granddaughters. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, with Elders Roger Coleman, Terry Oquinn and Freddie Ramey officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill. Pallbearers will be Shannon Oquinn, Travis Oquinn, Kendall Oquinn, Lucas Stiltner, Donald Keene and Robert Vandyke. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Oquinn, Jeff Stiltner, Roger Street, Dr. Clint Sutherland and Jerry Wilson. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct.24, 2004, at Haysi Funeral Home, where an evening service will be held at 7 p.m., with Elders David Oquinn, Eddie Newsome and Danny Yates. Haysi Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Henry Lee Wise RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. - Funeral services for Henry (Hen) Lee Wise will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. at Owens Funeral Service Chapel, with Rev. Darrell Baker officiating. Interment will follow at Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Trigg Fields, Carter McGlothlin, Carlos Garrett, George Frence, Jeff Duty and Dewey Bennett. Henry (Hen) Lee Wise, 72, of the Big Moccasin section, passed away on Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. Owens Funeral Service, Lebanon, is in charge of arrangements.