Register Herald Obituaries for February 9, 2000 Willie M. Dixon JAMESPORT, N.Y. - Willie Mae Dempsey Dixon, 84, formerly of Minden and Oak Hill, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, in Oak Hollow Nursing Home, Middle Island, N.Y., following a long illness. Born Oct. 14, 1915, in Ansted, she was the daughter of the late Mallie Lee Gray Ayers and William Dempsey. Mrs. Dixon was a homemaker and a member of Minden Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Henry Dixon III; her stepfather, Walter Geter Ayers; two sons, Donald Lee Dixon and William Henry Dixon III; two brothers, Gordon Dempsey and Leonard Ayers; two sisters, Clara Hamilton and Thelma Baldry; and two grandchildren, Lori Jean and William Henry Dixon IV. Survivors include three sons, Charles Edward Dixon and Richard Eugene "Cobby" Dixon, both of Oak Hill, and Kenneth Ray Dixon of Cincinnati; a daughter, Glenda Dixon Tetrault of Jamesport; two brothers, Kenneth Ayers of Ravenswood and Howard Ayers of Endicott, N.Y.; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Ray McClung officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill. ---------- ---------- Clara E. Lawson Clara E. Brewster Lawson, 80, of Beckley, formerly of Welch, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, in a Beckley hospital. Born Sept. 19, 1919, in Tazewell, Va., she was the daughter of the late John Jackson Brewster and Rosa Shrader Brewster. Mrs. Lawson was retired from McDowell County National Bank, Welch, and a member of United Methodist Temple, Beckley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Reid S. Lawson Sr.; a brother, Lee Brewster; and four sisters, Dessie Franklin, Hattie Midkiff, Mildred Lawless and Doroty Taylor. Survivors include a son, Reid S. Lawson Jr. and his wife, Ellen, of Chesapeake, Va.; a daughter, Susan Akers and her husband, Daniel, of Daniels; two grandsons, Robert Hampton Akers and Daniel Reid Akers, both of Daniels; three granddaughters, Julie Akers Blankenship and her husband, Shawn, of Charlotte, N.C., and Stephanie Nicole Lawson and Jennifer Reid Lawson, both of Chesapeake; two brothers, Paul Brewster of Welch and Jack Brewster of Michigan; four sisters, Freedia Munsey of Virginia, Pearl Church of Georgia, Dolly Pugh of Virginia and Edith Repel of New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Temple, Beckley, with the Revs. Dan Johnson and Ellen File officiating. Inturnment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bluewell. Friends may call one hour before services Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to United Methodist Temple, Beckley. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- Mary L. Legursky Mary L. Legursky, 88, of Mabscott, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, in a Beckley hospital following a long illness. Born Sept. 30, 1911, in Newark, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Frank and Nellie Benick Lagowski. Ms. Legursky was a homemaker and a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Beckley. She was a resident of the Raleigh County area most of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Legursky; a son, Carl Legursky; and two sisters, Helen Miktus and Stella Filpek. Survivors include two sons, James Legursky and his wife, Judy, of Owego, N.Y., and Jerome Legursky of Mabscott; a daughter, Evelyn Shumate and her husband, John, of Columbus, Tenn.; a brother, Joe Lagowski of Beckley; a sister, Sophia Gorman of Edison, N.J.; and 18 grandchildren. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley, with Father Samuel Sacus officiating. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley, where a Christian wake service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friends will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley. ---------- ---------- Thomas M. Perkins GARTEN - Thomas M. Perkins, 87, of Route 4, Box 10, Fayetteville, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, in an Oak Hill medical center following a long illness. Born April 12, 1912, in Buckingham, Va., he was the son of the late Fountain Perkins and Charlotte Perkins. Mr. Perkins was a miner, worked as a guard at Moundsville and was employed by Pinecrest Hospital. He was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Garten, having served on the Deacon Board, Trustee Board and was treasurer. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Perkins; two brothers, Cecil and Robert Perkins; and a granddaughter, Alysha Poore. Survivors include his wife, Artie Belle George Perkins; a son, Thomas Poore of Fayetteville; a daughter, Coretta Haircrow and her husband, Mose, of Oak Hill; two stepsons, Donald Edgell of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Douglas Edgell of Beckley; a stepdaughter, Donna Ellis of Durham, N.C.; six grandchildren, Andrea Michelle Poore, Shondda Allen, Demetries Allen, Bryan Allen, Justyn Allen and Joshua Allen; three stepgrandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Shelia Poore of Fayetteville; a friend, Bobby L. Mack of Fayetteville; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Second Baptist Church, Fayetteville, with the Revs. A.L. Sims and Keith Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church. Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley. ---------- Ezella C. Perry NITRO - Ezella Comer Perry, 81, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, at her home following a long illness. Born Aug. 20, 1918, in Lansing, she was the daughter of the late Robert E. Comer and Odessa V. Shawver Comer. Mrs. Perry was a native of Lansing, a former hairstylist in Oak Hill and a 41-year resident of Nitro. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Nitro, a life member of the United Methodist Women, the Women's Club of Nitro, Nitro Chapter 153, Order of Eastern Star, and a member of the Nitro Senior Citizens Association and Kentucky Colonels. She was a graduate of Nuttall High School in Fayette County and the Huntington Beauty College in Huntington. She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Perry Jr. Survivors include a son, Steven W. Perry of Poca; a daughter, Lynn Perry Laminack of Plano, Texas; six brothers, Edward L. Comer of Winter Park, Fla., Robert L. Comer of San Carlos, Calif., John A. Comer of Charleston, Kennith G. Comer of Albuquerque, N.M., Joseph D. Comer of Beckley and Larry D. Comer of Fayetteville; a sister, Jane Allegretti of Goodyear, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Jonathan E. and Laura C. Perry of Poca, and Sara L. and Amanda L. Laminack of Plano. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Nitro, with Dr. Okey B. Harless and the Rev. Arnold Belcher officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at the church. Flowers are welcome, but a donation to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 20th Street, Nitro, WV 25143 would be a loving memorial. Arrangements by Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro. ---------- ---------- Angeline D. Rainey Angeline Davis Rainey, 93, of Crab Orchard, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000, in a Beckley care center following a long illness. Born Aug. 8, 1906, in Fonde, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Preston and Martha Davis. Mrs. Rainey spent her childhood in Kentucky, had been a resident of Crab Orchard since 1980, coming from Fonde, and was a member of Crab Orchard Church of the Brethern. She was an avid gardner and hunted wild game in her late 60s. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paris Rainey; and a daughter, Daisy Logsdon. Mrs. Rainey was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Survivors include three sons, Luther Reed and his wife, Pauline, of Beckley, Orbin Reed and his wife, Emilee, of Crab Orchard and Clarence Reed and his wife, Alice, of Helen; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Melton Mortuary Chapel, Beckley, with Pastor Kenny Overdorf officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before services Thursday at the funeral home. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley. ---------- ---------- Marion D. Smith GLENVILLE, Ga. - Marion DeWeese Mooney Smith, 69, formerly of Sophia, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, in Glenville following a long illness. Born Oct. 13, 1930, in Affinity, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Sr. and Nettie Milam DeWeese. She was the mother of seven daughters, Linda Cornet of Georgia, Loretta Petrella of Georgia, Patty Mooney of Georgia, Christina Blevins of Pemberton, Pam Ashley of Georgia, Angie Cox of Georgia, and Nova Reid of Georgia; a son, Frankie Mooney of California; 26 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and six brothers and five sisters. Graveside rites will be noon Friday at Mooney Cemetery, Rhodell. ---------- Mildred L. Smith OAK HILL - Mildred L. Smith, 68, of 122 Dunkin Ave., died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, at her home. Born March 17, 1913, in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of the late Ralph George and Beatrice M. Weekley. Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, James B. Smith. Survivors include her children: Gladys McCallum of Cleveland, Ohio, Connie Rhodes of Fayetteville, Diana Dorsey of Swiss, Patricia Bragg of Mount Carbon, Donna Johnson of Bealton, Va., James B. Smith III of Elyria, Ohio, Ronald Smith of Mount Carbon and Michael R. Smith of Oak Hill; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with the Rev. Jim Mundy officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements by High Lawn Funeral Home, Oak Hill. ---------- ---------- Walter T. Turner Walter Thomas Turner, 92, of 203 Kent St., Beckley, died at 1:47 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, at his home following a long illness. Born Dec. 18, 1907, in Penhook, Va., he was the son of the late Burell Turner and Eliza Ann Turner. Mr. Turner was a miner, a member of First Baptist Church, Harper Heights, member of the UMWA and was chaplain for Local No. 7086, District 29. He was deacon for 59 years and Sunday school superintendent. He was preceded in death by 14 brothers and sisters. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Mildred E. Kent Turner; a son, Evangelist Walter T. Turner Jr. and his wife, Evangelist Lavenia Turner, of Fort Payne, Ala., a daughter, Betty Ann Turner of Washington, D.C.; six grandchildren, Lawanda Inman, Shawn Turner, Eric Turner, Taraus Turner, Umeka Turner and Arnitra Turner; seven great-grandchildren, Faith Washington, Ariel Turner, Darius Turner, Desmond Turner, Sean Turner, Eric Turner Jr. and Jordan Turner; a sister, Willie Georgia Brown of Eudora, Ark.; a brother, Burkley Turner of New York City; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul Baptist Temple, 129 Rice St., Beckley, with the Revs. Thomas V. Moore and Walter Leach and Evangelists Walter T. Turner Jr. and Lavenia Turner officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley. Friends may call one hour before services Thursday at the church. Arrangements by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley. ---------- Elizabeth Withrow SCARBRO - Elizabeth Ann "Sis" Bokovitz Withrow, 69, died Monday, Feb. 7, 2000, at her home following a brief illness. Born Sept. 3, 1930, in Carlisle, she was the daughter of the late Joseph J. and Anna Wojtowicz Bokovitz. Mrs. Withrow was a former employee of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and a homemaker. She was a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Ladies Guild. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, JoAnn. Survivors include her husband, Roy "Shorty" Withrow; four sons, David Withrow and his wife, Donna, of Scarbro, Dale Withrow of Battle Creek, Mich., John Withrow and his wife, Debbie, of Oak Hill and Steve Withrow of Scarbro; two daughters, Mary Gregory and her husband, Gordon, of Maple Fork and Carol Withrow of Scarbro; a brother, Joseph Bokovitz and his wife, Ella, of Gallipolis, Ohio; a sister, Helen Bernath and her husband, Bill, of Scarbro; five grandchildren, Amanda and Lori Withrow of Oak Hill and Scott, Sean and Mary Beth Withrow, of Scarbro; and 22 nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Tyree Funeral Home Chapel, Oak Hill, with Father Thatson Nguyen officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Donations of sympathy may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Oyler Avenue and Elmore Street, Oak Hill, WV 25901. Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill. Submitted by Karen Monk **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************