Charles Monroe "Casey" (Holcomb) Baker, 62, of North Tazewell, VA, died Jan. 11, 2004 at a Richlands hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born in McDowell County, WV, he was a son of the late Rev. Frank Holcomb and Mary Magdalena Hicks Holcomb, both McDowell County natives.
He had made his home in North Tazewell for the past two years and most of his life in McDowell County. He attended Big Creek High School at War, WV. He was retired from the coal mines and from being a carpenter. He was a disabled Vietnam veteran. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran serving three tours in Vietnam and was at the Berlin Wall and Okinawa. He was a member of the American Legion Post 175 of Bradshaw, WV, and the Barnes-Beavers VFW Post 7136 of Tazewell. He was a member of the Living Spring P. H. Church of North Tazewell.
Survivors: wife, Phyllis Ann McCoy Baker; daughter, Mrs. Bret (Melinda) Blankenship of Tazewell; sons, Charles M. Baker Jr. and wife, Yvonna, of Tazewell, Thomas Spohr of Columbus, GA; sisters, Mrs. Ewing (Mary Frances) Begley of Tazewell, Patricia Donovan of Beckley, WV; brother, Robert Edward "Blue" Holcomb of Wise; half-sisters, Anna Cooper of North Carolina, Ada Woody of Bartley, WV; half-brother, Roger Baker of Bartley; grandson, John Patrick Casley Blankenship; eight nephews; five nieces; five great-nephews; and one great niece.
The funeral will be conducted Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel at Tazewell with Rev. Lacy Griffith, Rev. Bill Keen and Rev. Mary Frances Begley, pastor of Living Spring P. H. Church officiating.
Interment will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Members of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post 7136 of Tazewell will conduct military graveside rites.
Lois Maxine Harrison
Lois Maxine Davidson Harrison, 69, of Oak Island, NC, formerly of Tazewell, died Jan. 10, 2004 at Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC, following a long illness.
Born in Coopers, WV, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Molly Myrtle Asbury Davidson.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Glen Harrison; her second husband, Larry A. "Pete" Harrison; six brothers, Edward, James, Roy, Willard, and Donald Davidson, and Clinton Caudill; and one sister, Phyllis Beavers.
Survivors: sons, Donald and wife, Ann, of Oak Island, George of Ash, NC; stepdaughters, Diane and Sharon, both of Tazewell; grandchildren, Dana Harrison, Wendy Jordan and Brandi Harrison; five step-grandchildren; great grandson, Caleb Jordan; brothers, Eldridge (Jude), Carl, Ronald, and Willis Davidson; and sisters, Irene Goad, Geraldine Michaelman, Della Smith, Elizabeth (Betty) Bailey, and Brenda Roop.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Jan. 14 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Jared Wood officiating.
Burial will follow at the Harrison Family cemetery in Cliffield.
Ruth F. Horton
The lovely and courageous Ruth Fleshman Horton, of Bluefield, WV, died peacefully Jan. 8, 2004 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center after a long struggle.
She was a daughter of the late Jesse L. and Eunice Strouth Harless of Pearisburg.
She was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church and retired from H & M Shoe Company as office manager after many years of service. She was a member of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, International Quota Club of Bluefield, Community Concert Association and the Bluefield College Town and Gown. She was past president of the Lioness Club and National Secretary’s Association. She was a member of Fincastle Country Club and Treasurer of the Bluefield Country Club Ladies Golf Association for 12 years.
She was past president of the Mercer County American Cancer Society and a member of the Bluefield Historical Society. In past years she was awarded a lifetime membership in the Virginia 4 H All-Stars. She was a graduate of Pembroke High School in Giles County and was a graduate of West Virginia Business College.
She will be eternally missed by her devoted husband, Jovon Horton, formerly of Richlands; brother, Phillip Harless and wife, Charlotte, of Roanoke; sister, Gladys Hull of Charlotte, NC; and ten nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. M. Elizabeth Morgan officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 200 Duhring St., Bluefield, WV 24701.
Mercer Funeral Home and Crematory, of Bluefield, was in charge of arrangements.
Lake E. Sizemore, Jr.
Lake E. Sizemore, Jr., 70, of Tazewell, died Jan. 9, 2004 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born Jan. 14, 1933 at Vallscreek, WV, he was the son of the late Lake E. Sizemore, Sr. and the late Ruth Ellis Bandy Sizemore.
He was a United States Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, where he served two tours, and had been stationed in Panama and Indochina. He retired from the Air Force with 20 years of service. He was also formerly employed by Island Creek Coal Company, Tazewell County Public Library and the Virginia Department of Transportation. He was of the Methodist faith and attended Boyd’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Dix Creek.
Survivors: wife of 48 years, Ilene Meade Sizemore; daughters, Julia Francine Kidd and husband, Billy, and Sandra Dee Patterson and husband, Stephen, all of Tazewell; grandson, Aaron Scott Kidd and wife, Alison, of Tazewell; sisters, Phyllis Hall of Tazewell, Esther Linkous and husband, Jack, of Pensacola, FL, and Ada McGlothlin and husband, Ronnie, of Richlands; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell with the Rev. Kenny Fields and the Rev. Freddy Powers officiating.
Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m. Jan. 12 at Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill.
Military graveside rites were conducted by members of the Barns-Beavers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7136 in Tazewell.
Peggy J. Jackson
Peggy Joyce Paitsel Jackson, 74, of Princeton, WV, died Dec. 30, 2003 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Princeton, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth G. and Ethel G. Sampson Paitsel.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Princeton, where she was very active in the women’s circle, church choir and also taught Bible School. She was also very active in the civic chorus and a former member of the Jr. Women’s Club. She had lived in Princeton since 1993, moving from Richlands. While living in Richlands, she was very active in the First Christian Church.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jean McMullen. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Survivors: husband, of 55 years, Don L. Jackson; daughters, Victoria Lee Jackson Crockett and husband, Charles, and Pamela Denise Jackson, all of Roanoke; son, Kenneth E. Jackson and wife, Leona, of Princeton; and granddaughter, Bradie Jackson of Princeton.
Graveside rites were conducted Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton with Rev. Gary Lyons and Rev. Dan Jividen officiating.
Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton was in charge of arrangements.
Mary E. Ratliff
Mary Elizabeth Burgess Ratliff, 83, of Heritage Hall Health Care in Tazewell, VA, formerly of North Tazewell, died Dec. 28, 2003 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born at McComas, WV, she was a daughter of the late Estel and Kellie Gillenwater Burgess.
She was a member of the Tazewell First Assembly of God Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Ratliff; two daughters, Dora Ann Ratliff Bostic and Alice Vivian "Peggy" Bowman; three brothers, James Oliver Burgess, Carl Burgess and Johnny Burgess; and one sister, Shirleen Strong.
Survivors: daughters, Mary Ellen Maggard and husband, John W., of North Tazewell, Donna Wall and husband, Bobby, Margaret Alley and husband, Glen, and Pamela Vaughn and husband, Gary, all of Thomasville, NC; sons, Jack Ratliff and wife, Jeanette, of Cedar Bluff, James E. "Rusty" Ratliff and wife, Debbie, of Thompson Valley; sisters, Grace Hope Mabe of Ohio, Sybil Taylor and Adeana Williams, both of Abbs Valley; brother, Harold Burgess of Ohio; eight grandsons; one granddaughter; and 13 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Dec. 31, 2003 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Roy Lee Smith and the Rev. Doug Johnson officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Sue B. Huffard
Sue B. Huffard, 61, of Bristol, TN, died Dec. 17, 2003 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
She was born in English, WV, to the late Ransey Lee and Lucille Hatfield Belcher and had lived in Bristol for 42 years.
She attended Emory and Henry College and had served as a bookkeeper at Hecht’s Bakery and a teacher’s assistant at Avoca Elementary School. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Norma See and Wanda Boyle, and two brothers, Dale Belcher and Bill Belcher.
Survivors: daughters, Catherine Huffard Powers and husband, Joel, of Bristol, Lucy Huffard Byno and husband, Rick, of Tallahassee, FL; son, Louis Huffard and wife, Natalie, of Bluff City; former husband, Alfred Huffard of Bristol; special grandchildren, Catherine Logan Davis, Alyssa Meagan Davis, Daniel Louis Powers, Hannah Lucille Powers and Mary Chambliss Huffard; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home with Rev. Kathy Wilson-Parker officiating.
Committal service and burial was held at 1 p.m. in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Those who wish may send memorial contributions to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4219 Hillsboro Road, Suite 306, Nashville, TN 37215.
Sue B. Huffard
Sue B. Huffard, 61, of Bristol, TN, died Dec. 17, 2003 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
She was born in English, WV, to the late Ransey Lee and Lucille Hatfield Belcher and had lived in Bristol for 42 years.
She attended Emory and Henry College and had served as a bookkeeper at Hecht’s Bakery and a teacher’s assistant at Avoca Elementary School. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Norma See and Wanda Boyle, and two brothers, Dale Belcher and Bill Belcher.
Survivors: daughters, Catherine Huffard Powers and husband, Joel, of Bristol, Lucy Huffard Byno and husband, Rick, of Tallahassee, FL; son, Louis Huffard and wife, Natalie, of Bluff City; former husband, Alfred Huffard of Bristol; special grandchildren, Catherine Logan Davis, Alyssa Meagan Davis, Daniel Louis Powers, Hannah Lucille Powers and Mary Chambliss Huffard; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. in the Paul Cook Memorial Chapel of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home with Rev. Kathy Wilson-Parker officiating.
Committal service and burial was held at 1 p.m. in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Those who wish may send memorial contributions to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4219 Hillsboro Road, Suite 306, Nashville, TN 37215.
Theryl E. Blackwell
Theryl E. Blackwell, 66, of Tazewell, died peacefully Dec. 2, 2003 at Tazewell Community Hospital.
Born in Newhall, WV, he was a son Pansy Wilson Blackwell of Tazewell and the late Albert Blackwell.
He was a member and served as a Deacon of the Tazewell Christian Church, DOC. He was employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia for 28 years, working in the Department of Transportation for 19 years and the Department of Mine Land Reclamation for nine years. He was a US Army veteran and a lifetime member of the Barns-Beavers VFW Post #7136 of Tazewell. He also was a member of Masonic Lodge #0004 of Fredericksburg.
Additional survivors: his loving and devoted wife of 44 years, Elby Sanderson Blackwell; his very special son, Gary Thomas Blackwell and wife, Teresa, of Tazewell; grandsons, Joshua, Jacob, and Jonah Blackwell, all of Tazewell; brother, Gentry Blackwell of Abingdon; sisters, Josephine Blackwell and Martha Goddard and husband, Jim, all of Tazewell; brother-in-law, Jim Sanderson and wife, Phyllis, of Tazewell; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Michael Stump officiating.
Entombment followed at Grandview Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Bluefield, VA where Masonic graveside rites were conducted by members of the Tazewell Masonic Lodge #62 AF and AM.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Tazewell Christian Church College Scholarship Fund, 302 E. Pine St. Tazewell, VA 24651, or the American Cancer Society, 1808 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701.
Hobert F. Muncy, Sr.
Hobert F. Muncy, Sr., 65, of English, WV, died Dec. 3, 2003, at Logan, WV.
Born in Iaeger, WV, he was a son of Biddie Kennedy Muncy of Yukon, WV, and the late Aldie Muncy.
He attended the United Church of God at Atwell, WV. He was a retired school teacher and principal and was a past president of the Kiwanis Club.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Additional survivors: wife of 44 years, Marlene Smythers Muncy; sons, Hobert F. Muncy, Jr. of Johnson City, TN, Mark W. Muncy and wife, Vickie, of Tazewell; sisters and brothers-in-law, Inez and Gleason Davis, and family and Joyce and Larry Addair, and family, all of Hardy; brothers and sister-in-law, Hoye and Loretta Muncy, and family of Warrenton, Delmas Muncy of Yukon; and grandchildren, Megan Muncy and Lauren Muncy, both of Princeton, WV, and Mark Muncy and Whitney Muncy, both of Tazewell.
The funeral was conducted Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Roger Hale officiating.
Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton.
