Evelyn Barnette Montgomery, age 83, of Cornelius, died Friday, November 29, 2002. She was born in Alexander County November 7, 1919, the daughter of the late William A. Barnette and Winnie K. Barnette. She moved to Kannapolis at the age of five, where she lived the majority of her life. She was a long-standing member of North Kannapolis Baptist Church, where she served as church pianist in her early years. She also played for the Towel City Quartet and entertained on the radio and at various church functions. Mrs. Montgomery was active in the Children’s Sunday School Department for many years, teaching, playing the piano, and mentoring. In the late 1950’s, she taught piano lessons and choir at Ellendale Elementary School in Taylorsville, and in the early 1960’s, at New Salem Elementary School in Union County. She later worked for and retired from the J.C. Penny Company. She married Ernest E. Montgomery on April 16, 1941. Together, they traveled to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and many of the United States. They lived in Maryland, California, and North Carolina, and moved to the Lake Norman area in 2000. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mazo Barnette, and three brothers, L.K. Barnette, Roy Barnette, and Baines Barnette. Survivors include her husband of sixty-one years, Ernest E. Montgomery; a daughter, Donna McDaniel and husband Don of Cornelius; a granddaughter, Kristin F. Blouin and husband Kirk of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; a brother, Dr. Henlee H. Barnette of Kentucky; a sister, Colleen B. Lowder and husband C.A. of Virginia; three sisters-in-law, Margaret P. Barnette of China Grove, Ethel Barnette of Kannapolis, and Katie Land of Taylorsville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to North Kannapolis Baptist Church, 312 Locust St., Kannapolis, NC 28081. Funeral services were conducted Sunday evening, December 1, 2002, at the Whitley Funeral Home Chapel. A family burial was held Monday, December 2, 2002, at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. Whitley’s Funeral Home of Kannapolis was in charge of arrangements. Thelma Jane Dagenhart Bumgarner, age 83, of Millersville Rd., Taylorsville, died unexpectedly Monday, December 2, 2002, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. She was born in Alexander County March 9, 1919, the daughter of the late Ed Dagenhart and Clara Warren Dagenhart. She was a retired furniture worker and a member of Mt. Wesley Wesleyan Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Bumgarner; a brother, Euell Dagenhart; and an infant son. Survivors include two sons, Willy D. Mathews of Taylorsville and Steve Matthews of Hiddenite; one daughter, Lori B. Hendrix of Lenoir; two brothers, Paul Dagenhart and Earl Dagenhart, both of Taylorsville; two sisters, Hazel Barnes of Taylorsville and Emmo Elder of Winston-Salem; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, December 4, 2002, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Chapman Funeral Home in Stony Point. At other times, the family will assemble at the home of her son, Willy Mathews, 2671 Millersville Rd., Taylorsville. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, December 5, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. Wesley Wesleyan Church with Rev. Eric Yelton and Rev. Don Dennis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Mt. Wesley Wesleyan Church, 420 Mt. Wesley Church Rd., Hiddenite, NC 28636. Notes of sympathy may be e-mailed to the Bumgarner Family, www.chapmanfuneralhome.com. Chapman Funeral Home of Stony Point is in charge of arrangements.

Pete T. Bowman

Pete T. Bowman, age 92, of Rink Dam Rd., Taylorsville, died Saturday, November 30, 2002, at his residence following a period of declining health. He was born in Alexander County June 2, 1910, the son of the late Calvin Bowman and Matilda Miller Bowman. He was a member of Shiloh Lutheran Church and was retired as a service driver from Clayton Marcus Furniture. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Gilbert Bowman, Augustus Bowman, John Bowman, Vernace Bowman, and Charles Bowman; four sisters, Carrie Hickey, Amanda Hefner, Alice Isenhour, and Edna Bowman; and a granddaughter, Sherry Bowman. Survivors include his wife, Lottie Elizabeth Bowman; three sons and daughters-in-law, Ted and Glenda Bowman and Wayne and Nancy Bowman, all of Bethlehem, and Linzey and Doris Bowman of Taylorsville; three daughters and sons-in-law, Pauline and Arnold Richey of Bethlehem and LouAnn and Harold Frye and Glenda and Conley Sipe, all of Taylorsville; a sister, Susie Bowman of the Lutheran Home West in Hickory; five grandsons, Chris Richey, Bradley Richey, Eric Frye, Kevin Sipe, and Kendall Sipe; eight granddaughters, Cindy Maese, Roxanne Buff, Crystal Clipperd, Julia Rhyne, Shelly Chapman, Mitzi Farrens, Jill Peek, and Christie Alley; nine great-grandsons, Joey Richey, Jamie Richey, Kyle Richey, Morgan London, Jacob Frye, Mason Frye, Keaton Peek, Karter Peek, and Kyler Peek; seven great-granddaughters, Carolina Clipperd, Porter Maese, Andrea Rhyne, Briana Rhyne, Candy Sprinkle, Kaitlyn Sipe, and Kenna Sipe; and a great-great-grandson, Logon Sprinkle. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, December 3, 2002, at Shiloh Lutheran Church with Rev. Walter L. Hitchcock, Jr., and Rev. Glenn Yount officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers included Chris Richey, Bradley Richey, Kevin Sipe, Kendall Sipe, Eric Frye, and Dennis Rhyne. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681 or to Shiloh Lutheran Church, 1011 Shiloh Church Rd., Hickory, NC 28601. Hickory Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gary Lee Derrer

Gary Lee Derrer, age 57, of Noblesville, Ind., died Wednesday, November 27, 2002, at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Ind. He was born in Lanark, Ill., September 12, 1945, the son of the late Russell Eliott Derrer and Leonore Weidman Derrer. He was a sales representative for Triden Construction Supply, Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind. He also bred and raised Belgian Draft horses and was a Belgian Draft Horse Judge. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Noblesville, Ind., and also a member of the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America, the Indiana Draft Horse Breeders Association, the Holstein Dairy Association, and the Illinois National Guard. Survivors include his wife, Siro I. Wiemero Derrer, whom he married April 19, 1969; three sons, Randy Lee Derrer and wife Nanette of Taylorsville, Richard Lee Derrer and wife Victoria of Defiance, Ohio, and Rusty Lee Derrer and wife Lindsay of Lebanon, Ind.; a brother, Ronald Derrer of Milan, Ill.; three grandchildren, Ashley Derrer, Alexandria Derrer, and Bryce Derrer; and his step-mother, Leona Derrer of Grove City, Ohio. Funeral services were conducted Sunday, December 1, 2002, at Bethel Lutheran Church with Rev. Douglas Gast officiating. Burial followed in the Cicero Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, 20650 Cumberland Rd., Noblesville, IN 46060. Hartley Funeral Homes, Cicero Chapel, was in charge of arrangements. This obituary is a courtesy of Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville. Rosa Marie Summers Bennett, age 55, of Dodge St., Taylorsville, died unexpectedly Saturday, November 30, 2002, at her residence. She was born in Rowan County September 4, 1947, the daughter of the late Clyde Richard Summers and Louvenia Tuck Summers. She attended R.A. Clement School in Cleveland and Unity High School in Statesville. She was a member of Bethlehem Holiness Church, where she was an assistant Sunday School teacher in the Beginners Class, a faithful choir member, and served wherever she was needed. Mrs. Bennett always fellowshipped in various churches and conventions. Survivors include her husband, Harrison Bennett; two daughters, Mrs. Donald L. (Audrey) Corry of Hickory and Yolanda Hope Bennett of Taylorsville; a step-son, Adrian Redmond of Statesville; four brothers, Henry Summers and wife Peggy, Raymond Summers, Theodore Summers, and Charles Summers and wife Peggy, all of Statesville; five sisters, Mrs. Archie (Katie) Brown of Roanoke, Va., and Carolyn Dobbins, Mrs. Wilford (Deborah) Walls, Mrs. Gary (Glyness) Morrison, and Mrs. Allen (Dieatta) Slaughter, all of Statesville; her mother-in-law, Essie Mae Bennett of Hiddenite; six grandchildren, Brock Corry, Christian Corry, Kamrom Summers, Mercedes Corry, Vanity Corry, and Quadry Redmond; three brothers-in-law, Larry Poole and Jimmy Bennett, both of Hiddenite, and Romie Bennett of Statesville; four sisters-in-law, Patricia Keaton and Paulette Jones, both of Stony Point, and Mrs. Charles (Jackie) Payne and Melissa Ferguson, both of Taylorsville; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, December 5, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. in the Mary B. Bigham Memorial Chapel of Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home in Statesville with Bishop Wallace Shields, Jr., officiating. Overseer Naomi Mott will deliver the eulogy. The body will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, where members of the family will receive friends Thursday, December 5, 2002, 12:30-1:30 p.m., one hour prior to the funeral service. At other times, the family will assemble at the residence, 150 Dodge St., Taylorsville. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home of Statesville is in charge of arrangements.

Fred William “Bill” Kibby

Fred William “Bill” Kibby, age 73, of Taylorsville, died Friday, April 11, 2003, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. He was born in Buncombe County August 19, 1929, the son of the late Ora Boyd Kibby and Emma Sohn Kibby. He was employed as a truck driver with W & L Trucking for fifteen years, and for the last six years, was employed with Sunbelt Express. A member of East Taylorsville Baptist Church, he was involved in Sunday School activities and was a member of the Baptist Men. Mr. Kibby was a Mason of the Conover Lodge and was also involved with the Eastern Star. Survivors include his wife, Betty Little Kibby of the home; two daughters, Donna Owens and husband Tony of Raleigh and Beth Griffin of Boiling Springs, S.C.; one step-daughter, Faith Davis of Taylorsville; five grandchildren, Julie Stroud of Little Rock, Ark., David Stroud of Greenville, S.C., Michelle Catalano and Michael Griffin, both of Boiling Springs, S.C., and Bobby Davis of Charlotte; one brother, Max Lassiter and wife Jenette of Asheville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted Sunday, April 13, 2003, at East Taylorsville Baptist Church with Rev. Craig Hamlin officiating. Burial followed in the Liledoun Baptist Church Cemetery. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Edna St. Clair Wike Mitchell

Edna St. Clair Wike Mitchell, age 80, of Taylorsville, died Friday, April 11, 2003, at her residence following a period of declining health. She was born in Alexander County March 10, 1923, the daughter of the late Roby Daniel St.Clair and Ola Bentley St.Clair. She was a member of Mt. Hebron Baptist Church and had been employed with Champion Packing Company for sixteen years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Ray Wike; her second husband, Sam Mitchell; three brothers, Clyde St.Clair, Glade St.Clair, and Arlie St.Clair; and an infant sister. Survivors include one son, Everette Wike and wife Pat of Taylorsville; three grandchildren, Tanya Link and husband Richard, Shannon Chatham and husband Barry, and Tina Hallman and husband Steve; nine great-grandchildren, Meagan Link, Preston Link, Karina Link, Deacon Link, Grant Chatham, Jordon Chatham, Randy Hallman, A.J. Hallman, and Amanda Hallman; two brothers, J.D. St.Clair and Curtis St.Clair, both of Taylorsville; three sisters, Margie Burgess of Taylorsville, Clara Jean Warren of Hiddenite, and Marie Berry of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted Sunday, April 13, 2003, at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church with Rev. Anthony Wike and Rev. Horace Moree officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice & Home Care of Alexander County, 50 Lucy Echerd Lane, Taylorsville, NC 28681 or to Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, 201 Daniels Lumber Rd., Taylorsville, NC 28681. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Brittany Nichole Morrison

Brittany Nichole Morrison, age 15, of Lincolnton, died Saturday, April 12, 2003, as the result of an automobile accident. She was born in Catawba County November 21, 1987, the daughter of Jeffery Dale Morrison and Donna Ruth Keever. She was a ninth grade student at East Lincoln High School and was a member of Living Word Pentecostal Holiness Church in Maiden. Survivors include her mother, Donna Ruth Keever of the home; her father, Jeffery Dale Morrison of Vale; one brother, Max Morrison of Lincolnton; one sister, Jessica Keever of Lincolnton; paternal grandmother, Brenda Morrison Orren of Hickory; paternal grandfather, Kelly Morrison and wife Diane of Taylorsville; and maternal grandparents, La Verne and Charles Whitted of Lincolnton. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at 3:00 p.m. at Living Word Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Mike Ainsworth, Rev. Zack DeBerry, and Rev. Benny officiating. Memorials may be made to the Living Word Pentecostal Holiness Church Student Ministry, P.O. Box 647, Maiden, NC 28650. Warlick Funeral Home of Lincolnton is in charge of arrangements.

Sara Carpenter Allen

Sara Carpenter Allen, age 80, of Allen Rd., Hiddenite, died Monday, April 14, 2003, at her residence. She was born in Mecklenburg County December 25, 1922, the daughter of the late Plumer C. Carpenter and Winnie Hartsell Carpenter. She was a former daycare owner in Taylorsville and was editor of the Alexander County Heritage Book. Mrs. Allen was a member of Rocky Springs United Methodist Church, where she was a former member of the Ladies Adult Sunday School Class and served as church historian. She was a member of the Genealogy Club of Taylorsville and was educated in the Mecklenburg County Schools. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” Boyce Allen, Sr., on February 8, 2003, and a sister, Virginia Mae Carpenter. Survivors include a daughter, Joy Elder and husband Richard of Taylorsville; two sons, Jimmy Allen, Jr., and wife Barbara and Carl Marsh Allen and wife Tina, all of Hiddenite; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, April 16, 2003, 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville. At other times, the family will assemble at their respective residences. A graveside service will be conducted Thursday, April 17, 2003, at 3:00 p.m. at the Rocky Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery with Rev. Joyce Bunn and Rev. Elbert Goble officiating. Memorials may be made to Rocky Springs United Methodist Church, 1321 York Institute Rd., Hiddenite, NC 28636. Adams Funeral Home of Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements.

Russell Logan Stone

Russell Logan Stone, infant son of Julie Michelle Fox and William Cecil Stone of Taylorsville, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include a step-brother, Nathanel Cecil Alexander; maternal grandparents, Van and Joy Fox of Taylorsville; paternal grandparents, Wilson and Jeanette Lowder; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. A private graveside service was conducted at the Little River Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Jeff Chapman officiating. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

Christine Bentley Childers

Christine Bentley Childers, age 85, of Taylorsville, died Tuesday, April 15, 2003, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. She was born in Alexander County March 18, 1918, the daughter of the late Christy Charles Bentley and Nora Lucretia Carson Bentley. She was a member of East Taylorsville Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Women’s III Sunday School Class. She was employed for a number of years with Broyhill Furniture Industries as a Sewing Room Supervisor. Mrs. Childers was the first female hired at Broyhill Furniture when the business located a plant in Alexander County. Her hobbies included sewing, crochet quilting, especially baby quilts, and reading. She was a wonderful cook, and everyone loved her pound cakes. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Blanco Childers, and two sisters, Edna Kerley and an infant twin. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Gayle C. Parker and husband Andrew of Wilkes County and Christa C. Wike and husband Brent of Taylorsville; one son, Tim Holden Childers and wife Dawn of Taylorsville; two brothers, Perry Bentley of Taylorsville and John Bentley of Raleigh; two sisters, Maxine Munday of Kannapolis and Betty Harrington of Taylorsville; three grandchildren, Cara Parker, Jason Wike and wife Rochelle, and Kendra Wike; one great-grandchild, Linsey Savannah Wike; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, April 17, 2003, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at East Taylorsville Baptist Church. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:00 p.m. follwing the visitation with Rev. Craig Hamlin officiating. Burial services will be held Friday, April 18, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Deacons of East Taylorsville Baptist Church will serve as active and honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the East Taylorsville Baptist Church Library Fund, P.O. Box 906, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements.

Devon Alexander Page

Devon Alexander Page, of Automotive Lane, Taylorsville, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. He was the infant son of Misty Marie Mays and Zackery Allen Page. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Carla Brooks Mays. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his maternal grandfather, Steve Mays of Hickory; paternal grandmother, Denise Page of Bethlehem; paternal grandfather, Mark Creger of Lenoir; paternal great-grandparents, Raby and Shirley Page of Bethlehem; an aunt, Amber Duane of Bethlehem; and an uncle, Benjamin Lee Page of Bethlehem. A graveside service was held Thursday, April 10, 2003, at the Shiloh Lutheran Church Cemetery in Bethlehem. Alexander Funeral Service, Inc., of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.