ROBERT M. RHODES
LENOIR - Robert Mark Rhodes, 46, of Sunset Street, Granite Falls, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Camelot Manor Nursing Center. Born March 5, 1954, in Caldwell County, he was a son of Christine Story Rhodes of Lenoir and the late Charles Ellis Rhodes. A member of Lower Creek Baptist Church, he was a landscaper. In addition to his mother, survivors included a sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Russell Averett of Ayden; and three uncles, Robert Story and Ward Story of Lenoir and Randolph Lee Rhodes of Summerville, S.C. A graveside service will be conducted by the Rev. Douglas Thompson at 2 p.m. Sunday in Lower Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Cook, Wayne Cook, Tommy Story, David Thompson, Yuri Potawsky and David Story. The family will be at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home one hour prior to the service, and at the residence of Stuart and Jeanette Maltba, 1099 Miller Creek Road, at other times. Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

DOROTHY H. HUDSON
Dorothy Virginia Hawn Hudson, 82, of Hickory, died Feb. 7, 2001, at the Brian Center in Viewmont. Born March 8, 1918, in Catawba County, she was a daughter of the late Robert T. and Emma Roseann Honeycutt Hawn. A member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, she was a secretary for King Hickory Furniture. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn B. Hudson. Survivors include five nephews, Ken Hahn of Charlotte, Ernest Yount of Connelly Springs, Frank Yount of Morristown, Tenn., Charles Yount of Hickory and Robert Hawn of Wilmington; and seven nieces, Judy Hall, Betty Laffon, Emma Kate Collins and Jean Painter of Hickory, Becky Elander of Conover, Shirley Sherill of Wispering Pines and JoAnn Helms of Winston-Salem. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. William Seaman at 3 p.m. Sunday at her church. Burial will be in St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. The family will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 2160 Thirty-fifth Avenue Drive, NE, Hickory, N.C. 28601. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ROBERT H. HUNAWILL
CONOVER - Robert Harold Hunawill, 62, of Hunawill Street, Claremont, died Feb. 7, 2001, at his residence. Born Nov. 28, 1938, in Ann Arbor, Mich., he was a son of Dorothy Ball Hunawill of Claremont and the late Harold Hunawill. Retired from the U.S. Army and Navy, he was an active volunteer for a number of years at Catawba Memorial Hospital. A member and former commander of the Disabled American Veterans Post 34, he also was a member and former post commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 5305 in Newton and American Legion Post 48 and P.REG. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Hunawill; and a sister, Barbara Bertke. Survivors include two sons, Robert R. Hunawill of Spring, Texas, and Billy S. Hunawill of Orlando, Fla.; two daughters, Leisa C. Chersky of Houston, Texas, and Tina K. Hunawill of Orlando, Fla.; a friend, Mary Millholland of Claremont; and two grandchildren, Kristen M. Chersky and Angel M. Hunawill. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Stanley Stiver at 11 a.m. Saturday at Drum Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain. The family will be at the funeral home from 7 to 8:30 tonight. Memorials may be made to American Heart Associaton, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058-5216; or American Cancer Society, 825 Third Ave., NW, Hickory, N.C. 28601.

ERNEST L. COWAN
MORGANTON - Ernest Lynn Cowan, 76, of Lost Corner Road, died Feb. 7, 2001, at Grace Hospital. Born Dec. 16, 1924, in McDowell County, he was a son of the late Lonnie R. and Nelle Corpening Cowan. A member of First Baptist Church, he retired from Great Lakes Carbon Corp. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Burnidine Reep Cowan; and two sisters, Eleanor Cowan Mull and Margaret Cowan Hicks. Survivors include his wife, Patsy Earley Cowan; two daughters, Susan Passante and Jeanne Cowan of Morganton; a brother, L. Ray Cowan Jr. of Morganton; a sister, Barbara Bobbie Carpenter of Morganton; and a grandson, Mark Hampton Passante of Morganton. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. Thomas Bland and Bob Shepherd at 2 p.m. Saturday at his church. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will be at Sossoman Funeral Home from 6 to 7:30 tonight and at his residence at other times. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer 459, Morganton, N.C. 28680.

MALIESE R. BONDS
NEWTON - Maliese Darlene Rinehardt Bonds, 47, of North Ervin Avenue, died Feb. 5, 2001, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Born Sept. 27, 1953, in Catawba County, she was a daughter of Pink W. Rinehardt Jr. of Newton and the late Willie Coulter Rinehardt. Survivors, in addition to her father, include a son, Edward Darnell Bonds of Newton; a daughter, Joda Bonds Robinson of the home; a brother, Pink W. Rinehardt III of Durham; a sister, Phenester Rinehardt of Newton; two grandsons, Davian Robinson and Tre'Shamere Robinson of the home; and a number of other relatives and friends. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. Frederick W. Perry and Joseph Shaw at 2 p.m. Saturday at her church. Burial will be in Central Cemetery in Newton. The family will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Newton Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

GILMER H. LOWMAN
VALDESE - Gilmer Howard Lowman, 87, of Valdese, died Feb. 7, 2001, at College Pines Nursing Center after a period of declining health. Born Nov. 24, 1913, in Burke County, he was a son of the late Horace and Geneva Abee Lowman. A member of First United Methodist Church, he served on the building committee and was a Sunday school teacher. He retired as a rural letter carrier with the Connelly Springs Post Office and was active in the state and national Rural Letter Carriers associations. He also retired as a volunteer fireman with the Lovelady Fire Department in Rutherford College. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of American Legion Post 234 and its honor guard. He was preceded in death by a son, Nilo Lynn Lowman; a brother; and a grandchild. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Cresimore Lowman; a son and a daughter-in-law, Danny and Sherry Estes Lowman of Wake Forest; a daughter, Gilda Lowman of Brevard; four brothers, the Rev. Everette Lowman of Asheville, Wayne Lowman of Forest City, Herbert Lowman of York, S.C., and Reavis Lowman of Indiana, Pa.; and four grandchildren, Jon Millwood, Lance Millwood, Holly Lowman and Jill Lowman. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Jeff Johnsen at 1 p.m. today at Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum. Entombment will be in Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 637, Valdese, N.C. 28690. Heritage Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

TONYA N. SMITH
LENOIR - Tonya Nicole Smith, 12, of Hickory Nut Ridge Road, Hudson, died Feb. 4, 2001, at Valdese General Hospital. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. Steve Sprinkle and Dennis Pitts at 3:30 p.m. today at Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home. Burial will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Donnie Smith, Michael Hartzog, Mike Smith, Adam Wyke, Ralph Keaton and Thomas Bailey. Memorials may be made to Icard Church of God, P.O. Box 514, Icard, N.C. 28666.

SALVATORE L. TRIANA
Salvatore L. Triana, 87, of Icard, died Feb. 7, 2001, at Frye Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health. Born Sept. 21, 1913, in New Haven, Conn., he was a son of the late Rocco Troiano and Angelina Gianferdo Troiano Esposito. A member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, he retired from Pratt Whitney in East Hartford, Conn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nileen E. Triana; four brothers, Joseph Troiano, Amelio Troiano, Al Troiano and Michael Troiano; and five sisters, Alice Troiano, Ellsie Troiano, Molly Esposito, Mary Troiano and Frances Esposito. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, E. Alan and Katherine Williams Sr. of Pafftown; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dee and Danny Stepp of Icard and Janet and Terry Huffman of Hickory; two sisters-in-law, Elena Troiano and Florence Troiano of West Haven, Conn.; a nephew, Al Troiano of West Haven, Conn.; two nieces and nephews-in-law, Elaine and Kenneth Onofrio of West Haven, Conn., and Loretta and William Clark of Wallingford, Conn.; three grandchildren, Toni H. and Will Piper of Conover, Edward A. Williams Jr. and David A. Williams of Raleigh; and a number great-nephews and great-nieces. The funeral was conducted by Father Ed Sheridan at 7 p.m. Friday at his church. Burial will be in Catawba Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058-5216; or American Cancer Society, 352 Second St., NW, Hickory, N.C. 28601. Catawba Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

BILLY J. KING
TAYLORSVILLE - Billy Joe King, 29, of Mount Wesley Church Road, Hiddenite, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Born April 1, 1971, in Alexander County, he was a son of Denver Carroll King Sr. of Maxton and Virginia Davis Eastman of Taylorsville. A member of First Assembly of God Faith, he was a self-employed auto mechanic. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, James Locklear. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his wife, Kristi Baker King; a son, Adam Randall King of the home; a daughter, Jessica Ann King of the home; a brother, Denver Carroll King Jr. of Hiddenite; a sister, Sara Kathleen King of Taylorsville; maternal grandmother, Mertie Hartness of Taylorsville; and paternal grandmother, Gladys Locklear of Maxton. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. James Watson and Don Dennis at 4 p.m. Sunday at Adams Funeral Home. Burial will be in Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will be at the funeral home from 7 to 9 tonight and at the residence of Virginia Davis Eastman, Moose Road, at other times. Memorials may be made to First Assembly of God, c/o Adam Randall and Jessica Ann King, P.O. Box 805, Taylorsville, N.C. 28681.

GLORIA M. NOCAR
BOONE - Gloria Ann Miller Nocar, 37, of Zionville, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Watauga Medical Center. Born April 18, 1963, in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Elizabeth Hayes Miller Kanupp of Claremont and the late Douglas Brice Miller. A Baptist, she was a waitress at Murphy's Restaurant in Boone. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her stepfather, David Kanupp of Claremont; two daughters, Savannah Nocar and Aleah Nocar of the home; a brother, Alan Miller of Mansfield, Ohio; a stepbrother, David Kanupp of Granite Falls; a sister, Amy Smith of Claremont; two stepsisters, Donna Story of Hudson and Anna Miller of Granite Falls; a nephew, Bryce Miller; two nieces, Kayla Smith and Abby Miller; and a number of uncles, aunts and cousins. A memorial service will be conducted by the Revs. Derrik Hodges and John Gouche at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hampton Funeral Home. The family will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

DIANE W. REEP
CONOVER - Diane Watson Reep, 34, of Sherrills Ford Road, Sherrills Ford, died Feb. 7, 2001, at her residence. Born July 8, 1966, in Catawba County, she was a daughter of Eddie A. and Jeanette Lowe Watson of Claremont. She was a machinist employed by Getrag Gears. Survivors, in addition to her parents, include her husband of 12 years, L. Dale Reep Jr.; two brothers, Jeff Watson of Vale and Jon Watson of Claremont; her father-in-law, Larry D. Reep Sr. of Vale; her mother-in-law, Barbara Louise Helms; a grandmother, Peggy Hall; three nephews; and five nieces. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Larry Cooley at 2 p.m. Sunday at Calvary Hill Freewill Baptist Church in Catawba. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will be at Drum Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 tonight. Memorials may be made to Carolinas Medical Center, Pediatric Unit, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

LORA M. COOK
Lora Marie Cook, 70, of Hickory, died Feb. 9, 2001, at Catawba Memorial Hospital. Born Jan. 23, 1931, in Chicago, Ill., she was a daughter of the late Ralph Edward Love and Mildred Marie Albin Cook. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Hoover Cook; a son-in-law, Charles Chuck Rocque; and a granddaughter, Tracy A. Cook. Survivors include six sons and two daughters-in-law, James R. Cook, Larry P. and Kathy A. Cook and Jeff A. Cook of Hickory, Herbert D. Cook of Oregon, David Scott Maskewitt of Florida and Steven J. and Candice Maskewitt of Lenoir; a daughter, Linda M. Rocque of Hickory; a sister, Lois Marie Power of Chicago, Ill.; 18 grandchildren, Christopher M. Cook, Paul A. Cook, John M. Cook, Kimberly J. Cook, Douglas J. Rocque, Jason R. Martin-Rocque, Lori Lyn Pettry, Dana A. Rocque, Autumn Dawn Cook, Joshua Adam Cook, Kristi Lee Cook, Tylar D. Cook, Aaron Scott Cook, Jacob Brian Cook, Brian David Maskewitt, Dakota Maskewitt, Cheyanna Elizabeth Maskewitt and Hunter Maskewitt; and six great-grandchildren, Anthony Cook, Andrew P. Cook, Kayley Ann Marie Vane, Z'oe M. Martin, Jacob Aaron Pettry and Emily Lyn Pettry. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Tom Stanford at 1 p.m. Monday at Bass-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Cook, Larry Cook, Jeff Cook, Steve Cook, Doug Rocque and David Maskewitt. The family will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.

ROBERT L. GAITHER
LINCOLNTON - Robert Lee Sugar Boy Gaither, 58, of Armstrong Circle, High Shoals, died Feb. 7, 2001, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Born April 20, 1942, in Lancaster, S.C., he was a son of the late Roosevelt and Eliza Jane Cunningham Gaither Sr. A member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, he retired from Beam Lumber Company. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jane Gaither. Survivors include his wife, Julia Mae Gaither; two sons, Jay Gaither of the home and Robert Steven Gaither of Lincolnton; three daughters, Lee Gaither Harbinson of High Shoals and Edith Gaither Izard and Karon Gaither of Lincolnton; four brothers, Roosevelt Gaither Jr. of Hickory, Jim Howard Gaither of Baltimore, Md., Wallace Gaither of Shelby and Jasper Lee Gaither of Vale; and 15 grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. R.W. Fuller at 3 p.m. today at Ebony & White's Funeral Service. Burial will be in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will be at the funeral home 30 minutes prior to the service and at 2928 Range Road, at other times.

DONALD E. HORTON Jr.
Donald Edward D-Dogg Horton Jr., 31, of Buddy Street, Conover, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Catawba Memorial Hospital. Born Sept. 12, 1969, in Elmira, New York, he was a son of Donald E. Horton Sr. of Maiden and Joan Brimmer Kelley of Conover. A member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he was a self-employed mechanic. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his stepfather, Patrick Kelley of Conover; his stepmother, Lena Horton of Maiden; his fiancee, Carmen Morales of Conover; two sons, Donald Horton III and Jason Horton of Conover; three daughters, Patty Horton and Belicia Horton of Conover and Nikki Horton of Pennsylvania; three brothers, Steve Horton and James Horton of Maiden and Chris Horton of New York; six sisters, Connie Reynolds, Faith Tedford, Dawn Horton and Liza Horton of Maiden, Linda Hemenway of New York and Donita Horton of Pennsylvania; and a number of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces. The funeral will be conducted by Bishop Keith Nielson at 10:30 a.m. today at his church. Burial will be in Conover City Cemetery. The family will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5118 Lee Cline Road, Conover, N.C. 28613. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

BERTHA B. BLEVINS
Bertha Briggs Blevins, 83, of Icard, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Autumn Care in Drexel. Born Oct. 20, 1917, in Mitchell County, she was a daughter of the late Elisha and Mary Briggs. A member of Grace & Truth Baptist Church, she was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Blevins; a son, Fred Jackson Blevins; two daughters, Betty June Blevins and Carolyn Duncan Blevins; a brother; and three sisters. Survivors include four sons, Ted Blevins of Granite Falls, Ed Blevins of Bakersville, John C. Blevins of Icard and George Lee Blevins of Hickory; two daughters, Mary McCracken of Granite Falls and Joann Lingerfelt of Hickory; a sister, Mattie Corren of Adrain, Mich.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. Raymond Wilson and Jerry Lingerfelt at 11 a.m. today at her church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Billy Blevins, Tim Blevins, Earl Blevins, Rodney Blevins, Randy Blevins and Terry Blevins. The family will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Burke County, 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, N.C. 28690. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LORI A. TEVEPAUGH
Lori Ann Tevepaugh, 41, of Twenty-fifth Street Place, SW, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Frye Regional Medical Center. Born Dec. 26, 1959, in Catawba County, she was a daughter of the late William R. and Laura Cline Tevepaugh. She was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Ann. Survivors include a son, Jeremy Scott Propst of Hickory; a daughter, Brittany Wiles of Hickory; two sisters, Ruth Elizabeth Tevepaugh of Hickory and Mary Leblanc of Hildebran; a number of uncles and aunts; a niece, Amy Tevepaugh of Hickory; and a granddaughter, Emmaley Propst of Hickory. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hickory Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

DOROTHY H. HUDSON
Dorothy Virginia Hawn Hudson, 82, of Hickory, died Feb. 7, 2001, at the Brian Center in Viewmont. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn B. Hudson; two brothers, Reo Clyde Hahn and H.C. Hawn; and three sisters, Luda H. Moser, Lura H. Moser and Nettie H. Yount. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

GLENN E. TAYLOR Jr.
LENOIR - Glenn Elijah Taylor Jr., 71, of Locust Avenue, Hudson, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Caldwell County Hospice. Born Nov. 26, 1929, in Caldwell County, he was a son of the late Glenn E. and Ida Martin Taylor. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he retired from Lenoir Mirror Co. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Turner Taylor; two sons, Gary Bain Taylor and Paul Everett Taylor; and a brother, Ervin Taylor. Survivors include three sons, Glenn Ray Taylor of Lenoir, Bobby Allen Taylor Sr. of Gamewell and Terry Wayne Taylor of Hudson; four brothers, Howard Taylor, Melvin Taylor and Dewey Taylor of Hudson and Bobby Taylor of Lenoir; a sister and brother-in-law, Mareen and Howard Younce of Lenoir; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted by the Revs. Nicky Waters and Vandale Greene at 2 p.m. Monday at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home. Burial will be in Hartley Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hudson Fire Department. The family will be at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., NE, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

BURT J. SETTLEMYER
STATESVILLE - Burt Junior Settlemyer, 73, of N.C. 10 East, Catawba, died Feb. 8, 2001, at Catawba Memorial Hospital. Born in Iredell County on July 17, 1927, he was a son of the late Thomas B. and Sue Caldwell Settlemyer. He was a member of Friendly Chapel Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Ina Stevenson Settlemyer; four sons and daughters-in-law, Roger D. and Barbara Settlemyer, Thomas D. and Lorrie Settlemyer and Fred A. and Teresa Settlemyer of Statesville, and David L. and Jan Settlemyer of Union Grove; a brother, Bobby D. Bud Settlemyer of Troutman; a sister, Nannie S. Quick of Huntersville; eleven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. James N. McLain at 3 p.m. Sunday at his church. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will be at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home tonight from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to Friendly Chapel Baptist Church, c/o Rev. and Mrs. James N. McLain, 634 Damascus Church Road, Statesville, N.C. 28625.

SYLVIA LOWMAN
VALDESE - Sylvia Dib Lowman, 57, of Montanya View Circle, died Feb. 8, 2001, at her residence. Born Feb. 26, 2001, in Burke County, she was a daughter of Kathleen Martinat Benfield of Valdese and the late Howard J. Benfield. A member of East Valdese Baptist Church, she was a homemaker. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Ronnie Alan Lowman; a son and daughter-in-law, Nelson Clark and Cathy Stephens Jr. of Orlando, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Joan Benfield of Valdese; three nephews, Marc Sharpe, Michael Benfield and Jim Spinks; and a grandchild, Marlee Stephens of Orlando, Fla. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Dwight Rice at 2 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Service. Burial will be in Burke Memorial Park. The family will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to East Valdese Baptist Church, P.O. Box 56, Valdese, N.C. 28690.

HAZEL M. BENNETT
LINCOLNTON - Hazel Mae Bennett, 73, of Flay Road, died Feb. 9, 2001, at Lincoln Medical Center. Born Feb. 18, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Leroy and Irene Jackson Cummings. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Bennett. Survivors include a son, George Bennett Jr. of Lincolnton; two daughters, Nancy Bennett of Lincolnton and Sharon Russell of Hohenwald, Tenn.; a brother, James Cummings of Pennsylvania; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be conducted by the Rev. Ken Jones at 2 p.m. Sunday in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will be at Warlick Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 tonight.