Clyde (Pops) Keene, Sr.
Clyde (Pops) Keene, Sr., 82, of North Tazewell, died Sept. 21 at his home.
Born Jan. 24, 1924 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late William D. (Bill) Keene and Thursy Skeens Keene.
He was an US Army veteran of both World War II and the Korean Conflict. During his military service, he served tours in Alaska, Washington, Panama Canal, France, Germany, Italy, South America, Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador. He retired from Jewel Smokeless Fuel Coke and Coal Company.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes Myrtle Dales Keene; three sisters, Shelby Jean Lester, Flossie Keene Ramey, and Gladys Looney; and three brothers, Kelly Keene, Thomas Keene, and Agie Keene.
Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, with whom he made his home for the past 13 years and were his caregivers, Susan and Larry Keene of (Baptist Valley) North Tazewell; son and daughter-in-law, James and Donna Keene of Rocky Mount; son and daughter-in-law, Clyde Keene, Jr. and Kellie of Abingdon; sisters, Betty Prater of Lebanon, Jackie Stiltner of Abingdon, Pamela Spence and Patty Keene, both of Grundy; brothers, Elster Keene of Washington State, Clayton Keene of California, Ronnie Keene of Abingdon, Bobby Keene of Keen Mountain, LeRoy Blevins of Feds Creek, KY; grandchildren, Tracie Keene Kinser and husband, Richard, of Clearfork, Larry "Todd" Keene of (Baptist Valley) North Tazewell, Brian Keene of Texas, Amanda Woods and husband, Robert, of Elizabethtown, NC, Nathan Keene and wife, Michelle, of Rocky Mount, Heather Keene Hollandsworth and husband, Marty, of Martinsville; great grandchildren, Jacob, Jayden, Ben, Taleigh, Makayla, Emily, Tavice, and Hannah; caregivers, Preferred Hospice of Richlands and Peggy Sutherland; and his fishing buddy, Bill Bandy.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Walter Schwitzerlett and Mike Trent officiating.
Entombment followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Richard "Richie" Todd Keene
Richard "Richie" Todd Keene, 32, of Honaker, died Sept. 24 at his home.
Born June 1, 1974 in Richlands, he was a son of Cecil and Linda Gail Street Keene of Honaker.
A lifelong resident of Honaker, he was a 1992 graduate of Honaker High School and was of the Pentecostal faith.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Hassell and Hassie Street and his paternal grandparents, Howard and Jennie Keene.
Additional survivors: son, Corey Chayce Keene of Honaker; brothers, Chris Keene and wife, Sandra, of Abingdon, Sammy Keene and wife, Melissa, of Bristol, VA; his fiancée, Candi Harris of Honaker; step-daughters, Lakin Keen, Hali Wells, and Cortney Wells; niece, Ellie Keene; nephews, Chandler Keene, Mark Austin, and Adam Keene; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Arvil Arwood and Rev. Gerald Lester officiating.
Interment
will follow in the Street Cemetery at Rowe.
Donald F. Osborne
Donald Franklin Osborne, 62, of Roanoke, went to be with the Lord Sept. 23 in Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Born June 24, 1944 in Tazewell County, he was the son of the late Zeb and Ellie Osborne.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Neely Jackson, and one sister, Frances Geneva Osborne.
Survivors: wife, Ann Blanton Osborne; sons, Thomas Osborne and wife, Leigh Anne, of Lynchburg, Ronald Osborne and wife, Ashley, of Roanoke; daughters, Marsha Blankenship and fiancé, Duane Meeks, of Vinton; Leann Osborne and fiancé, Wade Rymer, of Roanoke; brother, James Osborne of Cedar Bluff; sisters, Ella Mae Johnson, Novella Alley and husband, Ralph, and Lovada Cooper, all of Abingdon, Gaynell Salyers and husband, James, and Darva Clifton and husband, Guster, all of Raven, Lucille Stewart of Dry Fork, Pat Lowe and husband, Eddie, of Cedar Bluff; grandchildren, Nikki and Morgan, Lauren Taylor, Hollie, Brandon, Aaron, Jonathan, Destiny, Matthew, Faith and Michael; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and neighbors.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 27 at Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands with Pastor Richard Dooley and Pastor Tony Shrader officiating.
Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:50 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Full Gospel Temple, 500 Miracle Valley Drive, Richlands, VA 24641.
Singleton Funeral Service in Cedar Bluff is in charge of arrangements.
Pvt. William Burbridge "Will" Payne IV
Pvt. William Burbridge "Will" Payne IV, 23, went to be with the Lord Sept. 17 in a Norfolk hospital following a brief illness.
He was born in Richlands Aug. 9, 1983 and was the son of Karen Harris of Bristol, VA and William B. Payne III of Richlands.
He had made his home in the Richlands area all of his life and was a graduate of Richlands High School Class of 2001 and he was an AIM Scholar. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2004, completing basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC. He was stationed for 16 months in Seoul, South Korea, where he was a communications specialist and had recently been transferred to Ft. Lee in Petersburg.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, William B. Jr. and Isabelle Payne, and maternal grandfather, Clyde Ferrell.
Additional survivors: sister, Chloe Blayne Harris and brother, Duane Edward "Baby" Harris II, both of Bristol, VA; maternal grandmother, Ruth C. Ferrell of Cedar Bluff; aunt, Penny McAmis and husband, Don, of Richlands; uncle, Rick Ferrell and wife, Colleen, of Cedar Bluff; cousins, Travis Hankins, Jonathan and Justin McAmis, Halley and Evan Ferrell; and many friends.
Military graveside rites were conducted Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Princeton, WV with the Rev. Dennis Hoffman officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Richlands Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 446, Richlands, VA 24641.
Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands was in charge of arrangements.
Edwin Andrew Peery Jr.
Edwin Andrew Peery, Jr., 81, of Elmwood Park, IL, formerly of Burkes Garden, died Sept. 18 at a Melrose Park, IL hospital.
Born March 8, 1925 at Burkes Garden, he was a son of the late Edwin Andrew Peery, Sr. and Anna Laura Walker Peery.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Aileen Shawver Peery; one brother, Archie Peery; sister-in-law, Rachel Peery and brother-in-law, Raymond Harman.
Survivors: daughters, Linda Wietz and husband, Richard, of Northbrook. IL, Esther Muro and husband, Luis, and Jackie Aguilera, all of Chicago, IL; sons, Robert Peery of Elmwood Park, IL, Andrew Peery of Chicago, IL; sisters, Eunice Cooper and husband, Don, and Lois Harman, all of Bluefield, WV, Mary Pruett and husband, Joe, of Tazewell; brother, Bill Peery and wife, Loretta, of Summersville, SC; grandchildren, Alissa Steury and husband, Brandon, and Eric Weitz; great grandchild, Emma Lynn Steury; and his former wife, Carmen Peery of Glenview, IL; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Chestnut Grove Christian Church at Shawver’s Mill with Lee Blackburn officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
Josephine Thompson Peery
Josephine Thompson Peery, 82, of Tazewell, died Sept. 24 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Rita Peery with whom she made her home.
Born Oct. 24, 1923 in the Cove section of Tazewell County, she was a daughter of the late Rees Bowen Thompson and Mary Josephine Preston Thompson.
She attended Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA and finished school in Richmond at what is now Virginia Commonwealth University. Her first employment was with Tazewell National Bank where she worked until 1947. She later went to work with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. In 1980, she made her permanent home in North Port, FL where she lived in paradise with Julian. During her 26 years of permanent residency in Florida, she was a member of the LaCasa Boating and Fishing Club, LaCasa Singles Club, and GM Sunseekers Retirement Club of Venice, FL and was an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in North Port, FL.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Glen C. (Sonny) Peery, Jr., her second husband, Julian McCall Peery, Sr.; and two brothers, Sam J. Thompson, II and Henry Preston Thompson, Sr.
She will be remembered as a dedicated mother and friend.
Survivors: children, Michael Thompson Peery and wife, Linda, of Stuarts Draft, John Clay Peery of Andersonville, TN, Stephen Preston Peery, Sr. and wife, Rita, of Tazewell; daughter, Mary Bowen Peery Colley and husband, Ron, of Tazewell; stepdaughter, Melinda Lackner of North Jackson, OH; special friends, Dean and Renae Johnson of Tazewell; grandchildren, Jennifer Josephine Johnson and husband, Eric, of Abingdon, William H. Clay Horton and wife, Megan, of Mebane, NC, John Bowen Horton, Stuart Peery, and Stephen Preston Peery, Jr., all of Tazewell, Samuel Clay Peery and David Andrew Peery of Andersonville, TN, Leslie Allen and husband, Lance, of Stuarts Draft, Michael D. Peery and wife, Meg, of McGaheysville, Sally Peery Ratcliffe and husband, Kelly, of Virginia Beach; step grandchildren, Matthew Colley and wife, Robin, of Bristol, TN, Carri Colley of Blountville, TN; great grandchildren, Hunter Johnson, Mary Paige Allen, Thomas Daniel Allen, Benjamin Ratcliffe, Sarah Grace Peery and two great grandchildren on the way; step great grandson, Noah Colley; sister-in-law, Latisha Thompson of Tucson, AZ; numerous nieces and nephews; and special caregivers, Tammy, Karen, and Jennifer with Total Home Care Hospice, Tina Johnson, and Mary Jane Johnson.
A memorial service was conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 26 at Tazewell Presbyterian Church with Dr. James H. Grant, Jr. officiating.
Burial followed at the Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell.
The family requests memorial contributions be directed to the American Cancer Society, 1808 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701 .
Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell was in charge of arrangements.
John Robert Rasnick III
John Robert Rasnick, III, 52, of North Tazewell, died suddenly Sept. 23 in Winchester, KY, as the result of a car accident.
Born in Baptist Valley, he was the son of the late John Robert (Bob) Jr. and Betty Jane Porter Rasnick.
He was a Tazewell High School Class of 1972 graduate and was a Maintenance Supervisor for Frontier Kemper of Indiana.
Survivors: daughter, Jamey Rasnick of Suwanee, GA; sisters, Linda Rasnick of South Olmsted, OH, Harriett Rasnick of Glade Spring, Patty Hollandsworth of Wilmington, NC, Clara Rasnick-Crabtree of Salem; brother, Larry Rasnick of Tazewell; and grandson, Spencer Durkee.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 27 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands with Pastor Henry E. Johnson officiating.
Interment
will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Corella Mae Sparks
Corella Mae Eastridge Sparks, 83, of the Dry Fork area of Bandy, went to be with the Lord Sept. 19 at her home.
Born March 2, 1923 at North Tazewell, she was a daughter of the late Charlie Franklin Eastridge and Mary Bogle Eastridge.
She was a member of the Dry Fork Assembly of God Church and was a loving mother and homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Emory Jackson (Jack) Sparks; one daughter, Rebecca Sparks; one granddaughter, Melissa Dawn Ratliff; one brother, Luther Eastridge; two sisters, Lettie Ruble and Rebecca (Becky) Eastridge.
Survivors: sons, Charlie Jackson Sparks of the home, David Emory Sparks and wife, Lillian, of North Carolina; daughters, Dorothy Helen Sparks and Linda Gail Ratliff and husband, Donald, all of North Tazewell, Donna Ruth Sparks of Chantilly; grandsons, David Sparks, Jr. and Mike Sparks; granddaughters, Diana Wright and husband, Dennis, Brenda Conner and husband, Andrew, Angela Ray and husband, Jeff, Sara Beth Ratliff, Julie Castrato and husband, Saul; great grandchildren, Brandon Ray, Aaron Ray, Christopher Browning, Donnie Wright, Jonathan Castrato, and Katherine Sparks; brother, Ted Eastridge of Tazewell; and sisters, Virginia Keith of Tazewell, and Beatrice Whitt of Staunton.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 22 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with the Rev. Troy Bartley officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
Delphine Lane Stiltner
Delphine Lane Stiltner, 70, of the Poplar Creek Section of Rt. 2, Grundy, surrounded by her family went to be with the Lord Sept. 24 at her home following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Homer and Virgie Foster Lane.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and a member of Bethlehem Regular Baptist Church #2. She was a former employee of Dominion Bank, a Volunteer worker for Buchanan General Hospital and was a former active leader with the Girl Scouts. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, a wonderful homemaker and a friend to everyone.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Stanton Stiltner – July 1, 1994; and one brother, Douglas Layne.
Survivors: daughters, Connie Ratliff of Richlands, Genny and husband, Charles (Buzz) Bohon of Cedar Bluff; sons, David Joseph and wife, Sandy Stiltner, of Abingdon, Patrick Allen and wife, Kimberly Stiltner, of Grundy; sisters, Phyllis and husband, Richard Weller, of Laurel, MD, Jean and husband, Marty Meade, of Wildwood, IL, Mickey and husband, Lamont Pedersen, of Tazewell, Carol Miller of Richlands, Sue Peoples of Hamilton, AL, Wanda Gay and husband, Gene Hall, of Atlanta, GA; brothers, James Layne and Joe and wife, Edith Layne, all of Kenosha, WI; and grandchildren, Sean Stiltner, Hailey Stiltner, Katy and husband, Brian Vass, Kassie Ratliff, Jonathan Ratliff, Chuck and wife, Amanda Bohon and Andrew Stiltner.
The funeral was conducted Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Aven Viers and Elder Toy Looney officiating.
Burial followed in the Stiltner Cemetery near Bethlehem Regular Baptist Church #1 on Poplar Creek, Rt. 2, Grundy.
A song service was held at the funeral home Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Carol Ann Tanner
Carol Ann Cox Tanner, 62, of Roanoke, died Sept. 22 at Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Salem, following an extended illness.
Born in Pulaski, she was the daughter of the late Homer R. Cox, Sr. and Virginia Katherine Heldreth Cox.
She was a cafeteria worker for the Roanoke School System.
Survivors: daughter, Kathy Ann Wilson and husband, Dennis, of Virginia Beach; granddaughter, Virginia June Wilson; brothers, Benny W. Cox and wife, Faye, of Lumberton, NC, Homer Robert Cox, Jr. and wife, Jane, of Warrington; sister, Linda Morrison of North Carolina; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral and burial are private.
Singleton Funeral Service, Cedar Bluff, is in charge of arrangements.
Ann Armes
Ann Armes, 55, of Richlands, died Sept. 30.
Born Aug. 28, 1951 in Tazewell, she was the daughter of the late John H. and Inez Yeary Armes.
She was a 1970 graduate of Richlands High School and a 1974 graduate of Longwood College.
Survivors: sister, Eleanor Armes of Richlands, aunt, Pauline Armes of Baptist Valley, and several cousins.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill with Rev. Rufus Spence officiating.
Those attending the graveside are asked to meet at the cemetery by 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Tazewell County Humane Society, PO Box 281, Tazewell, VA 24651.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the family.
Robert Alan Blankenship
Robert Alan Blankenship, 62, of Tazewell, died Sept. 28 at Duke Medical Hospital in Durham, NC, while undergoing chemotherapy.
Born Jan. 26, 1944 at English, WV, he was a son of Althea Wright Blankenship of Tazewell and the late W. C. "Dub" Blankenship, Sr.
He attended St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Tazewell. He worked 26 years in the Civil Engineering department of Norfolk & Southern Railway and owned and operated A & D Welding ten years before retiring.
Additional survivors: wife of 41 years, Mary Durham Blankenship; daughter, Janie Blankenship Ruble and husband, Kyle, of Tazewell; son, Christopher Alan Blankenship and wife, Tina, of Tazewell; grandchildren, Natasha Blankenship, Nicholas Blankenship, Thomas Kyle "T.K." Ruble, IV, and Jewel Lee Ruble; brothers, Walter C. "W.C." Blankenship, Jr. and wife, Chiquita, of Tazewell, Jack Calvin Blankenship and wife, Donna, of Bland; brother in-law, Don Durham of Tazewell; and many loving nieces, nephews, and many, many wonderful friends.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell with Father Gaudencio Pugat and the Rev. Rodney Lawson officiating.
Burial followed at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 304 Tazewell Ave., Tazewell, VA 24651 or to the Four Seasons Wellness Center, 141 Ben Bolt Ave. Tazewell, VA 24651.
Lorene R. Brown
Lorene R. Brown, 93, of Prestonsburg, KY, formerly of Honaker, died Oct. 1 in a Prestonsburg nursing facility.
Born Mar. 2, 1913 in Drill, she was a daughter of the late Frank Reedy, Sr. and Carrie McGlothlin Reedy.
She was originally from Honaker and had lived in Kentucky for the past 2 1/2 years. She was formerly a Licensed Practical Nurse at Grundy Hospital until her retirement at the age of 67. She was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Riley C. Brown, and several brothers and sisters.
Survivors: daughter, Shirley Faulkner of Hippo, KY; sons, Gerald Lee Brown of Lebanon, Kenneth Ray Brown of Chattanooga, TN; brother, Frank Reedy, Jr. of Honaker; sisters, Marjorie Sawyer of Seneca, SC, Irene Wilson of Patalaska, OH, Dorothy Smith of Galion, OH; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Clyde Lambert and Rev. Kyle Ratliff officiating.
Interment
followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Robert (Bob) Calhoun
Robert Joe (Bob) Calhoun, 57, of Arthurdale, WV, died Sept. 27 at a Morgantown, WV hospital.
Born May 1, 1949 in West Virginia, he was the son of Edith Calhoun of Churchill, TN and the late Walter Calhoun. He was a coal miner for Peabody Coal Mining.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Robin Cooper.
Additional survivors: wife, Delores Hill Calhoun; sons, Robert Calhoun and wife, Shannon, of Troutman, NC, Kevin Calhoun and wife, Sherry, of Bradshaw, WV; daughter, Miracle Keene and husband, Buskel, of Jewell Ridge; step sons, Rodney Ray of Doran, Robbie Ray of Swords Creek; grandchildren, Aleisha, Kristen and Sheridan Calhoun, Zachary, Logan and MacKenzie Calhoun, Perry and Cecil Keene and Caitlyn Cooper; step grandchildren, Robert Allen Ray III, Kaleb Allen Ray, LaWhitley Whited and Ty Justin Ray; brothers, David Calhoun and wife, Shirley, of Castlewood, James Calhoun and wife, Lois, of Lebanon, Millard Calhoun and wife, Cheri, of Pigeon Forge, TN, George Calhoun of Churchill, TN; sisters, Jene Eidson and husband, Bill, and Freda Colgate, all of Churchill; and father and mother-in-law, Hubert and Frances Hill and family of Swords Creek.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. Sept. 30 at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff with Rev. Dannie Short and Rev. Dennis White officiating.
Burial followed in the Newberry Cemetery at Horton Ridge.
Nancy Cooley
Nancy Cooley, 80, of Richlands, died Sept. 28 at her home following a lengthy illness.
Born Mar. 4, 1926 in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of the late William Walton and Pearl Earls Dills.
She was a charter member of Gethsemane Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for over 40 years. She was a Clinch Valley Community Action Senior Companion.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family in her generation.
Survivors: husband, William (Bill) Cooley; son, Steve Cooley and wife, Linda, of Richlands; granddaughter, Stephanie Matney and husband, David, of Bristol, TN; great granddaughters, Emily Matney, Morgan Matney and Olivia Matney; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands with Rev. Jim Denton and Rev. Stafford Compton officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Gethsemane Baptist Church, 2902 Clinch Street, Richlands, VA 24641.
Singleton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Viola Duncan
Ruby Viola Addison Duncan, 86, of Marvin, died Sept. 30 at her home following a long illness.
Born at Page, she was the daughter of the late John Silas and Alta L. Phillips Addison, Buchanan County natives.
She was a member of the Levisa Assembly Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Otis Horn; three sisters, Josie Horn, Pearl Meadows and Ruth Tickle; and seven brothers, Theodore Ernest Addison, Duke Addison, Wilbur Addison, Burt Addison, Lee Addison, Robert Addison and John Addison.
Survivors: husband, Charles Duncan; step daughters, Wanda Martin and husband, James, of Knoxville, TN, Sheila Dales and husband, Billy, of Garden Creek, Teresa Buchanan and husband, Carl, of Bristol, TN; step sons, Ralph Duncan and wife, Connie, and Bill Duncan and wife, Kay, both of Moundville, AL; and numerous nieces, nephews and step grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain with Rev. James Hale and Rev. Ancil Childress officiating.
Burial followed in the Addison-Mutter Cemetery at Whet Stone Branch.
Alfred Cecil Elswick
Alfred Cecil Elswick, 80, of Jewell Ridge, died Sept. 25 at his home following a lengthy illness.
Born in Jewell Ridge, he was the son of the late Caleb and Sarah Smith Elswick, both Tazewell County natives.
He had worked for the Tazewell County School System with 34 years of service as a custodian there. He had lived in Tazewell County his entire life and was the last surviving relative of his immediate family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.
Survivors: special nephews, Ray Brown and Mike Brown, and special great nieces and nephews, Chris Brown, Harold Brown, Amy Brown and Sarah Brown.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 28 at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Dannie Short and Rev. Bob Webb officiating.
Interment
followed in Smith Family Cemetery on Smith Ridge near Jewell Ridge.
Charlene Hurley Estep
Charlene Hurley Estep, 68, of Hurley, died Sept. 28 at the Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness.
Born in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Lambert and Nora Hurley.
She was a lifelong resident of Buchanan County and was a member of Little Prater Church of Christ. She was a loving wife and mother and was a Teacher’s Aid for approximately 10 years for the Buchanan County School System.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Rhoda A. Dotson and Shelby J. Braatz.
Survivors: husband of 47 years, Rufus Carl Estep; daughters, Deborah K. Estep of Grundy, Tammy C. Estep of Hurley, Anita R. Estep of Richlands; son, James Arthur Estep of Hurley; and sister, Darlene and husband, Don Ashby, of Grundy.
The funeral was conducted Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Little Prater Church of Christ with Evg. Michael Trent, Evg. Mike Rife and Minister Tommy Conn officiating.
Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park in Big Rock.
Services were held Sept. 29 and 30 at the church at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Little Prater Church of Christ.
Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy was charge of arrangements.
Noah W. Horn
Noah W. Horn, 77, of Vansant, an avid outdoorsman and businessman, died Sept. 26 at MD Anderson in Houston, TX.
He traveled the world from the Artic Circle to South America hunting and fishing and leaves behind many hunting and fishing companions who shared his passions. He was the current President of Noah Horn Well Drilling, Inc. and Horn’s Pump Service, Inc. and Well Data Services, Inc. and leaves behind many valued friends and employees.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace Horn and mother, Hester Martha Mullins Horn, and three brothers, Bascom, James and Lee and one sister, Treca Horn Ratliff.
Survivors: children, Marianne Skeens and husband, Eddie Skeens, of Grundy, Susan Johnson and husband, William Ray Johnson, of Burnet, TX, Jeff Horn of Vansant; grandchildren, Meredith Gibson Henshaw, Jill Gibson, Alex Gibson, David Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Leigh Ann Horn and Noah Richard Horn; great grandchildren, Shannon Henshaw, Trent Henshaw, Isabel Steele and Noah Gibson; companion of several years, Connie Deel; brothers and sisters, Pricy Horn Matney, Albert Horn, Arthur Horn, Elizabeth Horn Vandyke; and a large, loving family including his Aunt Mabel Mullins and Uncle Roy Mullins.
The funeral was conducted at 11 a.m. Sept. 30 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel at Keen Mountain with Pastor Mike Rife, Pastor Bill Neeley, Pastor Stan Parris and Pastor Larry Ratliff officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
A service was held at the funeral home Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.
Ralph Hubert Lester
Ralph Hubert Lester, 50, of Cedar Bluff, died Oct. 1 near Doran, following injuries sustained in an ATV accident.
Born in Tazewell County, he was the son of Dorothy Mulkey Lester of Cedar Bluff and the late Burley Lester.
He had made his home in the Cedar Bluff area all of his life and was a disabled coal miner. He attended the Church of the Living God.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one step son, Larry Phillips.
Additional survivors: wife, Tammy Lynn Albert Lester; daughter, Karen Michelle Lane of Bristol, TN; son, Chester Lee Lester of Tazewell; step daughter, Amy Howington and husband, T.J., of Richlands; step son, Jason Phillips and fiancée, Paula Mitchell, of Tazewell; sisters, Sharon Hodge of Cedar Bluff, Patty Dotson and husband, Harold, of Richlands; brothers, Louis Lester and wife, Zilla, of Daytona, FL, Joe Bill Lester and wife, Faye, and Clarence Lester and wife, Leda, all of Richlands; grandchildren, Gabriel Lane, Tyler Howington, Haley Howington, and Alexus Thomas; very special friends, Roy and Kathy Hagy, Eddie Rolen, and Tim and Jimmy Goff; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home Chapel in Richlands with Rev. Kenny Pruitt and Rev. Grady McGlothlin officiating.
Interment
will follow in Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands.
Mary "Bettye" McLaskey
Mary Elizabeth "Bettye" Buskell McLaskey, 93, of Cedar Bluff, died Sept. 26 at the Golden Age Retirement Home at Claypool Hill, after a period of declining health.
She was born in Richlands Oct. 4, 1912 and was the daughter of the late Reverend Albert Green and Rose Elizabeth Fields Buskell.
She was a graduate of Richlands High School Class of 1930 and attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg. After several residences in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and New Jersey, she and her husband, the late E. Gordon McLaskey, transferred to Framingham, MA, where they resided for 21 years.
She was an associate of the J.C. Penny Company in the Framingham office. In 1959, they moved to Anderson, SC, where they made their home for 19 years. After the death of her husband in 1978, she returned to the Richlands/Cedar Bluff area where she made her home for the last 28 years.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Richlands and ecumenical in her church attendance at the First United Methodist Church of Richlands. She was a charter member of the famed Framingham Heart Study and was also a member of the Richlands Woman’s Club, CART, and the Historic Crab Orchard Museum.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, E. Gordon McLaskey; three brothers, Roy Lake Buskell, Jamey Kyle Buskell and wife, Lucille, and H. Paul Buskell.
Survivors: sister-in-law, Elizabeth Goodwin Buskell of Cedar Bluff; special nieces, Paula Buskell Bandy and Carole Buskell Cooke and husband, Hugh, all of Cedar Bluff, Barbara B. Davidson of Hague; nephews, Bill Buskell of Panama City, FL, Dick Buskell of Vienna; and special friends, Darrell Addison of Richlands, and the staff/employees and residents of Golden Age Retirement of Claypool Hill.
The funeral was conducted Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands with the Rev. David Brannock officiating.
Interment
followed at the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill.
Virginia Mae Plaster
Virginia Mae Plaster, 84, of the Pine Creek section of Swords Creek, died Oct. 1 in a Bristol, TN hospital.
Born April 22, 1922 in Russell County, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary Robinette Richardson. A lifelong resident of the area, she was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Plaster; three grandchildren, Tommy Whited, Wilma Jean Barber, and Jeremiah Plaster; three sisters, Dora Webb, Pearl Cole, and Carlie Mutter; and one brother, Clarence Richardson.
Survivors: daughters, Ruby Whited and husband, Willard, of Raven, Brenda Perkins and husband, Henry, of Richlands; sons, David W. Plaster and Jerry Plaster, both of the home, Larry Plaster and wife, Tammy, of Rosedale; special grandson, Jonathan Plaster of the home; grandchildren, Russell Whited, Bobby Boyd, Timothy Boyd, and Christy Bowman; sisters, Myrtle Plaster of Richlands, Ida Richardson of Raven, and Dorothy Whited of Doran; brother, Robert Richardson of Pine Creek; and grandchildren, Keisha Whited, Nicole Whited, Elizabeth Green, Amanda Whited, Michael Boyd, Braydon Plaster, Lara Bowman, and Alex Bowman.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, with Rev. Jim Richardson, Rev. Carl Robinson, and Rev. Buddy Hearl officiating.
Interment
will follow in the Family Cemetery at Pine Creek.
Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Oct. 4.
