Florence B. Mower
Mrs. Florence B. Mower, 88, of Hurricane died January 4, 2002, at Wilson’s Care Home in Hurricane.
She was a 40-year resident of Hurricane and a former member of St. Timothy’s In-The_Valley Episcopal Church.
Surviving: husband, James J. Mower; half-brother and sister-in-law, Paul M. and Janet Gregor of South Charleston; nephews, J.C. Gregor, Ronald Gregor, Gary Gregor, and P.M. Gregor II.
There was no service. The family suggests memorial donations to St. Timothy’s In-The_Valley Episcopal Church, 3430 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane WV 25526.
Marcella V. Smith
Mrs. Marcella V. Smith, 79, of Hurricane died January 3, 2002, in Scenic Hills Nursing Home, Gallipolis, Ohio, after a long illness.
She was a 20-year resident of Hurricane, formerly of Nitro, Poca and Hometown. She was an avid bowler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Pete Smith, and son, Joe Smith.
Surviving: daughters and sons-in-law, Susie and Gene White of Glouster, Ohio, Carolyn and Jim Mattern of Sacramento, California, and Kathy Milam of Virginia Beach, Virginia; brothers, Edward Hewlett of Columbus, Ohio, Leonard Hewlett of Dunbar and Danny Hewlett of the Carolinas; one sister; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren.
Service was held Monday, January 7, 2002, at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca. Burial was in Schowen Cemetery, Bancroft.
Manford A. Blessing
Manford Alvarao Blessing, 95, of Scott Depot, formerly of Pt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, December 18, 2001, in Putnam General Hospital.
Born May 10, 1906, he was the son of the late Oron Guy and Etha Rollins Blessing. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel McIntyre Blessing, and brothers, Calvin and Benjamin Blessing.
He completed college work from Rio Grande College, Morris Harvey College, West Virginia University, Ohio University, and Marshall University, where he received his AB and MA degrees. He retired after 41 years as a teacher and principal from the Mason County Board of Education. He had served as principal in elementary, junior high and high school levels in Mason County. He was the assistant superindentdent in Mason County under Sally Lou Musgrave Steenbergen, and was acting superindentdent after she resigned. He also served as assistant superindentdent for Charles H. Withers. He was very active in the county, state and national education organizations.
Surviving: sons and daughters-in-law, Donald Austin and Carol Ann Brown Blessing of Orangeburg, South Carolina and Michael Alvaro and Sally Ann Burgess Blessing of Scott Depot; grandchildren, James Eric Blessing of Raleigh, North Carolina, Aaron Matthew Blessing of Shepherdstown and Stephanie Ann Blessing of Lexington, Kentucky; great-grandson, Justin Raldolph Blessing of Raleigh; sisters, Sarah Hannum of Mount Alto and Irene Winebrenner of Letart.
Service was held Sunday, December 23, 2001, at Crow-Hussell Funeral Home, Pt. Pleasant, with Pete Allinder officiating. Burial was in Kirkland Memorial Gardens, neat Pt. Pleasant.
Mary Louise Call
Mrs. Mary Louise Call, 73, of Hurricane died Wednesday, December 19, 2001.
She was a lifelong resident of Hurricane.
Surviving: son, Grover “Bub” Call Jr. of Hurricane; daughter and son-in-law, Catherine “Cat” and Dean Sexton of Hurricane; grandchildren, Rachel, Brandon, Taylor, Sis and Dale, all of Hurricane; sister, Ruby Croson of Hurricane; brother, Wilson, Carl and Maxie Wooten, all of Hurricane.
Service was held Saturday, December 22, 2001, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Gail Medley officiating. Burial was in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Hurricane.
Ada Sanson
Mrs. Ada Sanson, 96, of Eleanor died Friday, December 21, 2001, at her residence.
She had lived in Eleanor for 66 years and was the last original homesteader of the Town of Eleanor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Sanson Sr.; great-grandsln, Charles Edward Hacker; sisters, Mamie Sovine, Edith Hodge and Mary Johnson.
Surviving: son, John Everett Sanson of Eleanor; daughters, Ada Frances Sanson of Eleanor, Marcella Gibson Carigo of Poca, and Darlene Patton Tyler of Hurricane; seven grandchilddren; 17 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild; nieces, Jean Swann and Virginia Marrow.
Service was held Sunday, December 23, 2001, at Gatens Funeral Home Chapel, Poca, with Pastor John Taylor and Pastor Ralph W. Workman officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House.
Ernest F. Harmon Jr.
Ernest Frank “Wildman” Harmon Jr., 62, of Poca died December 25, 2001, at home.
He was the owner of Wildman’s Produce in Nitro.
Surviving: companion of 17 years, Ollie Withrow; son, Tony Harmon of Poca; daughter, Debra Melton of Grafton, Wisconsin; sisters, Dorothy Landers of Rock Branck and Dottie Cline of Winfield; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Service was held Friday, December 28, 2001, at Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel, Red House, with Rev. Willard Beller officiating. Burial was in the memorial gardens. Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, was in charge of arrangements.
Elmer S. Higginbotham
Elmer S. Higginbotham, 83, of Nitro died December 25, 2001, in Thomas Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
A 56 year resident of Nitro, he was retired from Avtex Fibers in Nitro with 38 years of service. He was a member of the American Textile Workers of America, AFL-CIO. He was one of the founders and builders of Lett Creek Community Church.
Surviving: children, William E. Higginbotham of Nitro, Toby McCallister of Bancroft and Mary Tillis of Bancroft; brothers, Robert Higginbotham of Black Betsy and Kermit Higginbotham of Ohio; sister, Juanita Cobb of Liberty; six grandchildren; 10 great-granchildren.
Service was held Friday, December 28, 2001, at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with Rev. Buel Gibson officiating. Burial was in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.
Betty Jean Withrow
Betty Jean Withrow, 66, of Hurricane died December 24, 2001, at Thomas Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
She was a homemaker and a native of Liberty.
Surviving: sons, Wayne Withrow of Slidell, Louisiana, Orville Withrow of Hurricane, Eddie and Darrell Withrow, both of Poca; daughters, Mary “Ruth” Strang of Sebring, Florida, Sharon Sloan of Charleston and Alice Withrow of Baxter, Tennessee; brothers, Phillip Smith of St. Marys, Donald Smith of Barboursville, Paul Smith and Charles Smith, both of Hurricane; sister, Rosemary Buckingham of Palmetto, Florida; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren.
Service was held Saturday, December 29, 2001, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Michael E. Dent officiating. Burial was in Asbury Cemetery, Liberty.
Coy Allen Rowh
Coy Allen Rowh, 74, of Poca died Tuesday, December 25, 2001, in St. Mary’s Hospital, Huntington, after a brief illness.
He was born January 26, 1927, the son of the late L. Wesley and Goldie Cook Rowh. He spent his early years in Cross Lanes and lived most of his adult life in Poca.
He was a retired carpenter, member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1207, and was widely admired around the Kanawha Valley for the quality of his craftsmanship. He was proud of his service in the U.S. Army druing and after World War II, where he was stationed in Washington. He was also a member of the IOOF and the Rock Branck Independent Church.
Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, who died on September 27th of this year, and sister, Sandra Jividen.
Surviving: children and spouses, Patty and John Turner of Teays Valley, Mark and Linda Rowh of Dublin, Virginia, Alan and Diana Rowh of Rock Branch; brother and sisters, Max and Joselyn Rowh of Cross Lanes, June and Robert Yates of Ripley, and Margie King of Cross Lanes; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Gladis Ewing, Margaret and Carl Roher, and Madge McCoskey, all of Iowa; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Service was held Saturday, December 29, 2001, at Gatens Funeral Home Chapel, Poca, with Pastor Delbert Hawley officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House.
Connie Jean Shaffer
Connie Jean Shaffer, 65, of Nitro died Wednesday, December 26, 2001, in CAMC Memorial Division after a long illness.
She was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Putnam County. She attended Lett Creek Community Church and was a member of Moose Lodge No. 868 in St. Albans.
Surviving: father, Jesse Wilkinson of Black Betsy; daughter, Cheryl McVay of Nitro; sons, Marcus Shaffer III of Eleanor and Michael Shaffer of Hurricane; sister, Janet Hill of Black Betsy; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Service was held Saturday, December 29, 2001, at West Virginia Memorial Mausoleum Chapel in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, with the Rev. Willard Beller officiating. Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro, was in charge of arrangements.
Mildred Newman
Mildred Newman, 84, of Huntington passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2001 at Heritage Manor. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m.. Friday, December 28, 2001 at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel by the Rev. Harry Scarberry. Burial in Smith-Meade Cemetery. She was born July 17, 1917, in Cabell County, a daughter of the late Samuel Richard and Mary Ellen Smith Meade. She was a member of the 26th Street Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Lee Newman, one daughter, Carole Frances Newman Hogan, eight brothers and one sister. She is survived by two daughters, Doris Kay Stamper of Cleveland, Ohio, Mary Chafin and her husband Paul of Ceredo, WVa.; one son Richard Lee Newman and his wife Vicki of Huntington; 10 grandchildren several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements.
Nathan Andrew Porter
Nathan Andrew Porter, 7, of Barboursville went to be with Jesus on December 22, 2001. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m Monday, December 24, 2001 at Highlawn Baptist Church by Dr. Terrell Bradley. Burial in Baylous Cemetery. He was born April 20,1994, in Huntington a son of Brian and Carol Martin Porter of Barboursville. He loved life and enjoyed snowboarding, roller hockey, dirt bikes, fast cars, and he loved playing with his brother and sister. On October 13, 2001 Nathan’s daddy, Brian, led Nathan to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a student of Martha Elementary School a member of Highlawn Baptist Church and also attended AWANA at Elmwood Baptist Church. Also surviving are one sister, Meagan; one brother, Cameron; maternal grandparents, Carl and Mary Martin; paternal grandparents, Greg and Earlisee Porter, paternal great-grandmother, Norma Berry, maternal great-grandmother, Ruby Powelson; three aunts, Cheryl Parsons, her husband Rusty and their children Jennifer and Kelly, Joyce Frazier, her husband Jim and their children Amber, Eric and Brandon, and Aunt Kim Villars, Nathan’s second-grade teacher, her husband Greg and their daughter Hannah; two uncles, Steve Martin, his wife Angie and their children Jessica, Michelle, Amy Bock and her husband Tommy, Stephanie Harris and her husband Josh and their son Grant, and Mike Martin and his wife Carla and their children Breanna and Tyler, great-aunt, Brenda Berry, and special friends, Shannon Skaggs and John McComas. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements.
Lily Mae DeJarnett Stewart
Lily Mae DeJarnett Stewart, 90, of Huntington passed away Saturday, December 22, 2001, in St. Mary’s Hospital. Funeral services were conducted 2 pm Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001, at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel by Rev. Tom Lewis. Burial in Enon Cemetery. She was born July 21,1911 in Salt Rock, a daughter of the late John Hamilton and Della Ferrell DeJarnett. She is survived by her husband, Joseph R. Stewart, three daughters, Carolyn J. Anson of Annendale, Va., Nancy Bigger of Huntington and Beverly Poineau of Fairfax, Va.; one sister, Lena Fowble of Gallipolis Ferry WVa; one brother, Sidney DeJarnett of Barboursville; and one step grandchild, Wendy Hall. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, was in charge of arrangements. The family would like to thank the staffs of Heartland of Riverview and St. Mary’s Hospital for their care during Mrs. Stewart’s illness.
Bessie Gibson Bates
Bessie Gibson Bates, 71, of Barboursville, passed on to her reward Wednesday, December 26, 2001. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, December 29, 2001, at the Wallace Funeral Home and Chapel by Pastor Fred Anderson. Burial in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. She was born October 8, 1930, in Cabell County, a daughter of the late Thomas and Madge Lilly Gibson. She was a charter member of Hash Ridge Baptist Church, a member of Hash Ridge Baptist Women’s Club, Kuhn Memorial Women’s Club and the Barboursville Senior Citizens Group. She was preceded in death by the father of her children Orville Bates, one brother, Robert Gibson and her infant twin sister, Birdie. She is survived by one daughter, Jenny Miller of North Carolina; three sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Barbara Bates of Texas, Larry and Mary Bates, Darrell and Betty Bates, all of Barboursville; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Ruth Vance, Virginia Vance and Helen and Hank Kuhn; one brother, C. Raymond “Lightning” Gibson, all of Barboursville; eight grandchildren Thomas, Noah, Michael, Amanda, Meagan, Misty, Shannon and Clayton; three step-grandchildren, Jerry, Kevin and Michael Maynard; two great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and special friends. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations of sympathy to Hospice of Huntington.
