Mary Kathryn Means
Mary Kathryn Means, 57, of Hurricane died November 21, 2003, at home after a short illness.
Born June 17, 1946 in Charleston, Kathy was the only child of the late Jesse W. and Mary McNealy Chase.
She was a 1964 graduate of Hurricane high School, attended West Virginia State College and was a graduate of the Kathlyn Wellman Modeling School. Having very deep religious convictions, she attended several area churches during here lifetime, including St. Mark's Episcopal, St. Albans; St. Timothy's-in-the-Valley Episcopal, Hurricane; St. Andrew's Episcopal, Barboursville; and most recently, the Catholic Church of the Ascension, Hurricane.
Surviving: husband, Robert Means; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Jo and Patrick Jarvis of Hurricane; grandsons, Andrew and Dustin Jarvis of Hurricane.
Service was held Monday, November 24, 2003, at St. Mark's Episcopal, St. Albans, with Father Paul B. Bresnahan officiating. Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Avalee Lett
Mrs. Ruth Avalee Lett, 87, of Black Betsy died November 21, 2003.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. W. David Lett.
Surviving: children, Ruth Ann Swanson of Diablo, California, Marjorie Lynn Ledson of Martinsburg, Ohio, and William D. Lett of South Charleston; brother, William H. Noffsinger of Black Betsy; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Service was held November 25, 2003 at Gatens Funeral Home Chapel, Poca, with Paul Arthur officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House.
Wilson “Odell” Smith
Wilson “Odell” Smith, 83, of Hurricane died November 30, 2003, in Thomas Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
He was born June 19, 1920. He was a Christian and a member of Adda Baptist Church of Hurricane. He was a farmer, a former employee of Ohio Apex of Nitro and retired from Putnam County Schools as a bus driver with 27 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Clifton Smith, his mother, Levada Mae Adkins Smith, and an infant son, Joe Clinton Smith.
Surviving: wife of 63 years, Belva Virginia Grant Smith; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Nancy Smith, Gary and Ann Smith, Rondle and Janice Smith, all of Hurricane, and Wayne and Linda Smith of Caledonia, Ohio; daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Kenny Thevenin, Patty and Mike Escue, all of Hurricane, and Brenda and Wayne Massie of Fraziers Bottom; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren.
Service was held December 3, 2003 at Adda Baptist Church with Brother Mike Escue and Pastor Tim Gilfilen officiating. Burial was in Hodges Cemetery. Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, was in charge of arrangements.
Gary W. Burnem
Gary Wayne “Butch” Burnem, 57, of Poca died December 1, 2003, at home.
He was preceded in death by his father, Guy Burnem.
Surviving: daughter, Kellie Burnem of Sissonville; mother, Mary Burnem of Nitro; brothers, Dick Burnem of Marietta, Georgia and Joe Burnem of Rock Fork; sisters, Lois McCormick of Carroll, Ohio and Patsy Nelson of Campbells Creek.
Service was held December 4, 2003 at Gatens Funeral Home Chapel, Poca, with Paul Arthur officiating. Burial was in Tyler Mountain Memorial Gardens.
Mary M. Cole
Mary M. Cole, 89, of Scott Depot died December 1, 2003, at her residence in Regency Place.
She was the last living member of the Hugh Green and Bessie Leftwich Meador family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John Leslie Cole.
She began teaching in 1932 at the age of 18 in a one-room school in Booge Harmon Flats, Mercer County. She earned her education degree at Concord College, teaching for 32 years. While living in Herndon she belonged to Herndon United Methodist Church, being awarded Teacher of the Year and Woman of the Year by the church. After moving to Spanishburg, she attended to Spanishburg United Methodist Church, serving as an officer of the United Methodist Women, who awarded her a lifetime membership in their organization. She enjoyed community activities, belonging to Southern States Women's Group, Spanishburg Ruritan and West Virginia Farm Bureau.
Surviving: daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Kareen and William “Pete” Lilly Jr.; grandchildren, William “Bill” Lilly III and Laura of Hurricane, Chris Lilly and Beth of Winfield, Mary Okin and Marc of Powell, Ohio, Scott Lilly and Angie of Delaware, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Jennifer McDowell, Sam McDowell, William Lilly IV, Lauren Lilly, and Olivia Cole Okin.
Service was held December 4, 2003 at Seaver Funeral Home, Princeton, with Elder Leon McCoy officiating. Burial was in Resthaven Cemetery, Princeton.
The family suggests donations be made to the Spanishburg United Methodist Church, PO Box 23, Spanishburg WV 25922.
Destiny Green
Destiny Green, 2, of Poca died December 1, 2003 in a house fire.
Destiny leaves behind her parents, Roland and Teresa Green; brothers, Roland Green Jr. and Ozzy Green; sister, Kristen Green; grandparents, Mary and Don Smith, Gary and Karen Sadler, and Fred Green; aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.
A service was held Friday, December 5, 2003, at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, to celebrate the life of Destiny.
Friends and family suggests donations be made to the Destiny Green Fund, c/o Rock Branch Community Bank, PO Box 219, Nitro WV 25143.
Edith Mae Mitchell
Edith Mae Mitchell, 94, of Hurricane died December 4, 2003.
She was born December 20, 1908, a daughter of the late Floyd and Leafie Hysell Miller. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Mitchell, and her sister, Bessie Smith.
She was a lifelong resident of Hurricane.
Surviving: son and daughter-in-law, Okey Ray and Margie Mitchell of Hurricane; daughters and sons-in-law, Louise and Gene Fizer of Hurricane, Helen and Hallie Kayser of Milton, and Faye Toppings of Culloden; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
Service was held Saturday, December 6, 2003, at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Pastor John D. Smith officiating. Burial was in Sycamore Cemetery, Hurricane.
Boyde B. Frazier
Boyde B. Frazier, 87, of Scott Depot died December 3, 2003.
His parents were the late Claude A. and Myrtle E. Frazier of Fraziers Bottom. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Robert, Donald and Nye.
A lifelong resident of West Virginia, he attended Winfield High School, where he played football. He began his business career at the early age of 16 as a hawker/peddler, owned a trucking business, then owned and operated Club Colonnade, a restaurant in South Charleston, for nearly 40 years. He was noted for his work in the restoration of various cemeteries in the Putnam County area.
Surviving: brothers, Marshall Wayne Frazier of Baltimore, Maryland and Loyal D. Frazier Sr. of Oxnard, California; longtime friend and companion, Clara Mae Slack of Scott Depot.
Service was held Sunday, December 7, 2003, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with Pastor Mike Rader officiating. Interment
was in the Frazier family Cemetery, Fraziers Bottom.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Heart Association, 4510C Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston WV 25302.
Helen Louise Painter
Helen Louise Painter, 74, of Poca died December 5, 2003, in Putnam General Hospital after a long illness.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Painter, her granddaughter, Helen Facemyer, and her husband, Otis Painter.
She was a former bookkeeper for Ethical Drugs with 22 years of service, a former bookkeeper fo the Sleepy Hollow Housing Association and she was a Protestant.
Surviving: daughters, Karen Smith of Hurricane and Cathy Oakes of Poca; son, Randy Painter of Poca; sisters, Marguerite Miller and Dove Has, both of Bancroft; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; special friend, Diana Hamon.
Service was held Monday, December 8, 2003, at Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, with Carol Beller officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House.
Lewis F. Hunt
Lewis F. Hunt, 79, of Hurricane died December 5, 2003, following a short illness.
He was born June 28, 1924. He was retired from DuPont Chemical, a former Hurricane city police officer, a Navy veteran of World War II, and a Naval Police officer.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Agnes Novak Hunt.
Surviving: sons, Ronald Hunt of Hurricane, Kenneth Hunt and his wife, Brenda, of Culloden; daughters, Donita and her husband, Lewis Miles Jr., of Virginia, Jan and her husband, Frank Shirkey, of Culloden; sister, Ellen Biggs of Charleston; grandchildren, Ben, Margie, Travis, Tyler, Jennifer, and Jeff.
Graveside service was held Monday, December 8, 2003, at Forest Memorial Park, Milton. Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Roscoe Fred McGhee
Roscoe Fred McGhee, 90, of Hurricane died December 5, 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital, Huntington, following an extended illness.
He was born August 30, 1913 in Hurricane, a son of the late V.S. and Mae McGhee. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, sisters, Fay McGhee, Donna and Ruby Lucas, brothers, Clyde, Clay, Raymond, Robert, and Joe McGhee.
He was a tobacco and cattle buyer, worked for Union Carbide for 20 years, and owner of McGhee's Meat Market in Hurricane for 17 years before retiring. He was a member of the Main Street Church of Christ.
Surviving: wife of 69 years, Bessie Wheeler McGhee; daughters and sons-in-law, Betty and Dewey Miller of South Charleston, Sue and Charles Craddock of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, Connie and David Smith of Grove City, Ohio, Marlene and Mike Beckett of Hurricane, Brenda and Les Tabit of Rockwood, Tennessee, Fredda and Bill Ray of Hurricane; brothers, Frank and Charles McGhee of Hurricane; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a host of friends.
Service was held Monday, December 8, 2003, at Allen Funeral home, Hurricane, with Minister Louis Watts officiating. Entombment was in Valley View Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hurricane.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to Ohio Valley College, 1 Campus View Drive, Vienna WV 26105-8000.
Frances “Hank” Sheltz
W. Frances Sheltz, 81, of Teays Valley died Friday, December 5, 2003, at Putnam General Hospital.
She was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Teays Valley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald “Buck” Sheltz, grandson, Brent; great-grandson, Curtis; son-in-law, Jack Jones, one sister, three brothers.
Surviving: sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Carol Sheltz Jr. of Culloden, Dennis and Cherry Sheltz of Hurricane; daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl “Chirp” Jones of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Cindy and Larry Call of Hurricane, Charma and Thomas Cyrus of Hurricane, Renee and Tom Daddysman of Scott Depot; caregiver, Arbutus “Boots' Higginbotham of Hurricane; special pet, Mama Kitty; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.
Service was held on Monday, December 8, 2003, at Chapman Funeral Home, Teays Valley, with the Rev. Kenneth Knotts, the Rev. Bob Kelly, and Pastor Harrison Lucas officiating. Burial was in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Hurricane.
Mary Beth Chadwick
Mary Beth Chadwick, 52, of Scott Depot, formerly of South Charleston and Pinch, died December 4, 2003, in CAMC General Hospital following a long illness.
She was born October 31, 1951 in Charleston, daughter of Lois Coleman of Scott Depot and the late George S. “Tony” Chadwick Jr..
She was a graduate of South Charleston High School, Morris Harvey College and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, where she received her master's degree. Later, she earned the title of Certified Addictions Counselor. A former employee of Shawnee Hills, she was medically retired in 2002 from the Charleston Job Corps. She was a 30-years member of the GFWC South Charleston Women's Club.
Surviving in addition to her mother: sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Peter Minter of Charleston; brother, David Chadwick of Charleston; nieces and a nephew, Kristen and Kelley Wood, and Adam Minter; many co-workers and friends.
Service was held Sunday, December 7, 2003, at Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, with Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaakov officiating. Interment
was in B'Nai Israel Cemetery, Charleston.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Mary Beth Chadwick Scholarship Fund through the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, or to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Varnie Cox
Varnie Cox of Winfield died December 5, 2003.
He was a native of McDowell County. He lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for 35 years and had resided in Winfield for the last three years. He was a decorated World War II and Korean War Veteran with 17 years of service. He was a Christian man who served as an example of kindness and love.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Preston and Fannie Cox, and brothers, Leslie Cox of Red House and Jack Cox of Alameda, California.
Surviving: sister-in-law, Pearl Cox; nieces, Nila Cox Stover and husband, Dale, and Ramona L. Cox; a host of friends in West Virginia, Nebraska and California.
A private service was held at Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens, Red House. Gatens Funeral Home, Poca, was in charge of arrangements
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 332 N Lauderdale, Memphis TN 38105.
