Dorcas M. Smith
ELANA -- Dorcas M. Smith, 77, of Elana, Roane County, died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, at home after a short illness.
She was a retired mail carrier with 28 years of service and a member of Uler Memorial Church.
Surviving: sons, Dale of Elana, Wayne of Parkersburg, Melvin of Looneyville; daughters, Geraldine Lang of Georgia, Charlene Jarvis of Hartville, Ohio, Martha White of Vero Beach, Fla.; 22 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Uler Memorial Church with the Rev. Herbert Blevins officiating. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery, Elana.
Friends may call three hours prior to service at the church. John H. Taylor Funeral Home, Spencer, is in charge of arrangements.
Ottis A. Stanley
RAVENSWOOD -- Ottis A. Stanley, 65, of Ravenswood died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in St. Mary's Hospital, Huntington.
He was an auto mechanic.
Surviving: wife, Donna Jean Stanley; sons, William and Steven of Ravenswood, David of Evans; daughters, Robin Hughes and Sondra Stanley, of Ripley; mother, Ada Mary Porter Carmichael of Sandyville; brothers, Donald of Springfield, Va., Vernon of Parkersburg; five grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Vail Funeral Home, Ripley. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery, Sandyville.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Lorene Z. Taylor
MAPLEWOOD -- Lorene Zethel "Shorty" Taylor, 71, of Maplewood, Fayette County, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, in Appalachian Regional Hospital, Beckley, after a short illness.
She was a member of Maplewood United Methodist Church and a homemaker.
Surviving: daughters, Wilda Wade of Meadow Bridge, Anita Toney, Wilma Gunnoe and Barbara Ramsey of Danese, Shirley McDaniel of Beckley, Betty Hall of Quinwood; son, Raymond Taylor of Danese; sisters, Louise Gentry of Layland, Louella Bika of Bellwood, Patricia Mays of Raleigh; brother, Beury Ayers Jr. of Danese; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Maplewood United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daniel Legg and the Rev. Clyde Gum officiating. Burial will be in Wallace Memorial Cemetery, Clintonville.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Wallace-Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle, and one hour prior to service a the church.
William F. Tormey Jr.
HAILEY, Idaho -- William F. Tormey Jr., 72, of Hailey died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, at home after a long illness.
He was a native of Charleston, W.Va., a graduate of Notre Dame, Georgetown University Foreign Service School, Squadron Officers School in Alabama, and Indiana State University School of Language. He was a retired Air Force veteran of World War II and a former prisoner of war.
Surviving: wife, Norma Tormey; daughters, Kathleen Burrell Turner of Purcellville, Va., Mary Elizabeth Kaiser of Prague, Czech Republic, Alicia Louise Tormey of Seattle, Wash.; sons, William F. Tormey III of Bellevue, Idaho, John Christopher Tormey of Hailey; mother, Katherine Tormey of Purcellville; seven grandchildren.
Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Jan. 10 at St. Charles Catholic Church, Hailey. The family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of the Wood River Valley, P.O. Box 4320, Ketchum, IA 83340, or to the Blaine County Senior Center, P.O. Box 28, Hailey, IA 83333. Wood River Chapel, Hailey, is in charge of arrangements.
Jeannette R. Umhoefer
Jeannette R. Umhoefer, 85, of St. Albans died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, in Thomas Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
Tyler Mountain Funeral Home, Cross Lanes, is in charge of arrangements.
Robert E. Easley
Retired officer lent helpful hand
Robert E. Easley, a former Charleston police officer and Job Corps security director who was well-known for his work with young people, has died.
Easley died Tuesday morning at his home after a bout with cancer. He was 63.
In the fall of 1996, Easley had survived a brain tumor before being diagnosed with liver and lung cancer.
Throughout his illness, he remained upbeat and talked about wanting to reach out to other cancer patients, family members and friends said today.
"He wanted to show love the best he could because he had been loved," said his son, the Rev. Clarence Easley.
"Even in his last days, it was more like he was trying to comfort me -- and I was there to comfort him," said a longtime friend and fellow police officer, George Henderson.
Reaching out to people was typical of the man who had grown up one of seven children in a single-parent household. Easley devoted his professional life -- with the police department, with the Job Corps and with the ministry -- to helping others.
After graduating from Garnet High School and West Virginia State College, he worked as a much-decorated inner-city police officer in Charleston.
Easley also is remembered for playing an important role in integrating Charleston's Orchard Manor housing project.
During his years walking the beat, Easley earned numerous commendations and in the 1970s joined another officer in establishing a canteen for often troubled young people, said his friend, the Rev. Paul Gilmer.
Easley, who served as an associate pastor at Metropolitan Baptist Church, continued his work with young people for 27 more years with the Job Corps, where he served as security director and was known for his inspirational speeches.
"He was a man that gave hope to so many people and desired to help so many people, to show love the best he knew how, to show all the love in his heart," said Clarence Easley, who called his father his best friend.
"He would always say if I can do something for somebody I can and I will. He never met a stranger," said his wife, Adeline Easley. "He was a great soldier on this earth, and I'm sure he is in heaven marching around the throne and asking, `What can I do for somebody?' "
"Charleston is going to miss Robert Easley," Gilmer said.
Easley's nephew, Lester Gore, remembered his uncle as "a gentle giant. He was the type of person who just cared for everybody. He prided himself in finding the good in everybody. He just loved life."
Surviving: wife, Adeline "Peaches"; daughters, Cecilia Easley of Houston, Teresa Tennant of Institute, Angela Washington and Erskia Robinson of Charleston, Elizabeth Easley of Mableton, Ga.; sons, Robert E. Easley Jr. of Canton, Ohio, the Rev. Clarence Easley of Rankins, Pa., Martin Easley of Pittsburgh; stepson, Adolphus Cooper of Charleston; sisters, B. Ursula Gore of Cross Lanes, Jean Hicks of South Charleston, Alyce Easley of Charleston, Faye Phillips of Akron, Ohio; brothers, Alexander P. Easley Jr. of Charleston, the Rev. Paul Easley of Fayetteville, Ga., the Rev. A.H. Easley of Lawrenceville, Va.; 10 grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church Shrewsbury Street, Charleston, with the Rev. Aaron Harriston and the Rev. Franklin Murphy officiating. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston.
Friends may call from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Preston Funeral Home, Charleston.
Helen M. Bailey
NAOMA -- Helen Marie Bailey, 58, of Naoma died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, in Raleigh General Hospital after a long illness.
She attended Assembly of God Church, Sundial, and was a retired bus aide for the Raleigh County Board of Education.
Surviving: daughter, Shannon Marie Pioch of Glen Daniel; sons, Azel Lee of Stone Mountain, Ga., Alvin Leonard of Beckley; sisters, Martha Baxter of Bates City, Mo., Elizabeth Burnette of Dry Creek; brothers, Willis "Dickie" Chambers of Cleveland, Joseph Chambers of Sand Lick, Gilbert "Junior" Chambers of Blande, Va.; eight grandchildren.
Service will be noon Friday at Assembly of God Church, Sundial, with the Rev. J.D. Pettry officiating. Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery, Orgas.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the church.
Carl E. Blackwell
SHADY SPRING -- Carl E. Blackwell, 65, of Shady Spring died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1997, in a Charleston hospital after a long illness.
Rose & Quesenberry Funeral Home, Shady Spring, is in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth Chirico
HUNTINGTON -- Elizabeth Chirico, 86, of Huntington, formerly of Mount Gay, died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in St. Mary's Hospital.
She was a member of Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Logan, andof Logan General Hospital Auxillary.
Surviving: daughter, Grace Gosselin of Barboursville; sisters, Florence Casella of Proctorville, Ohio, Helen Burks and Mary Penick of Huntington, Virginia Leotta of Broomall, Pa.; brothers, Frank Casella of Proctorville, Leonard Casella of Chesapeake, Ohio; two grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Saint Francis of Assisi Church with the Rev. David Schmitt officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Pecks Mill.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary, Huntington, where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. The family suggests donations be sent to your charity of choice.
Raymond W. Durrett
MEADOW CREEK -- Raymond W. Durrett, 73, of Meadow Creek died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, at home after a short illness.
He was a retired signal maintainer for C&O Railroad.
Surviving: sons, Charles, Dennis, and Willard of Meadow Creek; daughters, Annabell Watkins, Sue Callahan, and Judy Foster of Seth, Janet Kincaid of Meadow Bridge; stepson, Dale Redden of Meadow Creek; brother, Lucius Robert Durrett of Beckley; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlor, Hinton, with Pastor Eddie Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Meadow Creek Cemetery.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of service Friday at the funeral home.
Mildred M. Fox
BRIDGEPORT -- Mildred Madeline Fox, 69, of Bridgeport, formerly of Limestone, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, at home after a long illness.
She was a health care provider for the elderly in Lewis County with 17 years' service and was a member of World Wide Church of God, Clarksburg.
Surviving: husband, Junior L. Fox; daughters, Sharon Stalnaker of Jane Lew, Susan Krafft of Weston; son, Jerry Fox of Bridgeport; four grandchildren.
Service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Boyle Funeral Home, Weston, with Warren Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Weston.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Reva I. Grogg
GLENVILLE -- Reva I. Grogg, 78, of Glenville died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Weston, after a short illness.
She was a homemaker.
Surviving: husband, Donal Grogg; sons, Toby of Glenville, Lonnie D. of Crestview, Fla.; daughter, Karen Faye Chamblin of Belmont; five grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; one great-grandson; three stepgreat-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville, with the Rev. Ronzel Roberts officiating. Burial will be in Nobe Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to service Saturday at the funeral home.
Henry T. Hennosy
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Henry Thomas Hennosy, 80, of St. Petersburg, formerly of St. Albans, W.Va., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, at home.
He was a retired mechanic from DuPont Chemical, Belle, with 35 years of service. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
Surviving: wife, Dorothy W. Hennosy; son, Andrew of St. Petersburg; daughters, Mary Ann Hennosy and Susan Reed of St. Petersburg, Martha Gibson of Granbury, Texas, Jan Morrison of Glen Ferris, W.Va.; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, Alan R. McLeod Chapel, St. Petersburg, is in charge of arrangements.
William E. Hunter Jr.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- William Ervin Hunter, 43, of Little Rock, formerly of Rand, W.Va., died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, in Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, after a long illness.
He was a member of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria, Ark., a former member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Carbondale, a graduate of West Virginia Tech, member of the Masonic Lodge, and was a computer program analyst with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Surviving: wife, Joyce E. Smith Hunter; son, John T., with the Air Force; daughter, Brandy T. Hunter, at home; godson, Paris Miller of Dallas; sisters, Betty Black of Hot Springs, Va., Ruth Wiggins of Fort Wayne, Ind..
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Carbondale, with the Rev. Freddie Davenport and the Rev. Cornell Byars officiating. Burial will be in Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens, Glasgow.
Friends may call one hour prior to service Saturday at the church. Anderson-Hairston Funeral Home, Montgomery, is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian I. Jett
Lillian Inez Collins Jett, 70, of Clendenin died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997 in Cross Lanes after of long illness.
She was a member of Hurricane Baptist Church, Clio, member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #8516, Pinch, and was a former Girl Scout Troop Leader.
Surviving: daughters, Barbara Lea Dunn of Cross Lanes, Vicky Ann Woods of Decator, Ill.; son, Harvey Ray Jett of Cross Lanes; sister, Ann L. Goff of Trenton, Mich.; foster brothers, Harvey Padgett of Orlando, Fla., Harold Padgett of Clewiston, Fla.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Matics Funeral Home, Clendenin, with the Rev. Ray Williams officiating. Burial will be in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where a military service will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Pinch Post #8516.
Teddy T. Kerr
MARLINTON -- Teddy Thomas Kerr, 64, of Marlinton died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in Raleigh General Hospital after a short illness.
He was a maintenance worker.
Surviving: daughters, Toni Magreevy of Astabula, Ohio, Patty Keatley and Willa Keatley of Marlinton; brothers, Merle Kerr of Dunmore, Gary Kerr of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at VanReenen Funeral Home, Marlinton, with the Rev. Randy Benson officiating. Burial will be in Wilfong Cemetery, Marlinton.
Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Jo Ann Lively
WESTON -- Jo Ann Lively, 69, of Weston died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, at home after a long illness.
She was a member of St. Paul Episcopal Church.
Surviving: husband, Dr. Charles T. Lively; brother, William Cotton of Charleston; sisters, Martha Gardner of Keystone Heights, Fla., Dorothy McDaniels of Salton Beach, Calif.; several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Episcopal Church with the Rev. Philip Houghton officiating. Burial will be in Machpelah Cemetery, Weston. There will be no visitation. The family suggests donations be sent to Lewis County Hospice.
Robert Manion
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Robert Manion, 79, of Clarksville died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, in Memorial Hospital, Clarksville.
He was a member of Parkview Baptist Church, Clarksville, a retired inspector with the Lear-Siegler Company, and was an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving: wife, Glade Bess Manion; daughter, Herma Mayes of Clarksville; sons, Roscoe Flanagan of Atlanta, Mich., Carl Flanagan of Crossville, Tenn., Kermit Flanagan of Apache Junction, Ariz.; sisters, Irene Cheatham of Hartsville, Tenn., Lydamae Knauer of Stockton, Ill.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Sunday at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, Rainelle, with the Rev. Daniel Legg officiating. Burial will be in End of the Trail Cemetery, Clintonville.
Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. An additional funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at McReynolds-Nave and Larson Funeral Home, Clarksville.
Jennie V. Morris
LOCKWOOD -- Jennie Violet Morris, 87, of Lockwood died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, in Summersville Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
She was a homemaker and attended Fairview Baptist Church, Lockwood.
Surviving: daughter, Alice Jane Lee of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; son, Rev. H. Dean Morris of Auburn, Ind.; brother, Omar Nichols of Lockwood; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Waters Funeral Home, Summersville. Burial will be in Walker Memorial Park, Summersville.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Carrie C. Pauley
RICHWOOD -- Carrie Cochran Pauley, 91, of Nicholas County Health Care Center, Richwood, died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in Nicholas County Health Care Center after a long illness.
She was a 40-year resident of Florida.
Surviving: daughter, Natalie Richmond of Melbourne Beach, Fla.; son, William Cochran of Melbourne Beach; brothers, Ralph Carte andThrush Carte; sister, Goldie Burmhal and Beatrice Ramsey; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Beach Funeral Home, Melbourne Beach, Fla. Burial will be in Melbourne Beach.
Friends may call from noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.
Donald Rimer
Donald Rimer, 51, of Charleston died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1997, in CAMC, General Division.
Bartlett-Burdette-Cox Funeral Home, Charleston, is in charge of arrangements.
Orval J. Sears
BIRCH RIVER -- Orval J. Sears, 65, of Birch River died Monday, Dec. 22, 1997, in Braxton County Health Care Center after a long illness.
He was a retired miner and timberman. He was a Protestant.
Surviving: companion, Dolly Harris of Birch River; sisters, Ella Elizabeth Cutlip of Sutton, Emogene Squires of East Liverpool, Ohio; brothers, Roy H. Sears of Birch River, Cecil Sears of South Bend, Ind.; several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Greene-Robertson Funeral Home, Sutton, with the Rev. Butch Collins officiating. Burial will be in Cox Cemetery, near Birch River.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Andy Starcher
CLAY -- Andy Starcher, 93, of Clay died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997, at home after a long illness.
He was a self-employed merchant, a former member of Clay County Board of Education, former director of Clay County Bank with many years' service, and served as Clay County commissioner for 27 years.
Surviving: wife, Ethel Starcher; daughter, Avis Morre of Clay; sisters, Madge Lamb of St. Albans, Gladys Dague of Orlando, Fla., Hilda Douglas of Westfield Center, Ohio; brothers, James Starcher and Shirley Starcher of Nebo, Corbert Starcer and Roscoe Starcher of Creston, Ohio, Dennis Starcer of North Ridgeville, Ohio; one granddaughter; four great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Carl Wilson Funeral Home, Clay, with the Rev. Darrell Mollohan officiating. Burial will be in Hardman Cemetery, Nebo.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.