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Kenneth Ray “Bo” Cline, 54, of Panther, WV passed away on Wednesday July 13, 2011
at the Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, WV. He was born October 29, 1956 in Welch, WV a
son of the late Ance Gabe and Laura Alice Blankenship Cline. Also preceding him in death
were two sisters Conniezene Cline and Sharon Faye Lusk and one niece Debbie Cline.
Survivors include a daughter Desiree Nichole Steele and husband Randy of Peterstown,
WV; a son Casey Dakota Vernatter of Mohawk, WV; a grandson Randy “Jay” Steele of
Peterstown, WV; a granddaughter Kalee Brooke Steele of Peterstown, WV; two sisters
Wilma Smith Coleman and husband Roy of Bassett, VA and Margie Tina Lee and husband
Mike of Bassett, VA; four brothers Ance Philip “Dino” Cline and wife Tracy of Bassett, VA,
Edmond Gary Cline and wife Diane of Bassett, VA, Randal “Football” Stanley Cline of
Bassett, VA and Aaron Christopher “Chris” Cline of Panther, WV; mother of his daughter
Elizabeth “Libby” McCoy of Gary, WV; mother of his son Elaine Robinette of Iaeger, WV;
Leslie Justice of Trace Fork, WV who was like a father to him; and a host of other loving
family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday July 16, 2011 at Little
Zion Old Regular Baptist Church Panther, WV with the Ministers John R. Justice, Arthur
Short, Fred Bailey and Zeb Justice officiating. He will be laid to rest in Blankenship
cemetery, Panther, WV. Friends may gather with the family after 6:00 PM at the church
on Friday July 15, 2011. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral
Home, Lynco, WV.
Dora Frances “Frankie” Vance Short, 70, of Spotsylvania, formerly of Wyoming
County, WV, passed away on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at Mary Washington Hospital after
having won a 12 year battle against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Her family was at
her side. Frances (Frankie as many of her friends knew her) was born on April 1, 1941 in
Baileysville, WV, the daughter of the late Troy Greenway and Virginia Mae Craft Vance.
She often spoke fondly of how the difficulties of growing up in that era at Cub Creek WV
were offset by the love and support of her sisters, brothers and nieces that were as
sisters to her. The foundation of her belief in the importance of family was based on their
support. She was baptized at the Oceana First Church of God and is a friend of the Clear
Fork Independent Church of God, in WV. She was an avid supporter of the Women in the
Military Memorial in Washington DC and to the American Indian Museum in Washington
DC. Frances spent her time on various bowling leagues over the years but more recently
in Fredericksburg where she and her friends enjoyed bowling. She enjoyed it for decades
and became quite skilled at, having placed in tournaments regularly. Frances also began
painting in the early 80’s as a creative outlet and evolved from student to artist over the
last thirty years of her life. Her paintings and other art were personal endeavors that she
rarely showed off. She has left behind a vast collection, however, for those of us for
whom she cared and cared for her. Other artistic endeavors that she enjoyed include
sewing, ceramics, gardening, cross-stitching and cooking for her family. Most importantly
to her, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother whose love, leadership and
impact will be felt for generations to come. She loved her family above all else and
dedicated her life to their well being. Mrs. Short is survived by her husband, Chuck, of
over 50 years. Other survivors are her children and spouses; Bradley and Joann Short of
Fredericksburg, Alicia and Hamid Beladi-Mosavi of Bebehan, Iran, Kathleen Short of
Blacksburg VA, and Craig and Erica Short of Buena Vista VA; three brothers and their
wives; Oakey and Mildred Vance of Orange, Riley and Joyce Vance of Baileysville, WV
and Clarence “Shorty” Vance of Baileysville, WV; two sisters and husbands; Grace
Stewart of Richmond, WV, and Geraldine and Gene New, of Brenton, WV. Frances also
has 12 grandchildren: Charles, Shabnam, Hamid, Farid, Omid and Navid Belad-Mosavi,
Michael and Wesley Blackburn, Nicolas Strasser, Sidney, Casey and Addison Short; five
great-grandchildren; Nathan, Ethan, Emily, Cadence and Cody Blackburn and a host of
nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her
sister, Laura Lester and brothers Henry, Roby and Anderson Vance. The family received
friends 1:00 -4:00 pm Sunday July 17, 2011 at Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Spotsylvania
VA. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 pm Monday July 18, 2011 at the Clear
Fork Independent Church of God with Pastor Hannibal Blankenship, Jr. officiating.
Frankie will be laid to rest the Vern and Mary Short Family cemetery, Clear fork, WV.
Friends may gather with the family from 1:00 PM until service time at the church on
Monday July 18, 2011. The family is being served by the Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV and the Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Spotsylvania, VA.
Ernest “Pepper” Thomas, Jr., 53, of Kistler, WV went home July 17, 2011 at Logan
Regional Medical Center following a short illness. He was born October 7, 1957 in Man,
WV a son of the late Ernest and Ester Opal Osborne Thomas, Sr. Also preceding him in
death his wife Ernestine Bailey Thomas; infant granddaughter Isabella Rose Thomas and
brother James Thomas. Survivors include his daughter Tina Michelle Thomas Harvey and
husband Bucky Don of Cyclone, WV; a son Adam Thomas and wife Jamie Marie of
Crouches Farm, WV; four grandchildren Dillon Harvey, Makayla Harvey, Emily Thomas and
Kiristen Thomas; four sisters Deloris “Lois” Goodwin of Seth, WV, Barbara Bailey and
husband Warren Jay of Curtis, WV, Vickie Toler of Robinette, WV and Lucille Bailey and
husband Jason of Accoville, WV; a brother Danny Thomas and wife Gretta of Curtis, WV; a
uncle Ernest Osborne and wife Ilene of Greenwood, WV and a host of other loving family
and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday July 20, 2011 in the
Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, with the Bro. Merle Walls officiating.
He will be laid to rest in Brown cemetery, Cyclone, WV. Friends may gather with the
family from 6-8:00 on Tuesday July 19, 2011 at the funeral home. The family is being served
by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Eileen Lester Blankenship, 80, of Clear Fork, WV, passed away July 28, 2011 in
Wyoming Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, New Richmond, WV. She was born May 13,
1931 in Baileysville, WV, a daughter of the late Frank and Josie Morgan Lester of Indian
Creek, WV. Mrs. Blankenship was a homemaker and a caregiver to many family members.
She also worked as a cook at Elk Lick Grade School and delivered mail for several years.
Her loving husband of over 40 years, Tom Blankenship also preceded her in death, along
with a sister Helen Green, a brother Bobby Lester and two infant children. Survivors include
three children: two sons Ronald Blankenship and wife Carolyn of Mechanicsville, MD and
Rick L. Blankenship of Clear Fork, WV and a daughter Kathy Cook and husband Rodney of
Lynco, WV; six grandchildren Mishelle Farrell of MD, David Scott Blankenship and wife Lee
of MD, Cindy Mullins and husband Randy of VA, Bridgett Walker and husband Brian of
Pineville, Becky Pugalee and husband Lucas of Beckley and Kyle Cook and girl friend
Candace Brown of Clear Fork; the wonderful blessing of 14 great grandchildren with one
more great grandchild on the way; three sisters Lonie “Tootsie” Butler, Hazel Hurley and
Gracie Lester; three brothers Sonny Lester, Ernie Lester and Stacy Lester; and a host of
wonderful and loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held at noon Monday
August 1, 2011 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV with her son
Pastor Ron Blankenship officiating. She will be laid to rest in Palm Memorial Gardens,
Matheny, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 10:00 AM until time of service on
Monday. Pallbearers will be grandsons, great grandsons, grandsons-in-law, and her son-in-
law. The family would like to send special thanks to the nurses, CNA’s, and all the Staff at
Wyoming Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The family is being served by the Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Jackie Dean Allen, 53, of Ballard, WV passed away on Saturday July 30, 2011 at his
home. He was born June 16, 1958 in Mullens, WV, a son of Mandy Jane Tilley Allen of
Ravencliff, WV and the late Claud Preston Allen. He was a disabled coal miner, a member
of the UMWA and attended Rhema Ministries and many other area churches. He loved
fishing, being outdoors and spending time with his granddaughter. Survivors include a
daughter Ashley Renee Allen of Ballard, WV; a son Jason Tilley of Sabine, WV; a
granddaughter Cameran J. Tilley of Sabine, WV; four sisters Betty Bowman, Nancy Allen,
Doris Allen and Donna Allen all of Ravencliff, WV; four brothers Dennis (Susan) Allen of
McGraws, WV, Darrell “Jake” (Tammy) Allen of Glen Fork, WV, Claude Allen, Jr. and
Randell Allen both of Ravencliff, WV and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral
services will be held at noon Thursday August 4, 2011 in the Chapel of Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, with Pastor Ernest Francis officiating. He will be laid to rest in
Pretty Ridge cemetery, Saulsville, WV. Friends may gather with the family from 6 - 9:
00PM on Wednesday August 3, 2011 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be nephews and
friends. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Janice Sue Hite Fields, 63, of Kopperston, WV passed away on Saturday August 6,
2011 at her home. She was born November 28, 1947 in Williamson, WV a daughter of the
late Rev. James Andrew Garfield and Norma Mae Salyers Hite, Jr.. Also preceding her in
death was her husband Earl Lee Fields; mother in law Pauline Wolford Fields and father in
law Virgil Hufford Fields. Survivors include two daughters Donna Sue Hite of Kopperston,
WV and Jessica Earlene Fields and companion Daniel Aguilar of Federalway, Washington;
a sister Judy (Jerry) Sammons of Skin Fork, WV; a brother Jimmie (Teresa) Hite of
Pineville, WV; brother in law Danny (Kim) Fields of Phelps, KY; a niece Angell (Ryan)
Stone; four nephews Eric (Kelly) Hite, Wesley (Marina) Sammons, Neil (Tonya) Sammons
and Tyler Fields and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held
at 1:00 PM Sunday August 14, 2011 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home,
Lynco, with Silas Mullins, Jr. officiating. She will be laid to rest in Fields Family
cemetery, Phelps. KY. Friends may gather with the family from 11:00 AM until service
time at the funeral home. The family is being served by the Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Sylvia Mae Lester Cook, 68, of Sophia, WV passed away on Thursday at Beckley
Appalachian Regional Hospital. She was born March 27, 1943 in Bud, WV a daughter of
the late Dona and Elizabeth Belcher Lester. She was a loving mother and a homemaker.
Her husband Kyle Delano Cook, Sr. also preceded her in death along with two daughters
Donna Kylene Cook and Angela Michele Cook. Survivors include her son Kyle Delano
(Michele) Cook, Jr. of Sophia, WV; nine grandchildren Kyle D. Cook, III, Kevin Earl Cook,
Mark Delano Hunt, Aaron Kyle Hunt, Kasey Marie Grier, Alicia Diana Carter, Lonnie
Carter, Scott Carter and John Stone; five great grandchildren; a sister Rita (Steve) Laden
of Reno, NV; three brothers Patton (Joann) Lester of Bud, WV, Paul (Alice) Lester of
MacArthur, WV and Ray Lester of Garwood, WV; and a host of other loving family and
friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM on Tuesday August 16, 2011 at the
Cornerstone Freewill Baptist Church, MacArthur, WV with Re. Eugene Miller
officiating. Sylvia will be laid to rest in the Hickory Ridge cemetery, Bud, WV. Friends
may call from 1:30 PM until service time at the church. Family and friends will serve as
pallbearers. The family is being served by the Stafford Family
Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
Randall Wayne “Randy” Church, 43, of Matheny, WV passed away on Saturday August
13, 2011 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born October 6, 1967
in Jacksonville, NC a son of Dennis Ray Church and Barbara Burchett Church. He was a
1986 graduate of Pineville High School and a welder employed by Antler Welding. His
grandparents Leonard and Margaret Burchett of Taniger, IN and Lonnie and Irene Church
of Keyrock, WV preceded him in death along with a sister Angela Kay Spears. Survivors
include his loving parents Dennis Ray Church and Barbara Burchett Church of Matheny,
WV; a sister Sherry Lynn Meade of Matheny, WV; a brother Dennis Ray Church, Jr. of
Taniger, IN; two sons Alex and Aaron Church of Beckley, WV; a grandson Trevor Dale
Andrew Church; and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held
at 7:00 PM Wednesday August 17, 2011 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral
Home, Lynco with Pastor Johnny Toler officiating. In keeping with Randy’s wishes he will
be cremated. Friends may gather with the family from 6:00 PM until service time at the
funeral home. The family is being served by the Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV.
