Obituaries

May 7, 2023

Retha Hurley Badger Salamanchuk, age 100 of Jefferson, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Margate Health and Rehab. She was born on March 27, 1923 in Tuckerdale in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late William Wiley Hurley and Birdie Lou Starling Hurley. In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her...

May 5, 2023

Frank Rodney White, age 62 of Creston passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born on March 30, 1961 in Baltimore Maryland to Willard and Norma Price White. Frank was a self-taught banjo player and band member of the Jest Country Band. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. After graduation...

May 4, 2023

JoAnn Jordan Hash age 79 of Jefferson, passed away on Thursday, May 4th, 2023 at Ashe Memorial Hospital.  Mrs. Hash was born August 27, 1943 in Ashe County to the late Grady and Lessie Parsons Jordan.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Edward Hash, son, Chadrick Hash, brothers, Wayne, Doyle and...

May 3, 2023

Joseph Emory Gambill, age 65 of Graham, North Carolina passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at UNC Medical Center Chapel Hill. He was born on July 6, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois to Emory Parks and Betty Jean Miller Gambill.  Mr. Gambill was preceded in death by his father, paternal grandparents, Lou and Lois Gambill, maternal grandparents, Lon and...

May 1, 2023

Virginia Ann West Bower passed away peacefully on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at High Point Medical Center. She was born on March 30, 1948 in Ashe County, NC to the late George Franklin West and Sarah Edna Odell Cearley.

Mrs. Bower is survived by her son, Jason Bower (Waynette) of Lenoir, brother, Randall West (Lib) of Jefferson,...

Apr 30, 2023

Doris Walters Edwards, age 83 of West Jefferson, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Margate Health and Rehab.  Mrs. Edwards was born on June 19, 1939 in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Arvil Odell and Stella Mae Goodman Walters.  In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Lindsay Edwards,...

Apr 29, 2023

Larry Elbert Greer age 74 of West Jefferson passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at his home. He was born on Thursday, November 11, 1948 to the late Clarence Elbert and Elwanda McMillan Greer. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Norris Greer and sister, Linda Barker. Larry and his wife Ginger...

Apr 28, 2023

Cody Nathaniel Keen age 29 of Manchester, TN formerly of Ashe County passed away on Friday. Mr. Keen was born in Watauga County February 24, 1994 to Steve and Amy Keen Roark. He was preceded in death by his father, Steve Roark, grandparents, Betty and Paul Roark, great-grandparents, Joe and Deladess Keen, and great-grandfather, James Harris.

Cody...

Apr 20, 2023

Kenneth Cecil Johnson, better known as Kenny, age 40 of Lansing, passed away, Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Johnson City Medical Center.  Kenny was born August 5, 1982 in VA to Paul and Joyce Roberts Johnson.  He was preceded in death by his father and aunt, Cecil Rose.  He enjoyed fishing, kayaking, playing video games, hiking and being outdoors....

Apr 18, 2023

Shane Eugene Baldwin age 50 was embraced with his wife, when he won his battle with pulmonary fibrosis on April 18, 2023.

He is preceded in death by his dad, John Baldwin, his paternal and maternal grandparents, 13 aunts and uncles and his father-in-law, Tommy Stidhams.

Shane is survived by his mother, Shirley Baldwin, his...

Apr 17, 2023

Charlie Lee Pugh, age 62 of Crumpler, passed away, Monday, April 17, 2023.  Charlie was born on May 22, 1960 in Ashe County to the late Cecil Dean Pugh and Marie Bishop Pugh. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Cecil Dean Pugh Jr., and an infant sister. Charlie enjoyed woodworking and was proud to have...

Apr 16, 2023

Iris Carpenter Morphew, age 99 of West Jefferson, NC passed away April 16, 2023.  Iris was born May 15, 1923 in Wellington, OH, the youngest of the 8 children of Mert L. and Iris Carpenter.  She graduated from Wellington High School where she was a member of the band’s percussion section and attended Milwaukee Downer College.  In Wellington, friends...

Apr 15, 2023

Wayne Baldwin was blessed with 78 earthly years and a family who loved him.  He was born on February 15, 1945 to Ed and Nell Baldwin.  On April 15, 2023 after a few years of declining health, Wayne moved to his eternal home.

Wayne grew up in Ashe County with eight brothers and sisters.  They were always...

Apr 15, 2023

Lorraine S. Hurley went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 15, 2023. She was born on June 22, 1941.  Lorraine is preceded in death by her Mother and Father, Lee and Sarah Stidhams, her husband Jack Hurley, and her brother Gaither Stidhams. She is survived by her two sons, Greg Hurley and wife Wendy, Joseph...

Apr 3, 2023

Janine Hagn Howard, 60, passed away on April 3, 2023, in Davenport, FL. She was born March 18, 1963, in Liverpool, NY, to the late, Jack and Thea Howard. As a child, she grew up in upstate New York but later relocated with her parents to the Pittsburgh area. After high school she moved to Florida and graduated college....

Apr 2, 2023

Mr. Lacy Elwood Kilby, age 74 of Millers Creek passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist-Wilkes Medical Center.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Lacy was born August 16, 1948 in Grayson County, VA to Woodrow and Ruby Owen Kilby.

In addition to...

Mar 30, 2023

Betty Ruth Hart Richardson, age 84 passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Margate Health and Rehab in Jefferson, NC. Mrs. Richardson was born August 18, 1938 in Lansing, NC to Luke Lilburn and Anna Mary Wiles Hart. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Robert Glenn Richardson, two brothers, Dale Hart and Quinton Hart...

Mar 28, 2023

Joan Stephens Jones, age 89 of Creston, passed away on March 28, 2023 at Margate Health and Rehab.  Mrs. Jones was born on May 29, 1933 in Creston, North Carolina.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Jones, parents, Joseph Spencer and Eula Jackson Stephens, one son, James Roy Jones, one grandson, Eric Presnell, and her siblings,...

Mar 25, 2023

Peggy Jean Barnes Testerman, age 79 of Warrensville, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Watauga Medical Center.  Mrs. Testerman was born on August 15, 1943 in Lenoir, North Carolina.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruthie Barnes, one son, Tracy Testerman and one half-brother, Ralph Gragg.

Peggy enjoyed quilting, sewing, listening to gospel...

Mar 19, 2023

Ronald Mark Bare, better known as Ronnie, age 64 of Moravian Falls passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at The Dunmore Plantation Assisted Living in Dobson, North Carolina.  Mr. Bare was born on May 1, 1958 in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Roland Fields and Dorothy Lena Miller Bare.  In addition to his parents Ronnie was...