Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
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Page 12 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, September 2-September 8, 2021 Michael Keever Michael Keever, age 52, of Grays Creek, passed away August 21, 2021. He was the son of Claude Keever & Geneva Radford Keever, & a native of Rutherford County. Michael was a graduate of Chase High School. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church. Michael is survived by, 2 uncles, George Keever, & wife Judy, of Rutherfordton, Steve Keever, & wife Donna, of Rutherfordton, 4 aunts, Vivian Pierce, & husband Jackie, of Wilson, Lola Harvey of Wellford, SC, Violet Radford, of Rutherfordton, & Joye Lawrence & husband Joe of Valley Falls, SC. The funeral was held August 25, 2021 at Gray's Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Willis officiating. Georganna Caroline Blair Georganna Caroline Blair "Jana", age 92 passed away August 22, 2021. Left to cherish her mem- ory are daughter, Cynthia Dauber; grandson, Robert Dauber; brother, Joseph Vasey. She was preceded in death by parents George Benjamin Vasey, Jr. & Elizabeth Smith Vasey & sister, Jean Marsden. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. She was laid to rest at Round Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Union Mills. Leroy Burch Leroy Burch age 93 of Rutherfordton, NC passed away August 22, 2021. He is preceded in death by his wife Joanne Minga Patterson Burch. He was raised in Kentucky, son of the late John G. Matthew Burch & Bertha Gabbard. He had 4 brothers & 1 sister. He was an aero- space engineer & a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He has a large poster- ity, son Michael Allen Burch & Fred Samuel Patterson, daughters Patricia Carol Taylor & Keith Leigh Dowden, 15 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren & 2 great great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held August 26, 2021 at Western Carolina Veterans Cemetery. Adam Green Adam Richard Franklin Green, age 47, husband of Sarah Morris Green of Forest City passed away August 24, 2021. Adam was a native of Rutherford County, the son of Allan Nelson Green & the late Linda Faye Williams Green & was employed by AmCor. In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by chil- dren Kyleigh & Alize Green, brothers Michael & Wesley Green & a sister Jennifer Hudson. Services were private. Robert Hoppes Robert Avery Hoppes, age 79 of Bostic, died August 23, 2021. Robert was born December 18, 1941, in Rutherford County & was a son of the late Burlin & Fannie Marshall Hoppes. He was a graduate of Ellenboro High School. In addition to his par- ents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister Murriel Hoppes & brother Grady Hoppes. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Diane Porter Hoppes, daughters, Lora Hoppe Murray & hus- band Philip of Ellenboro, Lynn Hoppes Murray of Bostic, Melinda Hoppes Bishop & husband Bo of Rutherfordton, & Crystal Hoppes Hamby & husband Travis of Gilkey, brothers, Roy Hoppes a& wife Carolyn, & Earl Hoppes & wife Eunice all of Bostic, his grandchildren, Katie McFarland, Leslie Carpenter & husband Leon, Lauren Boyd & husband Aaron, Austin Cole, Emily Yount & husband Tyler, Braydin Hamby & 3 great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held privately at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. Betty Weaver Rhinehardt B e t t y W e a v e r Rhinehardt, 87, of Union Mills, passed away August 17, 2021. A native of Rutherford County, she was the daugh- ter of the late A.F. "Pete" & Maggie Sweatt Weaver. Left to cherish her mem- ory is her husband of 58 years, Howard Rhinehardt. No services will be held. Memorials may be made to Thermal City Methodist Church, 280 Crutchfield Rd, Union Mills, NC 28167. Peggy Joanne Loper Peggy Joanne Loper, age 80, of Spindale, passed away August 19, 2021. Peggy was born June 26, 1941 in Chase City, Virginia to the late R.E. Thomas and Ada Lillian Morris Thomas. She worked as a cloth inspector for Mastercraft Industries for many years and in the Wal- Mart Deli for several years. Peggy served as a volunteer at the Rutherford County Senior Center and attended the Church of the Brethren. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Charles Loper; son, Robin E. Loper, brother, Melvin Morris Thomas; sis- ter, Laura Gene Lloyd and a grandchild, Michelle Loper. Those left to cher- ish her memory include a son, Charles Robert Loper II (Sonia) of Boonville, Mississippi; daughter, Bobbie Jo Morris (Kenny) of Forest City; sister, Sandra Hutchins (Coy) of Rutherfordton, 8 grandchil- dren, 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. A private family gather- ing will be conducted on a later date. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family. Jeffrey Vincent Washington J e f f r e y V i n c e n t Washington "Jeff", age 60, passed away August 24, 2021. A native of Rutherford County North Carolina, Jeff was a graduate of East Rutherford High School, attended Furman University and was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. His career as a one-on-one assistant spanned over a decade in the field of mental healthcare. He is survived by his wife Sonya Jean Lawrence Washington; son, Irvin Franklin Washington; daugh- ters, Brianne Washington and Bianca Washington; 2 grandchildren, aunt, Beatrice Washington; a number of other relatives and friends. A private service will be held by the family. Ronald N. Simpson Ronald N. Simpson, age 67 of Rutherfordton, died August 21, 2021. Ronald was born January 24, 1954, in Rutherford County and was a son of the late Robert B. and Ellen Bell Simpson. He worked for many years as a transport director in the trucking industry and fol- lowing retirement, he began working for the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department in the detention center where he worked until recently. Ronald was a mem- ber of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church and the Western Star Masonic Lodge, No. 91 in Rutherfordton. Survivors include his wife, Cindy H. Simpson of the home, daughter, Caroline Simpson and fiancée, Blake Queen, brother, Donald Ray Simpson and wife Barbara of Rutherfordton, sister, Wanda Simpson Saine and husband Wayne of Lincoln County & a number of niec- es and nephews, great-niec- es, and great-nephews as well as cousins. Ronald was buried in a private committal service in the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Keyes Pendleton. The family request memorials be made to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, PO Box 880, Forest City, NC 28043. Carl Pruett, Jr. Carl Pruett, Jr., age 90, of Rutherfordton, passed away August 24, 2021. Carl was born January 9, 1931 in Rutherford County to the late Carmel Pruett & Mattie Hill Pruett. He served his country hon- orably in the US Army during the Korean & Vietnam Wars. Carl attained the rank of Master Sergeant & retired after 22 years. He attend- ed Isothermal Community College. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Spindale. In addition to his par- ents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Dot Bridges, Bobby Pruett, Lois Doggett, Charlie Pruett, Janice Brown, Billy Pruett & a son-in-law, Lars Peterson. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 70 years, Lina Pruett; daughters, Doris Vroman (Gordon) of Vista, California & Carol Susan Peterson of Newton, New Jersey; broth- er, Ray Pruett of Forest City; 4 grandchildren, & 3 great-grandchildren. The funeral was held August 28, 2021 at Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Rev. Ernie Cole offici- ating. Interment followed in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors by Rutherford County Honor Guard. Memorial donations requested to veterans char- ity, Gary Sinise Foundation, www.garysinisefoundation. org Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family. Rutherford Weekly offers the printing of obituaries in our paper as a community service and free of charge for Rutherford County residents and the immediate area. The obituary may include a picture if the image is of print quality. We request that the obituary is limited to 150 words and we will edit the obituaries due to space. The obituary will include preceded family members, surviving family members, funeral service information, memorials, and the name of the funeral home serving the family. The obituaries will not include names of grandchildren, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, or pets. We only accept obituaries from licensed funeral homes. The deadline is Monday at 10AM prior to Thursdays publication. Please have your funeral home send us your loved ones' obituaries to events@rutherfordweekly.com Obituaries Obituaries Obituaries Obituaries Points To Ponder Riverhill MOnument ©Community First Media Community First Media Fear is defi ned as, "an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat." During these challenging times, it is easy to be fearful. 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