Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
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Page 18 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, February 9-February 15, 2023 Susie Bostic Epley Susie Bostic Epley, age 69 of Bostic died Sunday, January 29, 2023. Susie was born April 9, 1953 in Rutherford County and was a daughter of the late Joe Bailey Bostic and Velma Sue Campbell Bostic. Susie was a baptized in the Sunshine United Methodist Church and after her marriage to her husband Jerry, she became a faith- ful member of Crestview Baptist Church. She was a graduate of East Rutherford High School. She worked for 21 years as a Day Care Director before going to work for Rutherford Life Services where she worked with special needs clients until retirement. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Joey Bostic. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Jerry Epley, her son, Dwayne Epley and wife Debbie Briscoe of Lake Lure, daughter, Melissa Epley Lyles and husband Eric of Rutherfordton, broth- er, Conley Bostic and wife Janice of Bostic, sisters, Jane Green and husband Buck and Kay Whittemore and husband Mike all of Bostic, two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren. The funeral was held February 1 at Crestview Baptist Church with Rev. Kevin Rohm and Rev. Matt Mills officiating. Memorials may be made to Crestview Baptist Church, 630 S. Church St., Forest City, NC 28043, or Carolina Foothills Eldercare, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. An online guest reg- istry is available at www. padgettking.com Lynn Shytle Melton Lynn Shytle Melton, 61, of the Chase Community passed away Friday, January 27, 2023. Born September 19, 1961, she was the daughter of the late Bobby and Joann Shytle. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. Lynn worked for 30 years in the health care system. Those left to carry on her legacy are husband Billy Melton Jr., son Matthew Melton of Savannah, GA, sister Penny Shytle Brown of Forest City, mother-in-law Evelyn Melton of the Chase community, one nephew, one great nephew and niece. Services were held January 31 at Bethany Baptist Church with Rev. Chris Fox officiating. Memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church WMU, 760 Bethany Church Rd, Forest City, NC 28043. An online guest reg- istry is available at www. padgettking.com Grady Franklin Sr. Grady Franklin Sr. passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. He was 101 years young. He was the son of Perry and Eve Franklin of Duncan's Creek, NC. In addition to his par- ents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Henry Franklin, Ruth Brooks, Calvin Franklin, Ruby Calton, and Tommy Franklin. He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Helen Sain Franklin; children, Grady Franklin Jr., Christine Franklin and husband Dale Green and Mark Franklin and wife Cathy Franklin; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren. He was a World War II veteran honorably dis- charged in 1946 with the rank of sergeant. He received training in agricul- ture as part of the GI Bill. He was foremost a farmer. With his wife, he founded and owned Grady Franklin Company. They later estab- lished G&H Farms. He con- tinued to farm and to provide farm supplies and spread fertilizer and lime for his cus- tomers into his 90s. He was cattleman of the year for Rutherford County, received the Woodman of the World Conservation Award twice, and was a Lifetime Honorary Chapter Farmer of the Chase High FFA. The Rutherford County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April 29, 2021, Grady Franklin Day in honor of his 100th Birthday. A funeral was held Feb. 1 at First Presbyterian Church, Forest City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 181, Forest City, NC 28043. An online guest reg- istry is available at www. padgettking.com Jeffery Robert Callahan Jeffery Robert Callahan, 37, passed away Saturday, January 07, 2023. He is preceded in death by his son, Levi Callahan; mother, Becky Ann Cook; father, Larry Callahan; maternal grandparents, Marie and Larry Ledford; paternal grandparents, John and Catherine Callahan. Jeffery leaves behind his daughter, Mackenzie C a l l a h a n ; b r o t h e r , Christopher McDaniel and wife Megan; sister, Pamela Callahan and husband Andrew Wilda; and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service was held at Temple of Victory Church on January 22. Memorial tributes may be made at www.rsmor- ganfsl.com. Robert Morgan Funeral and Cremation Service is serving the family. Edward A Gonzales Edward Andrew Gonzales, 47, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, January 30, 2023. A native of Chicago Heights, IL, he was a son of Linda Monteith and the late Gilbert Gonzales. In addi- tion to his father, he was preceded in death by his wife Brenda Gonzales and daughter Alicia Gonzales. In addition to his moth- er Linda and step father Ray Monteith, those left to cherish Edward's memories are his brothers, Ronnie Gonzales and wife Susan of Forest City, Wayne Brooks and wife Charlotte of Myrtle Beach, Rodney Deal of Spindale; sister Jennifer Hodge and husband Curtis of Forest City; and numer- ous nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held February 4 at Alexander Missionary Methodist Church. Online condolences at www.crowemortuary.com Mary Fenstermacher Mary Joanna Myers Fenstermacher, 68, born in New York, passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023. She is predeceased by her spouse, Raymond Fenstemacher; parents, Edison Myers and Betty Keeney Myers; brother, William Wilson. Mary leaves behind to cherish her memories her daughter, Tanya Hughes; two grandchildren, broth- ers, Fred Myers and Steve Myers; sisters, Hope Myers and Tina Knapp, numerous nieces and nephews. She worked in Healthcare and loved help- ing others. No Services are planned at this time but may be announced at a later date. Memorial tributes may be made at www.rsmor- ganfsl.com. Robert Morgan Funeral and Cremation Service is serving the family. Virginia Hemphill Virginia Hudgins Hemphill, 95, of Forest City, NC, died Sunday, January 29, 2023. Born in Spindale, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Hudgins and Ola Mae Cole Hudgins and widow of the late Jim Hemphill. Virginia worked for 25 years as office manager for Coca Cola Bottling Company in Forest City and later along- side her husband at their business, Vassey & Hemphill Jewelry in Spindale. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Forest City. Survivors include her daughter, Susan Simpson of Forest City, five grand- children, six great grand- children, one nephew, and son-in-law, Jim Clement. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Donna Clement and a broth- er Arthur Hudgins. Funeral services were held February 3 in Padgett & King Chapel with Rev. Dr. Diane Nelson officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Online condolenc- es can be made at www. padgettking.com Carolyn Virginia Topper Carolyn Virginia Peeler Topper, 82, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2023. She is predeceased by her spouse, Roger Topper; parents, Grady and Novella Peeler. Carolyn leaves behind to cherish her memories her son, Brian Topper and wife, Nina; daughter, Denise Beheler and husband, Sidney; son, Kiley Topper; son, Gregory Topper; eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, sister, Brenda Flack. Private services are planned for the family at a future date. Memorial tributes may be made at www.rsmor- ganfsl.com. Robert Morgan Funeral and Cremation Service 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 ©Community First Media Community First Media Have you ever been mad at God? Perhaps it was a reaction to an unanswered prayer or a sudden tragedy. The truth is that we all at some time or another have been angry with God. In our brokenness and with an impulsive spirit we have lashed out. When we are dealing with the reality of loss, we question, why he doesn't intervene or what are his purposes in allowing us to hurt? Lest we think we are the only ones, a look at the Bible will reveal that there have been quite a number of his saints who have questioned the purposes of the Almighty. When we are hurting, often our humanity takes over, and we are guilty of accusing him of being uncaring. In the midst of our disenchantment, the fi rst thing we need to remember is that he is not offended at our anger. He knows our limitations and he is more that capable of handling our accusations. We must be willing to admit that we don't have the mind of God. The ability to comprehend the why of a human tragedy is beyond our fi nite understanding. We must acknowledge that he alone is God. Perhaps the most benefi cial admission is that God does love and care for his children. In scripture, he reminds us of this over and over. No where in his word does he promise that he is going to keep us from every heartache and tragedy. We live in a cursed world where trouble and sickness are undeniable facts. He is the God of all grace and in the midst of life's hardness we can lean on him to sustain us. Be assured, that we are never forsaken. We must realize that this present world is only a proving ground. He has prepared a wonderful place for all those who profess him as Lord and Savior. 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