Rutherford Weekly

Page 24 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, July 9-July 15, 2015 BLANCH VERNELL GOSEY Blanch Vernell Gosey, age 86, of Henrietta, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2015. Born June 25, 1929 in Rutherford County, she was a daughter of the late Claude Lowery & Gracie McGinnis Lowery & the widow of the late Johnny Glen Gosey, Sr. She worked for Reeves Brothers Mills most of her life & was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Henrietta. She enjoyed being a homemak- er & taking care of her family. In addition to her par- ents & husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Glen Gosey & brother, Samuel Lowery. Survivors include her daughter, Sheila Glover of Henrietta; 3 grand- children, Steven Keeter & wife, Haley also of Henrietta, Chris Keeter & wife, Ronna of Statesville, Sabrina Nicole Camp & husband, Scott of Macon, Georgia; 3 great-grand- children, Joshua Keeter, Morgan Keeter, Ansley Camp &sister-in-law, Flora Lowery of Overland Park, Kansas. She is also sur- vived by one niece, Teresa Young of Myrtle Beach and nephew, Carl Lowery of Overland Park & several great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted at the First Baptist Church of Henrietta with Reverend Bob Philbeck & Reverend John Godfrey officiat- ing. Interment followed in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. KIM H. WALKER Kim H. Walker, age 59, of Cliffside, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2015. Born March 15, 1956 in Gaston County she was the daughter of the late Donald Hopper & Barbara Long. She was a graduate of Ashbrook High School, class of 1974 & worked as a medical transcription- ist for 40 years. Kim was an avid reader & enjoyed going to the beach. Her life was wrapped around her family & delighted in attending special events such as ballgames & recitals. She was of the Methodist faith. Kim will be remembered as an easy going, strong & compas- sionate person. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her step-mother, Norma Hopper. Survivors include her husband of 34 years, Freddie Walker; step-fa- ther, Curt Long of Gastonia; 3 daughters, Tabitha Arrowood, Leslie Francis & husband, T.J., Pamela Henson & husband, Travis all of Ellenboro; one son, Kevin Walker & wife, Kasey of Tampa, FL; brother, Michael Hopper & wife, Rhonda of Virginia. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Emma Langley, Hayden Francis, Preston Henson, Kaity-Bug Francis, Kendall Walker, Kellen Henson & a host of nieces and nephews. A memorial service was conducted at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Ricky Poteat officiating. A pri- vate inurnment will take place at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. IVAN ROGER HUNT Ivan Roger Hunt, age 99, of Rutherfordton, passed away Monday, June 29, 2015. Born February 25, 1916 in Saugatuck, Michigan, he was a son of the Donald Carlton Hunt, Sr. and Gilla Harris Hunt. During his full and blessed life, he worked for several com- panies which included the Broadview Academy of Broadview, IL, Pacific Press Publishing Co. of Brookfield, IL and later retired from Loma Linda Foods of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Ivan was an active mem- ber of the Forest City First Seventh-day Adventist Church and enjoyed min- istering to others. He also was a student of astronomy and an avid bird watcher and above all loved spend- ing time with his family. In addition to his par- ents, he was preceded in death by his wife of seven- ty years, Lola Beth Hunt; two sisters, Gwendolyn Van Blaricum and Anita Hendricks. Survivors include a son, Don Hunt and wife, Katye of Chattanooga, TN; two daughters, Allene Wiesner and husband, Charlie of Rutherfordton and Carole Chapman and husband, Harlo of Sheridan, IL; one brother, Donald Carlton Hunt, Jr. of Rossville, GA; three sisters, Geneva Frysinger of San Ramon, CA, Winona Alder of Adkins, TX and Glennavier Stein of Fullerton, CA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at the Forest City First Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Ezra Mendinghall officiating. Interment fol- lowed at the Lambs Fold Farm Cemetery in Polk County. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. RICHARD BROWER Richard Ernest Brower, 78, of Forest City, passed away Monday, June 29, 2015. A native of Anson County, he was the son of the late Clem George and Ila Mae Watson Brower. He was a US Navy vet- eran, retired from First Citizens and BB&T, and attended Crestview Baptist Church. Left to cherish his mem- ory is his wife, Peggy Nance Brower of the home; sons Darren and Debbie Brower of Harris, Garren and Tracy Brower of Gaffney, SC, Mark and Cynthia Brower of Mooresboro; daugh- ter Allison and Howard Henson of Chesnee, SC; grandchildren April Brown, Chelsea Lovelace, Garren Brower Jr., Jeremy Brower, Jessica Phillips, Justin Brower, Macy Brower, Jay Brower, Cassie Ledbetter, Hayley Brower, Courtney West, Morgan Atchley, Colin Henson; thirteen great grandchildren; broth- er Fred Wilbert and Shirley Brower of Charlotte. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son in law Frankie Atchley, and eight brothers and sis- ters. Funeral services were held at Crestview Baptist Church with Rev. Kevin Rohm officiating. Interment followed in Eternal Hills with honors accorded by the Rutherford County Veterans Honor Guard. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the Brower fam- ily. SHIRLEY FREEMAN ELTON Shirley Freeman Elton, age 80, of Forest City, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at her home. Shirley was born in Chucky, TN and was the daughter of the late Farris and Ada Freeman. She grew up in Bostic, attended Bostic School and Cool Springs High School. After her husband, Lester Elton retired from the Navy, she returned with her fam- ily to Rutherford County. She attended Isothermal Community College and graduated from Gardner Webb with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984. Shirley worked in the Mental Health field as a licensed Social Worker for 25 years. During that time she was one of the pioneers in starting the Domestic Violence pro- gram in Rutherford County and served as president for one year and counselor for two years. She attend- ed Spindale Presbyterian Church for years and Tri City Baptist Church of Forest City. Shirley is survived by her children, Robert and Luann Wilkins of Lewisville, NC, Cindy and Larry Thompson of Chesapeake, VA, Jack and Connie Wilkins of Virginia Beach, VA, Kim Wilkins of Forest City, Pam and Chris Radford of Forest City, Lester "Tiger Elton and Dana of Forest City; eigh- teen grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; three nieces and five nephews. She will be greatly missed by family, friends, and the community. Funeral services were held at Crowe's Mortuary with Rev. James Hollingsworth officiating. Interment was held in Cool Springs cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tri City Baptist Church, Forest City, NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the Elton family. BILLIE H. HUNTLEY Billie Hodge Huntley, of Rutherfordton, NC and Charlottesville, VA, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2015. Billie was born March 21, 1931 in Rutherfordton, Billie was the only child of J. C. Hodge and Ella Wright Hodge. She was raised in Rutherfordton, attending school and graduating from dear old Central High. She then graduated from Mars Hill College and Wake Forest College, where she majored in music. After marrying Dan A. Harrington, she brief- ly lived in Greensboro, NC, where her children were born. She returned home to Rutherfordton, where she and Dan raised their children. She was very active in her children's lives, helping out with Little League baseball, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, music les- sons, chaperoning trips, etc. After marrying Bill Huntley, she moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where she enjoyed the many cultural attrac- tions that were available, even equestrian lessons. There she was able to study piano again under the auspices of world-re- nowned teacher. Upon Bill's retirement from the Library of Congress, they returned to Rutherfordton. Billie was a piano teach- er for much of her adult life. She was an excel- lent card player, and very much enjoyed her bridge games, and the many friends with whom she played. She loved being outdoors, going to the beach and getting as tan as possible. In later years she enjoyed her riding lawn mower, duck- ing branches and never minding the sticks and rocks that might get in the way. She was a pet lover, particularly her dogs, from Roney, when she was a little girl, to Sam, the last in a long line of faithful companions. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church, where she played piano and taught Sunday School. She is survived by her son, Dan A. Harrington, Jr. (Elinor Moseley) of Pawleys Island, SC and her daughter, Debra DeHaven (Conrad) of Charlottesville, VA, and her faithful cocker span- iel, Sam. She was prede- ceased by her husband, William R. Huntley. A memorial ser- vice was held at the First Baptist Church in Rutherfordton. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, your hospice, or the First Baptist Church, 246 North Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the Huntley family. ©Community First Media Community First Media One of life's greatest questions is, "What is the purpose of my life?" We often wonder about our existence and the reason we were placed on this earth. Is life all about a series of random events or is there a divine plan for each of us? From an early age we all begin a search to fi nd some rhyme or reason for our life. Please allow me to interject a worldview which explains our existence. According to God's Word, we have all been divinely formed for several different reasons. The fi rst reason we are here is to bring glory to our Creator. Virtues of grace such as repentance, humility, honesty, morality and compassion are just a few ways in which we can add value to this gift of life. We not only have a great responsibility toward God, but we also have a sacred duty toward our fellow man. The way to fi nd fulfi llment in life is to fi nd someone in whom we can make a difference. God did not design us to live to ourselves. You have heard the adage, "No man is an island", and that is so true. God places us in a family and in a community to be difference makers. The times of our life when we are giving of ourselves is when real contentment and purpose is found. It may be in the form of helping someone who is less fortunate, spending time with someone who is hurting or needs instruction or just reaching out to someone in love. All of these acts and more are how we fulfi ll our divine purpose. When choosing to make a difference, perhaps we should follow the advice of the famous author and historian, Edward Everett Hale, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." LANNY FUNCHESS -FUNERAL DIRECTOR- Points To Ponder A DIFFERENCE MAKER "Quality Service with Compassionate Care" Harrelson Funeral & Cremation Services 1251 U.S. Hwy 221-A, Forest City, NC 828-657-6383 www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com

• Cover