Rutherford Weekly

Page 20 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, May 18-May 24, 2017 MARTHA JEAN SELLERS Martha Jean Sellers, 84, of Caroleen, passed away May 12, 2017. Born May 21, 1932 in Rutherford County, she was a daughter to the late Fred Jackson & Matilda "Tilda" Hawkins Jackson. She was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of 1950 & a loyal member of the Democrat Party. Martha Jean was known for her ability to cook. Everyone loved her infamous chicken pies, coco- nut cakes & red velvet cakes. She took pleasure in others enjoying her baked delights. Martha Jean also enjoyed growing flowers. She could grow about any type of plant & springtime was her favorite time of the year. She was a member of Caroleen Baptist Church, where she served for many years on the kitchen committee & oversaw the church library. She was also known for her "strong personali- ty". She came across sometimes as stubborn & set in her ways, but underneath the exterior was a big heart of love for others in need. Those left to cherish her memory include her loving husband of 58 years, Bob Sellers; 3 daughters, Rita Byers of Landrum, Nita Roberts of Cowpens & Tammy Thomassen & husband, Bill of Forest City; 2 brothers, Leonard Jackson & wife, Mary Lou of Forest City & Charles Morris Jackson & wife, Sherry of Cliffside. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 8 great grand- children, & 2 great-great-grand- children. The funeral service was con- ducted at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Dr. Rev. Steven Ayers & Rev. Lanny J. Funchess officiating. Burial was private for the family. Memorial donations are respectively requested to Hospice of Rutherford County, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. LENS "HOOTER" BROWN Lens "Hooter" Brown, age 82, of Forest City, passed away May 13, 2017. Born February 28, 1935 in McDowell County, he was a son to the late George Washington Brown and Effie Mae McKinney Brown. Hooter was an independent truck driver for many years and also worked as a sawmill operator. He was a member of the Restoration Church of Forest City and enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing and especially loved playing with his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred Brown and Lester Brown; three sisters, Georgia Chapman, Ella Mae Hyatt and Florence Lowery. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of sixty-three years, Dolly Lowery Brown; one son, Dennis Brown and wife, Denese of Cliffside; a daugh- ter, Diane Campbell and husband, Charles of Forest City; five grandchildren, six- teen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grand- children. He is also survived by one brother, Floyd Brown of Morganton and a sister, Margaret Surratt of Marion. The funeral service was conducted at the Restoration Church of Forest City with Reverend Jerry Hames and Reverend Ray Broome offi- ciating. Interment followed in the Biddix Family Cemetery in Marion. Memorial donations are respectively requested to the Restoration Church, 133 Gardenbrook Drive, Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. ETHEL LYNN HUNT ROBBINS Ethel Lynn Hunt Robbins, age 89, passed away, May 7, 2017. She was born in Rutherford County where she continued to live throughout her life. Ethel worked diligently for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 37 years. She was a faithful member of Caroleen Baptist Church for over 50 years where she served on numerous committees and sang in the choir. Her family remembers Ethel as a gentle and true southern lady. "We never heard a negative or mean word come out of her mouth." Mrs. Robbins was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Charles Madison Robbins. In addition to her husband and parents, William Lander Hunt and Texie Daves Hunt, she was also preceded in death by her siblings Ola Hunt Willis, Forrest W. Hunt and Flay G Hunt. Survivors include 3 sisters in law and several nephews and nieces. The funeral service was conducted at Harrelson Funeral Home Chapel w/ Rev Lanny J. Funchess offi- ciating. Interment followed in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery in Forest City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are respectively requested to Caroleen Baptist Church, P.O. Box 489, Caroleen, NC 28019. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. MARTHA COLE GRISWOLD WHITENER Martha Cole Griswold Whitener, age 95, of Rutherfordton, passed away May 4, 2017. She was a native of Rutherford County and the daughter of the late William Mack Griswold and the late Lester Cole Griswold. She was a member of West Memorial Baptist Church and worked for several years at Liberty Press after she retired. She was preced- ed in death by her husband Lonnie B. Whitener, three brothers; Horton, J.B. and John Griswold, four sisters; Myrtle Melton, Ethel Ruppe, Katheryn Griswold and Fronia Hodge. She is survived by one daughter: Judy Ball and husband Stephen of Rutherfordton. Two special daughters: Sompit O'Neal of Dayton, OH and Tim Martin of Winston Salem. Two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The Funeral Service was held at West Memorial Baptist Church at with Rev. Charlie Melton and Rev. Alan Beane officiating. Interment was held at West Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to West Memorial Baptist Church; 320 Piedmont Rd. Rutherfordton, NC 28139. McMahanʼs Funeral Home & Cremation Services in charge of the arrangements. EDITH FRANCES BENNETT ELLIOTT Edith Frances Bennett Elliott, age 89, of Forest City, passed away Monday, May 8, 2017. She was the daughter of the late Volney Bennett and the late Mary Davis Bennett and a native of Rutherford County. Edith was the widow of the late Walter T. Elliott. She was a member of Lebanon United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by three sisters; Ellen Poteat, Katie Bennett, Carolyn Clark and three brothers; Baxter Bennett, Alvin Bennett and Henry Bennett. She is survived by two daughters: Brenda Elliott Ford and her husband Dean of Rutherfordton, Mary Elliott McDaniel and her husband Doug of Cape Girardeau, MO. Two sons: Ronald Eugene Elliott and his wife Lisa of Arden, NC. Walter Thomas Elliott Jr and his wife Roxanne of Knoxville, TN. One brother: Roy Bennett of Rutherfordton. One sister: Dorothy Brown of Rutherfordton, seven grand- children and four great grand- children. The Funeral service was held at Lebanon United Methodist Church, Mill Spring with Reverend Ned Owens and Reverend Lance McDaniel officiating. Interment was held at Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lebanon United Methodist Church c/o Doris Elliott; 801 Womack Road; MillSpring, NC 28756. McMahanʼs Funeral Home & Cremation Services in charge of arrangements. LLOYD L. PETERSON Lloyd L. Peterson, age 82, of Bemidji, Minnesota, passed away May 11, 2017. Born November 8, 1934 in Crookston, Minnesota, he was the son of the late Louis L. Peterson & Sophie (Carlson) Peterson. Lloyd was a US Army veteran & served during the Korean War. He owned & oper- ated the Busy Corner Store & was an owner/operating part- ner of Corner Sports Craft in Blackduck, Minnesota for many years. He was also an owner/ operating partner of Bemidji Aviation located in Bemidji, Minnesota. Lloyd was well known in the community for his generosity, kindness & sense of humor. Among his many inter- ests, he enjoyed the outdoors & spending time at "The Shack" four-wheeling, snowmobiling, hunting, & fishing. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Bemidji. In addition to his par- ents, Lloyd was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Eunice (Ettestad) Peterson; his endeared father & mother-in- law, Henry & Anna Ettestad & their children: Velma (Ettestad) & Pete Carrigan/Kenneth Virden, Knute Ettestad, Lila (Ettestad) & Glen Skallman, Myron & Francis Ettestad, & Howard Ettestad; & three spe- cial cousins, Palmer Peterson, Jack Ruberg, & Louis Anderson. Those left to cherish his memory include son, Loren Lloyd & wife Pamela Peterson of Ashland, Wisconsin; & daughter, Nanette (Peterson) & husband Duane Westrud of Rutherfordton; 5 grandchildren; close friend Jean McDonald of Duluth, Minnesota; close fami- ly members Shirley Ettestad of International Falls, Minnesota, W. Gordon & Patricia Ettestad of International Falls, Minnesota, Vincent Ettestad & compan- ion Patricia Torgerson of Two Harbors, Minnesota, & Allan & Rosaline (Ettestad) Nesset of Kelliher, Minnesota. He is also survived by four long time friends, Warren Wittwer, Larry Lovold, Charlie Noren, & Dale Nelson; & the McDonald family, including Bud, Joan, Jeanette, & other family members. A memorial service will be held in Bemidji at a later date. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. SCOTT CRAWFORD Mr. Scott Crawford, 46 of Spindale passed away May 7, 2017. Born in Louisville, KY he was a construction worker and a member of Spencer Baptist Church. Scott is survived by his father Floyd Crawford, 1 broth- er David Crawford, 5 sisters – Teresa Woodward, Paula Crawford, Deana Whiteside, Dana Brandle & Shannon McCabe. He is also survived by number of other family mem- bers & friends. He was pre- ceded in death by his mother Pauline Shipp Crawford. A memorial service was held at Spencer Baptist Church with Rev. Bruce Caldwell offici- ating. In lieu of flowers memo- rials may be made to Spencer Baptist Church. Croweʼs Mortuary is assisting the family. Rutherford Weekly offers the printing of obituaries in our paper as a community service and free of charge. 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. Please have your funeral home send us your loved ones' obituaries to events@rutherfordweekly.com R IVERHIL L MONUMENT CO. riverhillmonuments.com riverhillmonuments.com © Community First Media Community First Media 1113 Polkville Rd. • Shelby, NC • 704-481-1198 Family Owned & Operated Since 1957 At Riverhill Monument Company, you deal directly with the monument builder, with no middle man mark up, and we never sell monuments over the internet. We proudly sell and install monuments in Rutherford County. ©Community First Media Community First Media According to the latest cen- sus report, the world's popula- tion is approximately 7.2 billion. What is more astounding than that number is that not any two of the 7.2 billion people are exactly alike. That makes all of us unique. There was or never will be someone just like you! The fact that you and I are originals brings a priceless value to our lives. One of my primary motivations to being a funeral director is the priv- ilege to help a family defi ne the value of a life that was lived before them. Just as everyone person is unique, there is also no such thing as a "stan- dard" funeral or memorial service that fi ts every individual. How fami- lies choose to honor their loved one should be a personal matter and I am called to accentuate that personaliza- tion. When meeting with a family, fu- neral director should always look for that special trait that brought meaning to a person's life. It may be a certain personality trait or ability, a hobby, a favorite sports team, a nickname, an achievement or a person's spirituality among a list of other things that make us all unique. When planning a funer- al or memorial service it is important to communicate with the funeral di- rector what made your loved one so special, and he will in turn help you honor them. It is all about the Value of a Life! LANNY FUNCHESS -FUNERAL DIRECTOR- Points To Ponder THE VALUE OF A LIFE "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