Evelyn McGaha
HIGH SHOALS — Evelyn Sue McGaha, 69, of 213 Lincoln Street, died May 27, 2003. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at High Shoals Memorial Gardens.
She was born in Gaston County.
Survivors include one sister, Mary Conrad of High Shoals.
Memorials may be made to WMIT- Black Mountain 106.9.
E.F. Drum Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
L.D. Ross
SHELBY — L.D. Ross, 80, of 833 Logan Street, died May 23, 2003. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. today at Mike’s Creek Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 - 3 p.m. at the church.
Enloe Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
David Krusen
EARL — David Edward “Ned” Krusen, 50, of 129 Carolina Place Drive, died May 25, 2003. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Burial followed at Saint Peter’s Untied Church of Christ Cemetery in Coventry, Pa.
Enloe Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
J. Lineberger
James Ronnie Lineberger, 58, of 1448 Mirror Lake Drive, died May 24, 2003. Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in the Warlick Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Pisgah United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Born in Lincoln County he worked in the construction industry.
Survivors include two sons, Todd Lineberger of Albemarle and Cully Lineberger of Denver; two daughters, Angie Beam of High Shoals and Amy Lineberger of Lincolnton; two step-children; Sean Smith and Drew Smith both of Newton; two brothers, Teddy Lineberger and Johnny Lineberger both of Lincolnton; one sister, Tammy Peeler of Vale and four grandchildren.
Kathryn Blue
CHERRYVILLE — Kathryn “Kithy” Gibson Newton Blue, 85, of 104 Oak Street, died May 25, 2003. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today at First Assembly Of God, where she was a member. Burial followed at Gaston Memorial Park.
Born in Haywood County, she was a homemaker, former member and piano player of the Goofy Girls Senior Band and Jake and the Golden Girls of Gastonia and a member of the Senior Center.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Newton Cochran of Cherryville; six step daughters, Celia Newton Perry and Fredda Newton Rivenbarker both of Raleigh, Sonja Blue McManaway and Marge Blue Tracy of Ill. and Maria Blue Jackson and Patricia Blue Marks of Fla.; two step sons, Rev. James P. Blue of Ill. and Chester D. Blue Jr. serving on Active Duty in the Military; four grandchildren, Michael Cochran of Clover, SC; Arnold Cochran of Cherryville, Paula Cochran of Cherryville and Diane Jackson of Gastonia; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Hazel Gibson White of Cherryville and Betty Gibson Hall of Badin Lake; five step grandchildren (Newton); 10 step great-grandchildren (Newton); 2 great-great-grandchildren; 15 step grandchildren (Blue) and 26 step great-grandchildren (Blue).
Memorials may be made to First Assembly of God, 1104 Myrtle School Road, Gastonia, NC 28052.
Carpenter’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
John Benfield
NEWTON — John Timothy Benfield, 46, of 316 North Caldwell Avenue; died May 25, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Burke Mortuary Chapel.
He was born in Catawba County.
Survivors include one son Eric Benfield of Hildebran and grandmother Colleen Dabbs of the home.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 219 South Main Avenue, Newton, NC 28658.
William Dodson
VALE — William “Ted” Edward Dodson, 75, of 2218 Sam Houser Road, died May 27, 2003. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Warlick Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Reepsgrove United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
Born in Cleveland County he was a machinist.
Survivors include his wife Alice Dodson; one son, Gary Dodson of Spartenburg, SC; three daughters, Teresa Powell of Vale, Sarah Lynn Dodson of Ubalda, Ga. and Susan Drum of Cherryville; one brother, Clarence A. Dodson of Grassy Creek; two sisters, Virgil Hoyle and Betty Clawson both of Vale; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Lincoln County, 107 North Cedar Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
A.V. Dockery
HICKORY — A.V. Dockery, 73, of 300 17th Southwest, died May 27, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Burke Mortuary. Burial will follow at Maiden City Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 until 8 at Burke Mortuary.
Born in Cherokee County, he was employed by Delta Apparel and served in the National Guard Reserves.
Survivors include his wife Wanda K. Dockery of the home; two sons, Darrell Dokery of Phoenix, Ariz. and Danny Dockery of Maiden; two daughters, Penny Dockery Biddiex of Spruce Pine and Faye Dockery Rhodes of Maiden; three brothers; four sisters; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Lucy Steen
KANNAPOLIS — Lucy Huie Steen, 80, died May 27, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Whitley’s Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12 to 1:30 p.m. prior to the service.
Born in Statesville, she was employed in the wash cloth department at Cannon Mills and a volunteer of the Cooperative Christian Ministry and a member of New Vision Ministries.
Survivors include one son, Dr. Michael Bradley Steen; one daughter, Bea Hinson; four grandsons, George Steen ,Richard Steen, Dana Hinson and Eric Hinson; granddaughters, Michele Wright; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Robert Huie and Bobby Huie.
Memorials may be made to Senior Adult Respite Care Center, New Vision Ministries, 661 Clark Creek Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Alvin Rhyne
DREXEL — Alvin “Pap” Rhyne, 92, of Drexel, died May 28, 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Drexel First Baptist Church, where he was a member. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Born in Lincoln County, he was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and retired from Cutting Cross Chevrolet as an auto mechanic.
Survivors include his wife Mary Florence Whisnant Rhyne of the home; two sons, Mike Rhyne of Wakefield, England and Mark Rhyne of Drexel; one brother, Clyde Rhyne of Valdese; one sister, Eva Smith of Alabama and four grandchildren, Susan Rhyne and Catherine Rhyne both of England and Christopher Rhyne and Paige Rhyne both of Drexel.
Memorials may be made to Drexel First Baptist Church, PO Box 308, Drexel, NC 28619.
Sossoman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Avis Smith
Avis Lee Goodson Smith, 88, of 695 Victory Grove Church Road, died May 28, 2003. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Warlick Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Hollybrook Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 tonight at Warlick Funeral Home.
Born in Lincoln County, she was a spinner in the textile industry.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Freeman Cabiness of Apopka, Fla.; one sister, Inez Eurey of Lincolnton; one step-son, Bob Smith of Charlotte; one step-daughter, Linda McKeever of Marshville; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Victory Grove Tabernacle, 457 Victory Grove Church Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
James Byrd
TENNESSE — James Alvin Byrd, 74, of Pigeon Forge, died May 29, 2003. Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Atchley’s Smoky Mountain Chapel. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife Bessie Grigg Byrd; two daughters, Pamela Gail Byrd and Vickie Ownby; four grandchildren, Tammy Vig, Jennifer Daugherty, Kristy Geilenkirchen, and Eric Reinhardt; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Parks and one brother, Edward Byrd.
N. Holloway
Nelena Jo Vassar Holloway, 52, of Washington, died May 25, 2003.
Arrangements are incomplete at Ebony and White’s Funeral Home.
Fred Sigmon
VALE — Fred Sigmon, 84, of 9139 Willis Road, died May 31, 2002. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today in the chapel at Stamey Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Laurel Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Born in Catawba County, he worked for P & G Chair Company of Hickory until retirement, and was a U.S. Army WWII veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Pearl Willis Sigmon; four sons, Glenn Sigmon of Polkville, Don Sigmon of Connelly Springs, Carol Sigmon and Kenneth Sigmon, both of Vale; three daughters, Kathryn Randall, and Kay Marley, both of Vale, and Christine Yancey of Connelly Springs; a brother, Lester “Red” Sigmon of Connelly Springs; a sister, Nettie Fredell of Hickory; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and 11 great-step-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Laurel Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 811 N. Hwy. 18, Vale, N.C. 28168.
Luna Wellmon
SHELBY — Luna Champion Wellmon, 84, of 305 Old Mill Road, died May 31, 2002. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. today at Double Shoals Baptist Church where she was a member. Burial will follow in Zion Baptist Church cemetery.
Born in Cleveland County, she worked in the textile industry.
Survivors include a daughter, Agnes Jones of Shelby; five brothers, Jack Champion of Cherryville, Ray Champion, Hal Champion and Raymond Champion, all of Shelby, and Buford Champion of Swainsville; four sisters, Diane Earwood, and Ethel Weathers, both of Shelby, Vernie Houser of Charlotte, and Brenda Marlowe of Gastonia; two grandchildren, Dennis Jones, and Lori Nolan; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Carolina Piedmont Chapter, 3420 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28215.
Stamey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ethel Morrison
LAWNDALE — Ethel Frances Bridges Morrison, 76, of 126-1 Jimmy Morrison Road, died June 1, 2002. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. today at St. Paul Baptist Church where she was a member. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Born in Cleveland County, she worked for Lilly Mill and was retired from Fasco.
Survivors include four sons, Donald Morrison of Belwood, Richard Morrison of Lawndale, and Jimmy Morrison and Tommy Morrison, both of Casar; two brothers, Jerry Bridges, and Don Bridges, both of Shelby; seven grandchildren, Donna Carpenter, David Morrison, Trudy Morrison, Leslie Mosteller, Truett Morrison, Wendy Blankenship, and Brad Morrison; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul Baptist Church, 329 Hull Rd., Casar, N.C. 28020.
Stamey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bertha Cauthen
MAIDEN — Bertha Sipe Cauthen, 89, of 317 East Main Street, died June 1, 2002. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. today at Goodin-Drum Funeral Home. Burial followed in Lawings Chapel Baptist Church.
Born in Burke County, she was a furniture and textile worker until retirement.
Survivors include three sons, Bobby Sipe of Maiden, Bill D. Sipe of Vale and Donald Sipe of Lincolnton; one daughter, Jean Bethel of Titusville, Fla.; two step sons, J.B. Cauthen of San Diego, Calif., and Curt Cauthen of Newton; two step daughters, Christen Isaac of Maiden, and Shirley Sigmon of Newton; two brothers, Albert Lutz of Lincolnton and Noah Lutz of Newton; a sister, Margie Black of Lincolnton; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, N.C. 28658.
Ethel Ballard
Ethel Conner Ballard, 75, of 130 Salem Road, died June 2, 2002. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Boger City United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Macpelah Presbyterian Church cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 7 until 8:30 at Warlick Funeral Home.
Born in Lincoln County, she was a textile worker for Brig-a-knit until retirement.
Survivors include three daughters, Carolyn B. Earnhardt of Lawndale, Sally B. Sanders of Lexington, S.C. and Elaine B. Childs of Lincolnton; one brother, Clyde Hullett of Knoxville, Tenn.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 E. Main St., Lincolnton, N.C. 28092; or the American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, N.C. 28202.
Hazel Ballard
Hazel Theresa Patton Ballard, 79, of 3802 King Wilkinson Road, died May 27, 2003. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today at Macedonia Baptist Church, where she was a member. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Born in Lincoln County, she was retired from the textile industry.
Survivors include two sons, B.C. Ballard of Denver and Terry Nelson Ballard of Gastonia; one daughter, Marilyn Ballard Baker of Conover; one brother, Hugh Patton of Shelby; 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Gaston County, 258 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054 or Macedonia Baptist Church Building Fund, 5286 E. NC Hwy. 150, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Burke Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian Beam
HICKORY — Lillian Etta “Billie” Yount Beam, 91, of the Brian Center, died June 2, 2002. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Hollybrook Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
She worked for Belmont Hosiery and Christian Ministries of Lincolnton until retirement.
Survivors include a daughter, Jean Patton of Hickory; a son, Wade Owens of Shelby; a sister, Helen Yount of Conover; three grandchildren, Angie Owens Tate, Rick Owens and Eric Owens; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 423, Lincolnton, N.C. 28093.
Warlick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Polly Sherrill
MAIDEN — Polly Withers Sherrill, 83, of 415 North Main Avenue, died June 4, 2002. A funeral service will be held tonight at 8:30 in the Chapel at Burke Mortuary. A private graveside service will be held Thursday. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Born in Catawba County, she was a homemaker.
Survivors include a son, Don Sherrill of Maiden; three grandchildren, Debra S. Drum, Diane S. Drum and Karen S. Rinehardt, all of Maiden; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Center View Baptist Church Pre-School, 3976 E. Maiden Rd., Maiden, N.C. 28650.
