Judy Wright
Jul 31, 2025
Ms. Judy Carolyn Mull Wright, 77, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health.
Judy was born on April 28, 1948, in Cleveland County to the late Edsel Lee Mull and Edna Parker Mull Brendle. She was a retired office manager and a member of Mount Home Baptist Church...
Robert Riley Winebarger
Jul 29, 2025
Robert “Bob” Riley Winebarger, 82, passed away at Magnolia Lane of Morganton on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, following a period of declining health.
Bob was born July 17, 1943 in Burke County, a son of the late Riley Roscoe Winebarger and Nannie Kathleen Rudisill Winebarger.
Those left to cherish his memory include his sister, Gail Nichols and her husband Denny Nichols; brother,...
Nelda Joan Icenhour McCurry
Jul 29, 2025
Mrs. Joan Icenhour McCurry, 90, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday July 29, 2025 at Grace Village Assisted Living Center, Granite Falls, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. McCurry was born June 20, 1935 the Kings Creek area of Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Lester and Artie Williams Icenhour. She attended Lees/McRay College and worked for 30 years...
Daniel Keith Ray
Jul 27, 2025
Daniel Keith Ray, 63, of Morganton, passed away under Hospice care on Sunday, July 27, 2025 following a period of declining health.
Daniel was born January 17, 1962 in Buncombe County, a son of Bobby Jene Ray and the late Dorothy Jean Thomas Ray Gibbs. He served as a Wildlife Biologist in District Eight and served eleven counties in Western North...
Paul Gene Mayfield
Jul 25, 2025
Mr. Paul Gene Mayfield, 80, of Morganton, passed away on Friday July 25, 2025 at Atrium Health Winston-Salem, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Mayfield was born May 9, 1945, in Burke County, a son of the late Preston and Mary Stamey Mayfield. He was a faithful member of the Zion Road Baptist Church, a graduate of Oak Hill High...
Christine Nix
Jul 24, 2025
Miss Christine Nix, 80, of Drexel, NC , passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, Blueridge, after a period of declining health.
Miss Nix was born March 3, 1945, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Charles Bradford Nix and Ollie Stone Nix, where she was the youngest child, with six brothers, three of whom died in...
Marissa Marie Neely
Jul 24, 2025
Marissa Marie “Missy” Neely, 32, of Hickory passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at her residence.
Missy was born September 13, 1992 in Caldwell County to Ralph Keith Nanny and Tabatha Neely Schronce. Missy was a caring person and loved animals and traveling to the beach or to the mountains.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Thomas Paul...
Patricia Reynolds Murray
Jul 24, 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patricia “Patti” Murray, who died on July 24, 2025 at the age of 65 in Valdese, North Carolina. Patti was a beloved wife, daughter, mother, sister, and friend and will be deeply missed.
Patti was born in Miami, Florida. She attended Southwest Miami Senior High School. After high school, she...
John William Combs
Jul 24, 2025
John W. Combs, 96 of Valdese NC, went home to be with the Lord on July 24, 2025 at Amorem Hospice.
John was born September 23, 1928 to the late Arnold Dee and Naomi Combs of Kentucky. John served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. John and Glenna left their birthplace in Covington, Kentucky in their late...
Harold Ray Zimmerman
Jul 23, 2025
Harold Ray Zimmerman, 74, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday July 23, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.
Harold was born April 7, 1951, in Roxboro, NC, a son of the late Ray and Theresa O’Briant Zimmerman. He was a longtime employee of Joan Fabrics in Hickory and enjoyed hiking, gardening and spending time with his...
Phyllis Mae Wilson Howell
Jul 22, 2025
Phyllis Wilson Howell, 90, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully at her home on July 22, 2025 after a period of declining health.
Phyllis was born on November 30, 1934, in Burke County, a daughter of the late June and Lizzie P. Wilson. Phyllis was lifelong member of Friendship United Methodist Church. She was the former co-owner of Blue Ridge Gift...
Audrey Janet Griffin Smith
Jul 22, 2025
FOR AUDREY
An Encomium
“Between the date of birth and the date of demise there was a life that mattered.”—Unknown
During the nascent hours of July 22nd, Audrey Smith silently slipped away to that place which she envisioned and of which she frequently spoke. Her departure was not announced as “breaking news” or instantaneously plastered all over social media. She journeyed-on as she...
Richard Clifton Townsend
Jul 20, 2025
Mr. Richard Clifton Townsend, 82, of the George Hildebran community, finally made it home on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Richard was born on June 18, 1943, in Burke County to the late Clifton Townsend and Trivie Young Townsend. He was a retired telephone technician for Centel Telecommunications and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Richard never met a stranger and...
Douglas Roy Bridges
Jul 20, 2025
Mr. Douglas Roy Bridges, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday July 20, 2025, at the Greens of Hickory Nursing Center.
Mr. Bridges was born October 30, 1943, in Burke County, a son of the late Posey and Mattie Mosteller Bridges. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Hildebran and was self-employed as a plumber. He was a...
Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner
Jul 20, 2025
Joan Olivia Yancey Buckner, 75, of Connelly Springs, passed away peacefully on Sunday July 20, 2025 at her residence following a period of declining health.
Joan was born on April 3, 1950 in Burke County to the late Roy Clayton Yancey and Virginia Madeline Brown Yancey. She was a homemaker, and also worked at the College Pharmacy in Rutherford College for...
John Harold Lefeber
Jul 19, 2025
John Harold Lefeber, born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Elmer and Margaret Lawrence Lefeber, passed away on July 19, 2025, in Morganton, North Carolina after a period of declining health.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Beatrice Lefeber, his sister, Linda Lefeber and brothers, Roger, Michael, Norman Lefeber, as well as his brothers-in-law,...
Heather Sweezy Frye
Jul 17, 2025
Heather Diane Sweezy Frye, 54, of Claremont, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at her residence.
Heather was born February 2, 1971, at Valdese General Hospital in Rutherford College, daughter of Roy Franklin Sweezy and Phyllis Mulligan Sweezy. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Valdese. She was preceded in death by her little sister, Erin...
Lavada Aiken Johnson
Jul 15, 2025
Mrs. Lavada Aiken Johnson, 90, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health.
Lavada was born on October 28, 1934, in Burke County to the late Walter Aiken and Ruth Powell Aiken. She was retired from the furniture and hosiery industries and was a longtime member of Shady...
Joyce Scarlett Wall
Jul 15, 2025
Mrs. Joyce Marilyn Scarlett Wall, 82, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at her residence, following a period of declining health.
Joyce was born on February 7, 1943, in Alamance County to the late William Grady Scarlett and Ruby Cora Davis Scarlett. Joyce’s life truly exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman of the Bible. She was a longtime member...
Lueann Morris Garcia
Jul 14, 2025
Lueann Morris Garcia, 51, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center following a period of declining health.
Lueann was born on November 28, 1973 in McDowell County, a daughter of Darelene Webb and the late Jack Morris. She loved making bracelets and anything to do with her granddaughter, who was the apple...
