Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Terri Baker Robinette

Terri Baker Robinette

Aug 17, 2025

Terri Baker Robinette, 52, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at Catawba Valley Medical Center surrounded by her family following a period of declining health.

Terri was born on July 22, 1973 in Burke County, a daughter of Sharon Berry Baker and the late David Eugene Baker.

In addition to her father, she is preceded in passing by...

Ronald Earl Thomason

Ronald Earl Thomason

Aug 16, 2025

Ronald Earl Thomason, 76, passed away peacefully at his home in Granite Falls on August 16th 2025 with his family by his side.

Born in Madison County Tennessee on April 2nd 1949 he attended Jackson State Community College and got an associates of science degree.

Ron married a woman named Joan Peterson on February the 15th 1968. They were each other’s life...

Patricia Mae Newman Gray

Patricia Mae Newman Gray

Aug 16, 2025

On August 16, 2025, Patricia Newman Gray, age 88, of Drexel, NC, passed away at UNC Health Blue Ridge after three years of declining health with her loving family by her side. Mrs. Gray was born October 11, 1936, in Duluth, MN, to the late Leo and Rebecca Newman. At the age of eight, her family relocated to Philadelphia, PA,...

Judy Lenoir Keever

Judy Lenoir Keever

Aug 15, 2025

Judy Lenoir Keever, 85, of Morganton, passed away peacefully on Friday August 15, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Judy was born on June 20, 1940 in Burke County, to the late Lenoir Keever and Delma Bradshaw Keever. She was employed by Burke County Public Schools as a high school teacher and coach, and was the recipient of many acknowledgements...

Jenny Faye Anthony

Jenny Faye Anthony

Aug 15, 2025

Jenny Faye Harrison Anthony, 66, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025 at home following a period of declining health.

Jenny was born May 29, 1959 in Dillon County, SC, a daughter of the late Joseph and Eloise Ward Vaughn. She had many interests and hobbies ranging from sewing and baking, to puzzles and crafts. She loved her family,...

Blair Douglas Seagraves

Blair Douglas Seagraves

Aug 15, 2025

Mr. Blair Douglas Seagraves, 83, of Drexel, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health.

Blair was born on June 12, 1942, in Gaston County to the late Ambra Jewel Seagraves and Ruby Evelyn Peeler. He was formerly employed in the trucking and shipping industry and was a member of Lakeview...

Lori Jean Buff

Lori Jean Buff

Aug 15, 2025

Lori Jean Buff, 55, of Valdese, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, at her residence after a brief illness.

Lori was born January 13, 1970, in Houston County, GA, a daughter of Gwendolyn Garrou Thompson and the late Peter Marcus Buff, Jr. She was a member of the Rocky Gap, Va. United Methodist Church. After graduating from High School, Lori...

Larry Dale Cozort

Larry Dale Cozort

Aug 14, 2025

Larry Dale Cozort, 77, of Topsail Beach and Morganton, N.C., passed away peacefully Thursday August 14, 2025 with his wife and daughter by his side.

Dale was born on April 22, 1948 in Burke County, to the late Stuart Lee Cozort and Mae Keever Cozort. He was retired from the State of North Carolina as a Drivers License Examiner. Dale had...

Rita Nannette Salvaggio Stephens

Rita Nannette Salvaggio Stephens

Aug 14, 2025

Rita Nannette Salvaggio Stephens, 76. daughter of Daniele and Betty Moore Salvaggio went home to be with her Lord Auguest 14, 2025. Rita is survived by her husband of 58 years, Donald Richard Stephens of Drexel and one daughter, Kimberly Danielle Stephens-Williams (husband Lyman), one sister Gwen Salvaggio Stephens (husband Dennis) of Rutherford College and two grandchildren, who were her...

Ella Mae Settlemyre Martin

Ella Mae Settlemyre Martin

Aug 13, 2025

Mrs. Ella Mae Settlemyre Martin, 95, of Valdese, went to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday August 13, 2025, at Hickory Village, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Martin was born September 7, 1929, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Harvey and Rose Christine Carswell Settlemyre. She was a faithful member of the River of Life Church and retired...

Joann Cannon Gray

Joann Cannon Gray

Aug 10, 2025

Mrs. Joann Cannon Gray, 89, of Granite Falls, passed away at her residence, with her family by her side, on Sunday August 10, 2025.

Mrs. Gray was born April 14, 1936, in Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Perry F. and Myrtle Smith Cannon. She is retired from the Caldwell County School System, faithfully serving as a school bus driver...

Jody Dion Greene

Jody Dion Greene

Aug 9, 2025

Jody Dion Greene, 55, of Morganton, passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at his residence.

Jody was born August 21, 1969 in Burke County to Loyd Herbert Greene and Geraldine Wyatt Greene. He was employed at American Roller Bearing for more than 37 years and acquired many wonderful lifelong friends. Jody was a loving husband and father, always taking care...

Howard Wayne Dyson

Howard Wayne Dyson

Aug 8, 2025

Mr. Howard Wayne Dyson, 84, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Friday August 8, 2025, at the Greens of Hickory, Viewmont, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Dyson was born May 13, 1941, in Caldwell County, a son of the late William Waddell and Ada Cook Dyson. He was a faithful member of the St. Johns Baptist Church and retired...

Betsy Summerlin Greene

Betsy Summerlin Greene

Aug 8, 2025

Betsy Jane “Beebop” Summerlin Greene, 70, of Morganton, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Betsy was born February 16, 1955 in Burke County to the late Marvin Summerlin and Johnnie Fisher Summerlin. She loved to be on the lake, gardening, and spending time with her animals, Bella and Tinkerbell.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded...

Eric William Hastings

Eric William Hastings

Aug 7, 2025

Eric William “Bill” Hastings, 63, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at Burke Long Term Care following a period of declining health.

Bill was born April 2, 1962 in Burke County to the late Jerry Hastings and Betty Pritchard Stewart.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by the man that raised him, Thurman Stewart; brothers,...

Patricia Baker

Patricia Baker

Aug 6, 2025

Mrs. Patricia Ellen Baker, 73, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Baker was born July 8, 1952 in Peshtigo, WI, a daughter of the late Oscar and Gloria Jandry Kniskern Andre. Patricia retired, after many years of service, as a career counselor with Western Piedmont Community College. She had a...

Stephen Henry Martinat

Stephen Henry Martinat

Aug 6, 2025

Stephen Henry “Steve” Martinat, 74, of Valdese, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday August 6, 2025, at his residence.

Steve was born on December 13, 1950, in Burke County, to the late Valdo Stephen Martinat and Mary Rostan Martinat in Valdese, NC. He graduated from Valdese High School and continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He...

Lucille Heavner Burns

Lucille Heavner Burns

Aug 5, 2025

Mrs. Lucille Heavner Burns, 98, of Lenoir, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the Shaire Center of Lenoir, following a period of declining health.

Lucille was born on Mar 17, 1927, in Burke County to the late Beulah Heavner Barnes. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and homemaker, and was a longtime member of Rock Chapel Church...

Betty Ann Pritchard Stewart

Betty Ann Pritchard Stewart

Aug 5, 2025

Betty Ann Pritchard Stewart, 83, of Drexel passed on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Betty was born August 1, 1942 in Burke County to the late Paul C. Pritchard and Bessie Williams Pritchard. She loved to garden (having a green thumb and could grow anything), bake, and listening to windchimes.

In addition to her parents, she is...

Woodrow Elwyn Poor

Woodrow Elwyn Poor

Aug 3, 2025

Woodrow Elwyn “Woody” Poor, 81, of Valdese, NC, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC.

Woody was born in Juneau, Alaska and raised in Douglas, Alaska. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Washington State in 1965. He married his college sweetheart, Bobbi, and together they shared 60 wonderful years. Woody served...

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