Obituaries

Oct 4, 2024

Mrs. Norma Jean Hall Whisnant, 87, of Morganton, passed away on Friday October 4,2024, at Grace Village Assisted Living, granite Falls, after a period of declining health. Mrs. Whisnant was born June 6, 1937, in McDowell County, a daughter of the late Herbert and Thelma Graves Hall and step-mother, Estelle Stuart. Norma Jean Whisnant brought warmth and love to...

Oct 4, 2024

Mrs. Theresa Jane Watson Childers came into this world on May 16, 1925. She finished her mortal time here on October 4, 2024. Her father, Jefferson “Jeff” Watson and mother, Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Daye Watson, raised her and her five siblings (Hugh, Alec, Ruby, Gary and Dick) in a home rich with love, during the heart of the Great...

Oct 3, 2024

John Reuben Bacon Hawes, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully on October 3rd, 2024. Born on September 6, 1932, in Kingston, New York, John was the second child of John R. B. Hawes, Sr., and Elizabeth Rood Hawes. He grew up in various communities across New York, North Carolina, and Massachusetts due to his father’s professional transfers before settling in...

Oct 3, 2024

Mrs. Sharon Lail Huffman Ware, 71, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at her residence, after a period of declining health. “Sherry” was born July 1, 1953, in Burke County, the daughter of the late Clay and Irene Lail of Miller Bridge Road. Sherry was a gifted pianist at an early age, able to play...

Oct 1, 2024

Mrs. Phyllis June Thomas Young, 75, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Carolina Caring Hospice of Newton following a period of declining health.

Mrs. Young was born on October 10, 1948, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rose Thomas.

She is preceded in passing by her parents; a brother, Tommy; and...

Sep 30, 2024

Gary Daniel “Oscar” Walker Sr., 73, of Connelly Springs passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 following a period of declining health.

Oscar was born February 18, 1951, in McDowell County to the late Benjamin Franklin Walker and Mary Boston Walker. We worked as a deck foreman for Overnite Transport and was a member of Unity Baptist...

Sep 30, 2024

Gary Daniel “Oscar” Walker Sr., 73, of Connelly Springs passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 following a period of declining health.

Oscar was born February 18, 1951, in McDowell County to the late Benjamin Franklin Walker and Mary Boston Walker. he worked as a deck foreman for Overnite Transportation and was a member of Unity Baptist...

Sep 30, 2024

Mrs. Frances Ann Mull Shull, 83, of Drexel, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Catawba Valley Medical Center, following a period of declining health. Frances was born on May 6, 1941 in Cleveland County, to the late John William Mull and Edith Gladden Mull. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, and will be greatly...

Sep 25, 2024

Mrs. Virginia Alverta Ford Stevens, 86, of Valdese passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at UNC Blue Ridge, Morganton, after a period of declining health. Virginia was born on March 15, 1938, to the late Julius McDonald (Mack) Ford and Thelma Bradshaw Ford.  She was an avid gardener, talented seamstress and a great cook. In addition to her parents,...

Sep 25, 2024

Mr. George Bennett Clark, 86, of Morganton, passed peacefully at his home, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. George was born on February 22, 1938, in Burke County to the late Robert Delane Clark and Anna Keller Clark. He was retired from the furniture industry, where he worked in service and sales. George was also a veteran of the U.S....

Sep 24, 2024

Betty Doyle Lingerfelt Brown, 94, of Valdese passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at College Pines Health and Rehab following a period of declining health.

Betty was born June 30, 1930 in Cleveland County to the late William Walter Lingerfelt and Grace Salvaggio Lingerfelt. Betty worked as a healthcare technician and was a member of Christ...

Sep 22, 2024

Mrs. Sharon Louise Cordell Hester, 70, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday September 22, 2024 at Amorem, Burke Hospice, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness.

Mrs. Hester was born February 2, 1954, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Paul Edward and Pearl Causby Cordell.  Sharon was a faithful and active choir member of...

Sep 21, 2024

Gary William Bowman, 76, of Morganton, passed away peacefully Saturday September 21, 2024 at his residence.

Gary was born on December 29, 1947 in Burke County to the late Harvey Andrew Bowman and Elva Blackburn Bowman. He was a graduate of Drexel High School and was in the second graduating class at Western Piedmont Community College in...

Sep 20, 2024

Mrs. Irneta “Nete” Buff Powell, 94, of Icard, passed away on Friday September 20, 2024 at Amorem Hospice of Valdese, following a period of declining health. Irneta was born on September 10, 1930 in Cleveland County to the late Ben Buff and Maude Tallent Buff. She went to Banoak School and was a retired seamer in the hosiery industry....

Sep 20, 2024

Mrs. Debra Kay Powell Hall, 67, of Hickory, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Debra was born on December 7, 1956, in Caldwell County to the late Clyde Powell and Maddie Dowell Powell. She was a member of Dudley Shoals Baptist Church in Granite Falls and was previously employed at C.R. Laine Furniture as a cloth cutter....

Sep 19, 2024

Mr. Troy Alan Fletcher, 71, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at UNC-BR Morganton, surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Alan was born on January 22, 1953, in Burke County to the late Troy Lafayette Fletcher Jr. and Marguerite Mourglea Fletcher. He was a retired brick mason, working in the construction industry for many...

Sep 19, 2024

Mrs. Donna Church Powell, 63, of Icard, passed away on Thursday September 19, 2024, at Mission Hospital after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Powell was born January 24,1961 in Avery County, a daughter of the late Clyde Sherman Church, Sr. and Frances Faye Bare Church Bostan.  Donna retired from Alba-Waldensian, Pineburr Plant and was a faithful...

Sep 17, 2024

Mr. Dennis Lynn Ninemire, 70, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation, after a brief battle with cancer. Dennis was born on June 7th, 1954, in Kaneville, Illinois. to the late Robert L. Ninemire and Ida Lee Ninemire. He was a U.S. Army veteran, retiring as a Staff Sergeant in...

Sep 16, 2024

Mr. Ralph Warren Mooney, 68, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly on Monday September 16, 2024 at his residence.

Mr. Mooney was born December 10, 1955 in Surry County, NC, a son of the late James and Dorothy Wall Mooney.  He was employed with the State of North Carolina as a programmer for a number of years.  Ralph...

Sep 15, 2024

Clyde Thomas Flowers, 85, of Hickory, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at Catawba Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.  He went peacefully surrounded by his family.

He was born April 12, 1939 to the late Paul Monroe Flowers and Edna Mae Little Flowers.  He went to Newton High School and was a member of the...