Obituaries

Mar 23, 2024

Connie Elaine Hastings, 72, of Rutherford College, went to her Heavenly Home on Saturday March 23, 2024, at UNC Health Care, Morganton, after a period of declining health.

Connie was born November 17, 1951, in Cleveland County, a daughter of the late Rev. Buren Hastings and Muriel Spake Hastings.  She was a graduate of Hudson High School,...

Mar 22, 2024

Mr. John Yates Icard, 87, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024, at UNC Blue Ridge Morganton following a period of declining health.

John was born on April 14, 1936, in Burke County to the late John Icard and Mae Terri Stilwell Icard.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a longtime member...

Mar 21, 2024

Mr. Joel Louis Jones, 19, of Lenoir, passed away unexpectedly on March 21, 2024.

Joel was born January 18, 2005, in Caldwell County, a son of Adalberto Pavachigo and Stacy Jones of Lenoir.  Joel was a High School graduate and held an Associate’s Degree in Engineering.  He attended Joyston Missionary Baptist Church in Hudson, was fun loving...

Mar 19, 2024

Mrs. Loretta Deaton Miller, 72, of Lenoir, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at her residence, following a period of declining health. Loretta was born on November 12, 1951 in Perry County, KY to the late Christmas Deaton and Lois Campbell Deaton. She was employed as the owner and administrator of Grandview Villa Assisted Living. In addition to...

Mar 18, 2024

Clifford Enoch Johnson, 84, of Hildebran passed away on Monday, March 18, 2024 at Carolina Medical Center, following a brief illness.

Enoch was born July 4, 1939, in Burke County, to the late Raney Frank Johnson and Nellie Cline Johnson. Enoch worked at East Burke High School from the very beginning; he was on the committee for...

Mar 18, 2024

Mr. Larry Eugene Branch, 72, of Morganton, passed away peacefully, with his loving family by his side, on Monday March 18, 2024, at Amorem, Burke Hospice , after a period of declining health.

Mr. Branch was born April 21, 1951, in Burke County, a son of the late Vernon Ray “Buck” Branch and Thelma Mae Sparks Branch. ...

Mar 17, 2024

Gilda Rector Talmon, 82, of Rutherford College, passed away at home on Sunday, March 17, 2024, following a period of declining health. Gilda was born on April 7, 1941, in McDowell County, a daughter of the late Horace Russell Rector and Francis McCracken Rector. Gilda was a devoted member of the Women of the Moose for many years. She...

Mar 17, 2024

Harvey Dennis Lowman, 80, of Granite Falls, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday March 17, 2024, following a brief illness.

Dennis was born May 18, 1943, in Burke County, a son of the late Lealin Richard Lowman, a casualty of World War II, and Gladys Ogle Lowman Snypes.  He graduated from NC...

Mar 17, 2024

Rebecca Morris Torres, 95, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday March 17, 2024 at Amorem Hospice, following a brief period of declining health.

Rebecca was born September 25, 1928 in Burke County to the late John Robert Morris and Eula Shuford Morris.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband,...

Mar 17, 2024

Ms. Juni Albizu, 83, of Morganton, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Magnolia Lane Nursing & Rehabilitation Center following a period of declining health.

Ms. Albizu was born on September 12, 1940, in the Dominican Republic, a daughter of the late Antonio Albizu and Altagracia Albizu.

In addition to her parents,...

Mar 16, 2024

Brenda “Gail” McDaniel (59)

Gail gained her angel wings on March 16, 2024 in her home in Rhodhiss, North Carolina.

Born December 31 st 1964 in Rutherford County North Carolina.

Gail was born to the late Betty Ann and step-father Boyce Wishion. She was a graduate of Isothermal Community College. She worked in...

Mar 14, 2024

Mr. Alan Ray (Monk) Abernathy, 70, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday March 14, 2024 at Windover Hospice House, Shelby after a period of declining health.

Alan was born May 6, 1953, in Burke County, a son of the late Harrison and Allie Bowman Abernathy.  He retired as a cement truck driver, after many years of service...

Mar 14, 2024

Roy E. Keagy, Jr., 80, of Valdese, N.C., (formerly of Columbia, Pennsylvania) passed away unexpectedly on March 14, 2024, at UNC Health Blue Ridge Hospital in Morganton, NC.

Mr. Keagy was born June 30, 1943, in Columbia, Pa., the son of the late Roy E. Keagy Sr. and Mary Ann Goldsborough. He graduated...

Mar 13, 2024

Mrs. Julie Ann Cornett Icard, 83, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Cambridge House Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.

Julie was born on February 19, 1941, in Watauga County to the late Clyde Cornett and Blanche Phillips Cornett.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker, and...

Mar 13, 2024

Gail Renee Hullette, 64, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at UNC-BR Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Gail was born on December 14, 1960, in Burke County, to the late Billy Joe Hullette and Versie Lee Cook Hullette.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two...

Mar 13, 2024

Mr. Lester Alan English, 65, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at UNC-BR Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Lester was born on Apil 15, 1958 in Mitchell County to the late Claude English and Zulline English.  He was formerly employed as a machine operator in the furniture manufacturing industry. Lester always enjoyed...

Mar 13, 2024

Mrs. Diane Carol Bumgardner Icenhour, 57, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at her residence, following a period of declining health. Diane was born on October 26, 1966 in Ashe County to Lena Mae Maine Bumgardner and the late Steve Carroll Bumgardner. She was employed as a sewer for Carpenter Furniture in Hickory and attended...

Mar 12, 2024

Diana June Young Hass, 78, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Catawba Valley Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Diana was born July 10, 1945 in Buncombe County to the late Roy Young and Louise Brooks Young. She loved to read and spend time at the library, volunteering with various charities,...

Mar 11, 2024

Joe Willard Duckworth, 86, of Hildebran, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024 at UNC Blue Ridge – Morganton following a period of declining health.

Joe was born March 12, 1937 to the late William Dewey Duckworth and Rose Branch Duckworth. He was a member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church and served honorably in the United States...

Mar 11, 2024

Mr. Tommy Keller Lane, 50, of Hudson, died Monday March 11, 2024 as the result of an automobile accident.

Mr. Lane was born October 2, 1973, in Burke County, a son of Denis Lane and Cynthia Caraway Keys.  He was employed with JBS, a meat cutting co.

He is survived by his daughter, Taylor Kristine...