Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Kathleen Yates Leroux

Kathleen Yates Leroux

May 13, 2024

Mrs. Kathleen Yates Leroux, 64, of Valdese passed away on Monday May 13, 2024 at UNC Healthcare, Morganton, after a period of declining health.

Kathy was born July 20, 1959 in Ohio, a daughter of the late Thomas Richard and Norma Kingston Yates.  She was a loving wife, mother and a dedicated homemaker.

In addition...

Donna Watson Frye

Donna Watson Frye

May 13, 2024

Donna Kay Watson Frye, 78, of Taylorsville, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Atrium Health Wake Forest, following a period of declining health.

Donna was born December 26, 1945 in Catawba County to the late Charles J. Watson and Sharon Munday Watson. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Rhodhiss and retired from...

Tina Robin Scronce Hicks

Tina Robin Scronce Hicks

May 9, 2024

Mrs. Tina Robin Scronce Hicks, 58, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Wendover Hospice House, following a period of declining health.

Tina was born on November 1, 1965 in Burke County to the late T.C. Scronce and Gladys Davis Scronce.  She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who loved her animals and...

Dennis Allen Ross

Dennis Allen Ross

May 8, 2024

Mr. Dennis Allen Ross, 71, of Glen Alpine, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health. Dennis was born January 29, 1953 in Burke County to the late James Albert Ross and Zula Powell Ross. He was a retired mechanic in the auto industry, and later retired from Rexnord....

William Howard “Bill” Crump

William Howard “Bill” Crump

May 8, 2024

Mr. William (Bill) Howard Crump, of Connelly Springs, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024, following a brief period of declining health. He was 90 years young and led a remarkable life of service and dedication.

Bill was born February 4, 1934, in Catawba County, North Carolina to the late Jones Edward Crump and Margaret Goebel Crump. Bill...

Ernest Marvin Smith, Jr.

Ernest Marvin Smith, Jr.

May 7, 2024

Ernest Marvin Smith, Jr., 79, of Morganton, NC went to his heavenly home on May 7, 2024 after a period of declining health.

Born in Burke County, NC on July 28, 1944, he was the son of Ernest Marvin Smith, Sr. and Velva Etta Robinson Smith. Ernest was a member of Cross Memorial Baptist Church. He was...

Melvin Bobby Jones

Melvin Bobby Jones

May 6, 2024

Mr. Melvin Bobby Jones, 78, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday May 6, 2024, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Jones was born July 14, 1945, in Yancey County, a son of the late Gaither and Julia Fox Jones.  Melvin was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and a hard worker,...

Barbara Ann Jackson Campbell

Barbara Ann Jackson Campbell

May 5, 2024

Mrs. Barbara Ann Jackson Campbell, 80, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday May 5, 2024, at her residence, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Campbell was born October 15, 1943 in California.  Barbara was a loving homemaker and bookkeeper for her husband in his business, Campbell Plumbing.  She was a faithful member for over 60 years...

Deitric Lamar Williams

Deitric Lamar Williams

May 5, 2024

Deitric Lamar Williams, 41, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at UNC Chapel Hill, following a period of declining health.

Deitric was born May 30, 1982, in Burke County to Hattie Williams and the late James T. Poole. He was a quiet person that loved to be happy and make others happy as well....

Carolyn Pettrey Church

Carolyn Pettrey Church

May 4, 2024

Carolyn Pettrey Church, 79, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Atruim Health Cabarrus, following a period of declining health.

Carolyn was born May 4, 1945 in West Virginia, to the late George Washington Pettrey and Alva Lorena Higginbotham Pettrey. Carolyn was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a faithful...

John Allen Abernathy

John Allen Abernathy

May 4, 2024

Mr. John Allen Abernathy, 78, of Glen Alpine, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Abernathy was born April 17, 1946, in Burke County, a son of the late James Everette and Mary Alice Pitts Abernathy.  He was a retired electrician and served his country as...

Mary V. Wertz

Mary V. Wertz

May 1, 2024

Mary V. Wertz, 82, of Morganton, NC passed away on May 1, 2024, after a period of declining health.

Born Mary Virginia Hughes on January 15, 1942, to Walter and Ezel Hughes in Dixie, West Virginia. She met and married her husband, William L. Wertz, Sr. in 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio.

She was preceded in...

Eugene Hensley

Eugene Hensley

Apr 30, 2024

Mr. Eugene Hensley, 88, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Gateway Nursing & Rehab of Lenoir, following a period of declining health.

Eugene was born on December 15, 1935, in Yancey County, to the late James William Hensley and Mary McPeters Hensley. He was a graduate of the N.C School for the Deaf...

Abiel Michael Bynum Burns

Abiel Michael Bynum Burns

Apr 30, 2024

Abiel Michael Bynum Burns, 2, of Granite Falls, passed away unexpectedly on April 30, 2024, at Brenner Children’s Hospital at WFUBMC.

Abiel was born on November 8, 2021, in Catawba County to Keith Burns and Elisabeth Muller.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are grandmothers, Cheryl Muller and Lisa Hughes; grandfather, Keith Wade Burns; great-grandparents,...

Ayriel Jones

Ayriel Jones

Apr 29, 2024

Ayriel Jones passed away at Levine’s Children’s Hospital on Monday, April 29, 2024 following a brief illness.

Ariel was born April 14, 2024 in Mecklenburg County to Kenneth Jones and Heather Browning surrounded by love.  She was our angel while she was here.

Those left to cherish her memory include her parents; siblings, Kenneth Paul...

Derrell Edward Collins

Derrell Edward Collins

Apr 27, 2024

Mr. Derrell Collins, 71, of Morganton, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at his residence.

Derrell was born February 3, 1953 in Brevard, NC to the late Clarence Collins and Azzell Dodgens Collins. Derrell was a member of Bible Missionary Baptist Church and loved working with the men’s group and missions. He loved to be out...

Joyce Smith Brittain

Joyce Smith Brittain

Apr 26, 2024

Joyce Smith Brittain, 74, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024 at UNC Blue Ridge Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Joyce was born October 8, 1949 in Catawba County to the late Virgil Smith and Mary Duncan Smith. She worked as a branch manager for Members Credit Union and was a faithful...

Anna Elizabeth Divelbliss Zink

Anna Elizabeth Divelbliss Zink

Apr 24, 2024

Anna Elizabeth Divelbliss Zink, 72, of Morganton passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at her residence following a brief period of declining health.

Anna was born December 30, 1951, in Pennsylvania, to the late Dayton Divelbliss and Myrtle Shaffer Divelbliss. Anna will be remembered as a gardener, her love for fishing, her creative photography and her...

Delores Jones Vaughn

Delores Jones Vaughn

Apr 22, 2024

Delores Jones Vaughn, 64, of Granite Falls, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at her home in Granite Falls in the company of her dear friend, Vicki, and husband, George, following a period of declining health. Delores was born on July 2, 1959, in James City County, Virginia, a daughter of the late Robert Lee Jones and Racheal...

James Edward “Bud” Marlow

James Edward “Bud” Marlow

Apr 20, 2024

James Edward “Bud” Marlow, 74, of Newton, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024 following a period of declining health. Bud was born February 19, 1950 in Catawba County to the late Oliver Ray Marlow and Pauline Rudisill Marlow. He attended MarketPlace Church in Hickory. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Jerry...

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