Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Irene Shook Queen

Irene Shook Queen

Nov 17, 2023

Mrs. Irene Shook Queen, 92, of Valdese, went to her Heavenly Home on Friday November 17, 2023, at College Pines Nursing Center, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Queen was born January 20, 1931, in Burke County, a daughter of the late, Russell Richard and Mae Etta Huffman Shook.  Irene was a charter member of United...

Susan Willis Wilson

Susan Willis Wilson

Nov 17, 2023

Mrs. Susan Willis Wilson, 65, of Hickory , passed away on Friday November 17, 2023 as the result of an automobile accident. Mrs. Wilson was born April 21, 1958, in Cleveland County the daughter of the Ethel Williams Willis and the late Glenn Willis. She retired as a cloth cutter from the furniture industry and was the caregiver for...

Billy Gene Elmore

Billy Gene Elmore

Nov 15, 2023

Mr. Billy Gene Elmore, 88, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Carolina Caring Hospice, following a period of declining health. Gene was born on May 28, 1935 in Cleveland County to the late Etta Sparks Elmore. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Dept. Gene began...

Michele M. Hornbuckle

Michele M. Hornbuckle

Nov 14, 2023

Michele Marie Moore Hornbuckle, 76, of Morganton passed away on Monday November 14, 2023 at her residence following a period of declining health.

Michele was born June 17, 1947 in Buncombe County to the late Burgess Moore and Annie Greene Moore. She owned M&M Tax Service and loved her business, customers, and working with numbers. She enjoyed...

Bobby Dean Bradshaw

Bobby Dean Bradshaw

Nov 14, 2023

Mr. Bobby Dean Bradshaw, 60, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Bobby was born on December 5, 1962 in Burke County to the late Clyde J. Pruett and Vernie Hudson Pruett. He was employed in product development in the furniture manufacturing industry. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jerry...

Virgil Edward Campbell

Virgil Edward Campbell

Nov 13, 2023

Mr. Virgil Edward Campbell, 83, of Granite Falls, passed away on Monday, November 13, 2023 after a period of declining health.

Mr. Campbell was born May 5, 1940, in Elizabethton, TN a son of the late Oasey Campbell and Katherine Reed Campbell Young.   He retired as a mechanic from the textile manufacturing industry.

In addition...

Thomas “Tommy” Nolan Thornburg, Jr.

Thomas “Tommy” Nolan Thornburg, Jr.

Nov 12, 2023

Thomas Nolan “Tommy” Thornburg Jr., 52, of Hickory, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 12, 2023. Tommy was born February 13, 1971 in Catawba County to Thomas Nolan Thornburg Sr. and the late Carol Huffman Allen. He was an out going person that enjoyed helping people, working on small engines, fishing and hunting. In addition to his mother, he...

Mavis Ruth Hudson Fortenberry

Mavis Ruth Hudson Fortenberry

Nov 12, 2023

Mrs. Mavis Ruth Hudson Fortenberry, 99, of Hickory, went to her Heavenly Home on Sunday November 12, 2023, after a period of declining health. Mrs. Fortenberry was born in Burke County, a daughter of the late Leslie and Velma Hildebrand Hudson. She was a graduate of George Hildebran High School, Mars Hill Junior College, Lenoir Rhyne University and Appalachian...

Donna Kaye Carpenter

Donna Kaye Carpenter

Nov 11, 2023

Donna Kaye Carpenter, 63, of Hildebran, passed away at Carolina Caring on Saturday, November 11, 2023, following a period of declining health. Donna was born on September 19, 1960, in Catawba County, a daughter of the late J. R. and Wanda Huffman Carpenter. Her granddaughter was her world, and she cherished the time that she was able to spend...

Eula Duncan West

Eula Duncan West

Nov 10, 2023

Eula Duncan West, passed away peacefully Friday November 10, 2023 at Rose Hill Retirement Community under the care of Care Partners of McDowell County.

She was 88 years old and  was born on April 11, 1935 in Burke County to the late David Lester Duncan and Emmer Elizabeth Garmon Duncan.

In addition to her parents...

Lori Pearson Crump

Lori Pearson Crump

Nov 8, 2023

Mrs. Lori Lynn Pearson Crump, 56, of Morganton, passed away on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at Catawba Valley Medical Center, following a period of declining health. Lori was born on May 18, 1967 in Paterson, NJ to the late Daniel Early Pearson and Linda Van Harkin Pearson. She was previously employed as a knitter in the textile industry. Lori...

Robert Ervin Deal Jr.

Robert Ervin Deal Jr.

Nov 6, 2023

Mr. Robert Ervin “Nub” Deal Jr., 72, of Morganton, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023 at the Charles George VA Medical Center, following a period of declining health. Bobby was born on November 1, 1951 in Burke County to the late Robert Ervin Deal Sr. and Verna Lee Cooper Deal. He graduated from Drexel High School in 1970,...

Ethan Gregory Lail

Ethan Gregory Lail

Nov 5, 2023

Ethan Gregory Lail, 33, of Hudson, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at his residence.

Ethan was born May 9, 1990, in Burke County, a son of Gregory and Kaye Mull Lail.  He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and employed as the kitchen manager of One Hundred Main in Valdese.  Ethan was a loving,...

Cliff Allen Carswell

Cliff Allen Carswell

Nov 5, 2023

“I was here, now I am gone and I won’t be back.”, Cliff Carswell.

Cliff Allen Carswell, 82, of Morganton, passed away November 5, 2023, at Amorem of Valdese after a period of declining health.

Cliff was born October 10, 1941, in Burke County, to the late Broadus and late Ollie...

Tracy Kim Annas

Tracy Kim Annas

Nov 3, 2023

Tracy Kim Annas born November 8, 1974, passed away November 3, 2023. Go rest high my baby. Love, Momma.

Naomi Butler Smith Weaver

Naomi Butler Smith Weaver

Nov 2, 2023

Naomi Butler Smith Weaver, 95, of Raleigh, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh following a period of declining health.

Naomi was born on April 11, 1928 in Connelly Springs, N.C., to the late Guy Rupert Smith and Margaret Parilee (Arney) Smith.  She graduated from Hildebran High School, where she was class...

Carl Andrew Costner

Carl Andrew Costner

Nov 2, 2023

Carl Andrew Costner, 63, went home on Thursday, November 2, 2023. He was the son of Kathleen Buff and the late Ray Andrew Costner.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife Dora “Polly” Costner; sister, Diane Crabtree of Glen Alpine; and brother, Todd Costner of Morganton. He is also survived by three step...

Melissa L. Sorber-Childers

Melissa L. Sorber-Childers

Nov 2, 2023

Melissa Louise Sorber-Childers, 44, of Valdese, passed away unexpectedly as a result of an accident that occurred on Thursday, November 2, 2023, also claiming the life of her husband, Ryan Childers.

Melissa was born April 6, 1979, in Pennsylvania, to Russel Sorber and the late Ellen Shaw Sorber.

In addition to her mother, Ellen Shaw...

James Edward Dale

James Edward Dale

Nov 2, 2023

James Edward Dale, 79, of Morganton, passed away Thursday, November 2, 2023, at UNC Healthcare Blue Ridge, following a brief illness.

Mr. Dale was born on May 14, 1944, in Burke County, to the late Johnnie A. Dale and Martha Louise Whisenant Dale. A veteran of the United States Army, after service, his careers included L.T. Fender...

Ryan Lee Childers

Ryan Lee Childers

Nov 2, 2023

Ryan Lee Childers, 44, of Valdese, passed away unexpectedly as a result of an accident that occurred on Thursday, November 2, 2023, also claiming the life of his wife, Melissa Childers.

Ryan was born August 5, 1979 in Catawba, to the late Arvin Childers and Jean Watson Childers.

In addition to his father, Arvin Childers,...

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