Obituaries

Aug 9, 2023

Earl Dean Auton Jr., 62, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

Junior was born December 11, 1960 in Cleveland County to Roena Setzer Smith and the late Earl Dean Auton Sr. Junior was employed at Drexel Heritage for twenty six years and loved woodworking and building things. He also had a great love...

Aug 8, 2023

Mr. Larry Gordon Spiess, 77, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at College Pines Nursing Center following a period of declining health.

Mr. Spiess was born September 28, 1945, in Kane County, Illinois, a son of the late Carol Pearson.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Spiess is preceded in passing by...

Aug 7, 2023

Mrs. Jean Thomason Patton, 93, of Morganton, passed away on Monday August 7, 2023 ,at Catawba Memorial Medical Center, Hickory, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Patton was born June 26, 1930, in Ohio.  Jean lived in Morganton most of her life where she and her husband were the owners and operators of the Greyhound Bus...

Aug 7, 2023

Mr. Clegg Vernon Abernathy, 85, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2023 at Amorem Hospice of Burke, following a period of declining health. Vernon was born on January 21, 1938 in New Hanover County to the late Vance Clegg Abernathy and Hazel Icard Abernathy. He was veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was a retired...

Aug 6, 2023

Mrs. Ruby Lingafelt Wilson Wood, 95, of Morganton, passed away on Sunday August 6, 2023 with her loving family by her side, after a period of declining health. Mrs. Wood was born December 5, 1927 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Thomas Oscar Lingafelt and Ruth Chester Lingafelt Curtis. She was a member of the First Assembly...

Aug 5, 2023

Mrs. Alda Rebecca Perkins McKinney, 84, of Asheville, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the John Keever Solace Center in Asheville, following a period of declining health. Alda was born on April 11, 1939 in Burke County to the late Clifford Foster Perkins and Julia Lail Perkins. She was a longtime member of North Morganton United Methodist...

Aug 5, 2023

Louise Cooke Herman, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Carolina Caring following a period of declining health. Louise was born August 28, 1941 in Burke County to the late Loy H. Cooke and Minnie Bevins Cooke. Louise was a member of Mtn. Grove Baptist Church of Mountain View, Hickory. She was a loving...

Aug 5, 2023

Mr. Carl Robert Peppeard, 81, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at UNC Health Blue Ridge, Morganton, following a period of declining health.

Mr. Peppeard was born on December 8, 1941, in Ohio, a son of the late Lawrence Edwin and MildredLouise Beardeley Peppeard. He served his country in the United States Army. Mr....

Aug 4, 2023

While surrounded by his family, Gerald Dean Huffman, Sr., 76, of Connelly Springs, passed away suddenly at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on Friday, August 4, 2023. Mr. Huffman was born to the late Paul and Edith Huffman on April 8, 1947, in Burke County. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in passing by his wife of...

Aug 3, 2023

Mr. Dwayne Alan Smith, 43, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at his residence. Dwayne was born on June 12, 1980 in Burke County to Philip Herbert Smith and Irma Banner Smith. He was employed as the owner/operator of Hildebran Towing. Surviving in addition to his parents, are his four children, Madison Smith, Karter Smith,...

Aug 3, 2023

Wilma Lee Greene Townsend, 74, of Connelly Springs passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Carolina Rehab Center of Burke after a period of declining health.

Wilma was born October 16, 1948, in Wilkes County, to the late Garfield and Amelia White Greene. Early in life, she enjoyed being outside, tending to her gardens, and fishing...

Aug 1, 2023

Michael Starr “Mike” Burnette, 68, of Morganton passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at his residence.

Mike was born May 18, 1955 in Burke County to the late Norman Burnette and Ruby Whisnant Burnette. He enjoyed playing softball, fishing, and tinkering around to fix things.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in...

Jul 30, 2023

Mr. Kenneth James Canipe, 87, of Valdese, was led to his heavenly home by a band of angels, on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in his home after a period of declining health. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family, holding the hand of his bride, and loyal companion, his dog Katie who was always by his side.

Jul 30, 2023

Mr. Windall Emmett Voyles, 74, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday July 30, 2023, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, after a period of declining health.

Windall was born December 21, 1948 in Ellijay, GA, a son of the late Luther Houston and Ethel Mae Parrish Voyles.  He retired as a machinist with the furniture...

Jul 30, 2023

Sharon Hagy Preswood, 67, of Hickory passed away Sunday, July 30, 2023 at her home following a period of declining health. Sharon was born March 24, 1956 in Washington County, VA to the late Joseph Hagy and Ellen Marie Price Hagy. Sharon will be remembered as a great mother, and wonderful grandmother, who never missed an episode of Wheel...

Jul 27, 2023

Mr. Franklin Carswell Hyde, 85, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at his residence, following a period of declining health. Franklin was born on March 15, 1938 in Burke County to the late Louise Lowman Hyde. He was a retired inspector in the furniture manufacturing industry. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death...

Jul 26, 2023

Mr. Donald Eugene Chapman Jr., of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday July 26, 2023, at Transylvania County Regional Medical Center, Brevard, NC after a period of declining health.

Mr. Chapman was born June 3, 1980, in Burke County, a son of Annette Causby Chapman and the late Donald E. Chapman, Sr.  Donald was formally employed as a...

Jul 24, 2023

Justin Flay Pruitt, 37, of Casar, North Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Mr. Pruitt was born on April 18, 1986, in Burke county, a son of Ronnie and Tamila Barrett Pruitt. Justin had a passion for cooking, becoming recognized as an accomplished chef. He enjoyed fishing in his spare...

Jul 23, 2023

Mr. John Henry Lail, 71, of Hickory, found rest with his Savior, on Sunday, July 23, 2023, following a period of declining health. John was born on July 2, 1952 in Catawba County to the late Dock Henry Lail and Callie Carswell Lail. He was a longtime member and Deacon of Calvary Baptist Church in Hickory. He was previously...

Jul 23, 2023

Mary Frances Stallings Icard, 77, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Catawba Valley Medical Center following a period of declining health.

Ms. Icard was born on August 23, 1945, in Cabarrus County, a daughter of the late Jeff Daniel and Ellen Irene Rheinhart Stallings.  She loved to make homemade quilts.  As a CNA,...