Ronald "Ronnie" Alan Carswell
Mar 18, 2026
Ronald Alan “Ronnie” Carswell, 67, of Vale, passed away on Wednesday March 18, 2026, at Carolina Caring Hospice, after a period of declining health.
He was born April 28, 1958, in Burke County, a son of the late Mack Carswell and Beatrice Carswell Shepherd. Ronnie retired as a truck driver with Salem Leasing, transporting goods. He was a loving father, grandfather,...
Marty Joe Bryan
Mar 18, 2026
Mr. Marty Joe Bryan, 47, of Stony Point, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Marty was born on April 15, 1978, in Iredell County to the late Roger Meredith and Sonja Bryan, and was raised in Alexander County. He was a member of Freedom Baptist Church and was employed as an auto mechanic for many years. He was a...
Marty Joe Bryan
Mar 18, 2026
Mr. Marty Joe Bryan, 47, of Valdese, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Marty was born on April 15, 1978, in Iredell County to the late Roger Meredith and Sonja Bryan, and was raised in Burke County. He was a member of Shining Light Baptist Church and was employed as an auto mechanic for many years. He was a...
Kristen Elise Gath
Mar 16, 2026
Kristen Elise Gath, 41, of Drexel, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026, after a sudden and unexpected illness.
Born May 31, 1984, in Burke County, Kristen was the beloved daughter of Kenneth and Karen Lingafelt Gath. She was a woman of faith and attended Living Hope Church. As a trained CNA II, she devoted her life to caring...
Sherri Lynn Foreman
Mar 16, 2026
Sherri Lynn Morgan Foreman, 75, of Lenoir, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026, at her residence, following a period of declining health.
Sherri was born on December 29, 1950, in Springfield, IL to the late Robert Henry Morgan and Mary Alice Buzick Morgan. She was a retired teaching assistant in the public school system. She enjoyed writing and journalism and...
Ruby Smith Gibby
Mar 16, 2026
Ruby Smith Gibby, 85, of Morganton, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026 at her residence following a period of declining health.
Ruby was born January 20, 1941 in Burke County, the only child of the late James Elbe Smith and Vernie Pritchard Smith.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by her husband, Jerry Herbert Gibby and a...
Danny Gene Huffman
Mar 15, 2026
Danny Gene Huffman, 66, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at his home following a period of declining health.
Danny was born August 3, 1959 in Burke County, a son of the late Billy Burgin and Sylvia Jean Franklin Huffman. He owned D&T Automotive in Connelly Springs, and he spent many years working there as a mechanic....
Nita Rose Smith
Mar 15, 2026
Nita Rose Smith, 88, of Connelly Springs, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at UNC Health Care, Blueridge.
Mrs. Smith was born December 27, 1937, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rex and Ila Lail Smith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Ray Smith and a son, Jerome Smith.
A lifelong...
Effie Mae Stilwell
Mar 13, 2026
Effie Mae Stilwell, 91 of Hildebran, went home to be with Jesus, peacefully at the home of her daughter on March 13th, 2026 after a period of declining health.
Born August 20, 1934 in Burke County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Edgar Cicero Stilwell and Ollie Mae Godfrey Stilwell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death...
Dixie Rae Dowler McKenzie
Mar 12, 2026
Dixie Rae Dowler McKenzie, 72, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Grace Heights following a period of declining health.
Dixie was born August 26, 1953 in Fulton County, IL, a daughter of Virginia Smith Dowler and the late Raymond Dowler. She was a graduate of Canton High School class of ’71 and worked at the Valdese bakery...
Margaret Ingle Cook
Mar 8, 2026
Margaret Marie Ingle Cook, 103, of Henry River Road, Hickory, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation of Granite Falls after a period of declining health.
Margaret was born on February 23, 1923, in Burke County, NC, a daughter of the late John and Nellie Shuffler Ingle. She was the oldest of eleven children. She...
Jerome Scott Covington
Mar 7, 2026
Jerome Scott Covington, 44, of Maiden, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at his home.
Jerome was born March 8, 1981 in Catawba County to the late Wanda Covington. He worked as a truck loader and loved to fish in his spare time.
In addition to his mother, he is preceded in death by his uncle and the man that helped...
William Dewey Harmon
Mar 7, 2026
William D. Harmon, 81, of Connelly Springs passed away on Saturday March 7, 2026, at Catawba Valley Medical Center, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Harmon was born on August 17, 1944, in Banner Elk, NC, a son of the late William F. and Mary Mae Ward Harmon. William was faithful member of Fresh Fire Church in Hildebran and retired...
Leon Lester Ledford
Mar 7, 2026
Leon L. Ledford, 89, of Icard, went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday March 7, 2026, at his home with his loving family by his side.
Mr. Ledford was born January 15, 1937, in Gaston County, a son of the late Rev. A.V. and Ida Sue Faulkner Ledford. Leon was a faithful and active member of First Baptist Church Hildebran, serving...
John Lee Munday
Mar 6, 2026
John Lee Munday, 59, of Hildebran, passed away on Friday March 6, 2026, at his residence, after a period of declining health.
John was born March 4, 1967, in Burke County, a son of the late Cecil J. “Bud” and Rachel Burris Munday. He was formally employed as a machinist in the tool and dye industry. John was a lifelong member...
Fred Alexander Simmons
Mar 5, 2026
Mr. Fred Alexander Simmons, 54, of Valdese, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at UNC-BR Morganton.
Alex was born on July 7, 1971 in Burke County to Rachel Lucinda Ingle Simmons and the late Jack Horace Simmons. He was previously employed as a cook with several local restaurants, including Fry Daddys, Granny’s Kitchen, and B&B Food Store.
Surviving in addition to...
Wayne Posey Maney
Mar 5, 2026
Wayne Posey Maney, 71, of J. Iverson Riddle Development Center, passed away on Thursday March 5, 2026 after a period of declining health.
Wayne was born October 2, 1954, in Swain County, a son of the late Posey Maney, Jr and Marilyn Lindsey Maney.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, John Henry and Beulah W....
Caroleen Cooke Rhoney
Mar 5, 2026
Martha Caroleen Cooke Rhoney, 77, of Vale, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Thursday March 5, 2026, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Rhoney was born June 5, 1948, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Calvin “Dopey” and Ruby Hoyle Cooke. She was an active member Mull’s Chapel Baptist Church and was a compassionate,...
Blanche Rena Powell
Mar 1, 2026
Mrs. Blanche Rena Sweet Powell, 59, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, in Knoxville, TN.
Rena was born on September 18, 1966, in Catawba County to the late Everette Leroy Sweet and Sarah Bell Breeden Sweet. She was formerly employed as a machine operator in veneer manufacturing. Rena was a loving...
Marvin Douglas Andrews
Mar 1, 2026
Marvin Douglas “Doug” Andrews, age 77, passed away unexpectedly at his home on March 1, 2026.Doug was born on February 28, 1949 in Caldwell County to the late Marvin Pershing Andrews and Mildred Bean Andrews.
He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Doug spent his working years as a transport driver, a career he took pride in and one...
