Rutherford Weekly

Page 24 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, May 21-May 27, 2015 BESSIE MAE HICKS Bessie Mae Hicks, 68, of Columbus passed away on May 11, 2015. She was the daughter of the late Dockey and Minnie Blackwell Bailey and wife of Jessie Hicks. She is survived by her husband, a son, Charles Smith; four daughters, Margie Beavers, Michelle Bradley, MaryAnn Waters and Michelle Godish; a brother, Weldon Bailey; three sisters, Grace West, Gladys Wilson and Hazel Smith and five grandchil- dren. She was prede- ceased by a grandchild, Breanna Nicole Waters. Funeral services were held at Bibleway Baptist Church and conducted by Rev. Larry McKee. Burial held in the church cem- etery. Memorials may be made to the Bessie Hicks Fund, P.O. Box 368, Landrum, SC 29356. Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneral- home.com. Petty Funeral Home & Crematory Landrum, SC is serving the family. BETTY TONEY Betty McKinney Toney, 95, of Ellenboro, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2015. A native of Cleveland County, she was born on June 27, 1919, a daugh- ter of the late Alvis L. McKinney and Nora Jean Smawley McKinney. She was a homemaker and farm wife and a member of Bethel Baptist Church. She loved to quilt, read and do word searches. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Zeno Toney; 6 brothers and 2 sisters. She is sur- vived by her sons, Phillip Toney and wife Brenda, Kenneth Toney, and Joe Toney, all of Ellenboro; her daughter, Susan Owens and husband Sidney of Rutherfordton; her grand- children, Donna and Lee McDowell, Allison and Ken Byrd, Heather and Derrick Clouston, Jonathan and Amy Owens; 6 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Sepaugh, Rev. Dr. Wayne Blackwood and Rev. Dr. Robert Toney. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Bethel Baptist Church, 379 Main Street, Ellenboro, NC 28040. M c K i n n e y - L a n d r e t h & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service is serv- ing the family. MARILYN SUE WRIGHT FOOTE M a r i l y n S u e Wright Foote, 78, of Rutherfordton, passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2015. A native of Flint, MI, Mrs. Foote was the daughter of the late William Russell and Hessey Morie Biggerstaff Wright. She was a home maker and a member of The Community of Christ Church in Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Foote is survived by her sons, Russell Foote and wife Denice of Rutherfordton, Doug Foote and wife Barb of Lolo, MT, Mark Foote and wife Jackie of Bozeman, MT and Matt Foote and wife Libby of Freeland, MI.; 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, step sister Ruby Sampson of Michigan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Lyle Martin Foote; step moth- er Elva Shorts Wright; two step sisters, Helen Hamicher and Maxine Mahan and one step brother Melvin Shorts. Memorial services were held at Crowe's Mortuary with Rev. John Perry officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary is serving the family. KAREN MASSON Karen Lee Masson, 62, of Lake Lure passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Born in Washington, DC on August 8, 1952, she was the daughter of Therman Lee Richards and the late Virginia Moak. For 25 years Karen worked as a Civil Service employee with the Department of Defense, ending her career working for the Inspector General of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in Washington, DC. Karen began her long career as a General Schedule (GS) Clerk Typist, retiring as a GS-15 Assistant Inspector General, all achieved without a college degree. Karen was a mem- ber of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Forest City, NC. She was also a member of the Lake Lure Lions Club and a mem- ber of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Early in her retirement, she volunteered at Rutherford Hospital. Survivors include her husband, Roger Masson and two sons, Michael Masson and Corey Masson and wife Leslie. Also surviving, father Therman Lee Richards and wife Mette Richards, one brother and two sis- ters. A celebration of life will be held June 20, 2015 from 12 until 2 PM at her home. Memorials are sug- gested to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the family. GENE MORROW WHITE, SR. Gene Morrow White, Sr., 76, of Forest City, went home to be with the Lord on May 14, 2015. Born June 6, 1938 in Cleveland County, he was a son of the late Howard White and Louise Byers White. Gene was a vet- eran of the U. S. Navy and owner and operator of C&W siding for twenty years. He was a beloved father to his children. He enjoyed his horses, cars, NASCAR and loved ani- mals. In addition to his par- ents, he was preceded in death by his twin broth- er, Jerry White and broth- er, Howard White; sister, Johnsie Abrams. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 53 years, Rosie Cannon White; three daughters, Donna Dimsdale of Forest City, Libby Cole of Forest City and Paula White of the home and one son, Gene White, Jr. also of Forest City; six grandchil- dren, Justin Cole, Brandie Cole, Andrew Dimsdale, Halie Dimsdale, Jeannie Starnes, and Jeff Towery; six great-grandchildren, Kalil McDowell, Cody McEntire, Clint McEntire, Haley Towery, Brett & Ben Towery; four brothers and sisters, Sue Rich, Diane Wilson, James White, and Boyce White. He is also survived by his extended family, Mike and Nancy Connor, Tony Sturgill, Amy Arrowood and Rex Towery. Funeral services were conducted at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Roy Hall and Mr. Garland Byers offi- ciating. Interment followed in Eternal Hills Memorial Park with military honors being accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. Memorial donations are suggested to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements. ARLENE COBERG Arlene O'Brien Coberg, 73, of Forest City, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2015. A native of Queens, New York, she was born on December 06, 1941, a daughter of the late Edward O'Brien and Marie Ciccicola O'Brien. She was a retired CNA and was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. She loved to do crafts, paint and draw. In addition to her par- ents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Marion Ciaglia and brother, Jerry Ciccicola. She is survived by her husband, Charles Coberg; her sons, Gary Coberg, Charles Coberg, Jr., Michael Coberg, Thomas Coberg and Joseph Coberg, all of NY; her daughters, Patricia Mejia of NY and Susan LaGala of NC; 15 grand- children; 9 great-grand- children. A Celebration of Life Service was held at Tanners Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wes Craven offici- ating. M c K i n n e y - L a n d r e t h & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service is serv- ing the family. JASON ERIC KENNEDY Jason Eric Kennedy, age 35 of Forest City went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, May 13, 2015. He was born June 14, 1979 in Rutherford County and is a son of W.D. and Terri Huntsinger Kennedy of Forest City. Jason was a truck driver for Tidewater Transit in Cowpens, SC. He enjoyed fishing and took a great interest in promoting and support- ing the Juvenile Diabetes Association in honor of his daughter "Izzy" who her- self is diabetic. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Claude Huntsinger and Sue Jolly and paternal grandparents, Paul and Emma Dixon Kennedy. In addition to his par- ents, he is survived by his wife, Heather Roane Kennedy, a daughter, Isabelle "Izzy" Kennedy both of the home, a broth- er, Marc Kennedy and wife Tracie of Forest City, and their children, Brayden and Addyson Kennedy, his father and mother- in-law, Larry and Sandy Roane of Union Mills, NC, brothers-in-law, Joshua Roane and wife Tori of Union Mills and their children, Shelby & Kylee Roane, and Matthew Roane and wife Jane of Weaverville, NC, and their son, Spencer Roane Funeral services were held in the Cornerstone Fellowship with Reverend Mike Snelgrove and Reverend Mike Deese officiating. Interment was private for the family in the Cool Springs Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 or visit: jdfr.org The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. ROBERT SAMUEL TONEY Mr. Robert Samuel Toney age 83 passed away Saturday, May 16, 2015. Born in Rutherford County, Robert was a son of the late Clarence Lawson Toney and Cumi Mull Toney; he was a member of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, a veteran of the U.S Army serving during the Korea War and was retired from the retail clothing industry. In addition to his par- ents he was preceded in death by four siblings Wade Toney, Catherine Melton, Carolynn Scruggs and Shirley Toney. Left to cherish his memory are four daugh- ters – Debbie Burns, Sherry Yelton and Bobbie Jean Sinclair all of Bostic, NC and Chris Shytle of Boiling Springs, SC; elev- en grandchildren and a number of great grandchil- dren. He is also survived by two brothers Dennis Toney of Rutherfordton, NC and Bennie Toney of Bostic, one sister Vivian Champion of Bostic, NC as well as a number of other relatives and friends. A celebration of life was held at Crowe's Funeral Chapel with Rev. Eugene Passmore officiating. Military Honor was pro- vided by The Rutherford County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to Hospice of Rutherford County P.O. Box 336 Forest City NC 28043. Crowe's Mortuary is assisting the family of Robert Samuel Toney. ©Community First Media Community First Media One of my fondest childhood memories is the bag of lemon drops that my Granny would carry in her purse. I can still remember, as a little boy, sitting through church and to keep my brothers and me from fi dgeting, she would pull out the bag of lemon drops and share them with us. To this day, every time I see a box or bag of lemon drops, thoughts of my Granny Cain run through my mind. You see, it was not all about the lemon drops, but about the love behind them. When we lose someone dear to us, our minds often latch on to those things which remind us of them. It really isn't about those things or actions remembered, but it is about the life and love we shared with them. It may be a certain place, a special song, a favorite meal, a habit or any other thing or characteristic which brings back memories of those we loved. The ability to hold on to those special moments, I believe is a gift from God. He has given each of us the power of memory. One of the blessings of life is that each new day gives us an opportunity to make a lasting memory in someone else's life. I often wonder, when it is our time to leave this world, what is that special act or item that we would have left behind to remind our family of our love for them? A good deed, a kind word, a small gesture of care are all ways that people may remember our life. Let us be busy each day touching the lives of others. It may even be a bag of lemon drops wrapped in love. LANNY FUNCHESS -FUNERAL DIRECTOR- Points To Ponder LOVE AND LEMON DROPS "Quality Service with Compassionate Care" Harrelson Funeral & Cremation Services 1251 U.S. Hwy 221-A, Forest City, NC 828-657-6383 www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com

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