Rita Joan (Hunt) Duran, 68, died Thursday January 1, 2004 at University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tenn.
She attended College Hills Church of Christ in Lebanon, Tenn. and the Fellowship House where she had many good friends.
She was born December 31, 1935 at McVeigh, Ky. The daughter of Lee and Ermie Hunt. On March 31, 1954 she married Eugene M. Duran.
She is survived by three sons, Eugene Jr., Lee and Ricky Duran and two daughters, Victoria and Mary all of Chicago, Il.; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and companion Tom Witcher as well as brothers Cecil and Ival Hunt and sisters Ruby, Myrtle and Virginia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eugene, son Michael, one brother James and two sisters Gertrude and Lula.
Visitation and viewing Saturday January 3, 2004 from 12-6 p.m. followed by chapel services at 6 p.m. by Dr. Larry Locke at Sellars Funeral Home, 313 W. Baddour Parkway Lebanon, Tenn. Phone (615) 444 -9393. Entombment will take place at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Il.
Billy Beard
Billy James Beard, 74, of Williamson, W. Va., passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at Appalachian Regional Hospital, South Williams-on, Ky.
Born May 1, 1929, in Coburn, Va., to the late Orbin Beard and Mary K. Taylor Beard, he was a retired coal miner. Mr. Beard was a member of Turkey Creek Freewill Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Blanche Trent; and one brother, Kyle Beard.
Surviving are his wife, Myrtle Bostic Beard of Williamson, W. Va.; sons, James (Pepper) Beard of Bow, Wash., Danny (Carol) Beard of Turkey Creek, Ky. and Gary (Sarah) Beard of Canada, Ky.; four sisters, Lucille Kennedy of Charleston, W. Va., Clyde Gallant of Gardner, Ma., Geneva Helms of Louisville, Ky. and Helen Francis of Canada, Ky.; 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24, 2004, 11 a.m., at Rogers Funeral Home with Jimmy Stanley officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memory Gardens, Huddy, Ky. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held after 6 p.m. Thursday and anytime Friday at the funeral home with special service at 7 p.m. Friday.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of R. E. Rogers Funeral Home, Belfry, Ky.
Fred Smith
Fred Smith, 55, of Matewan, W. Va., passed away Monday, January 19, 2004, at his home.
Born June 11, 1948, in Mingo County, W. Va., to the late Fritz Smith and Myrtle Allen Smith, he was retired from the railroad. Mr. Smith worked as a radio announcer and as a photographer in the Matewan area. He was a US Navy veteran.
Surviving are his brothers, Irvin Smith of Buskirk, Ky., Frank L. Smith of Ashland, Ky. and Leroy Smith of Chandler, Ind.; and sister, Florene Penington of Columbus, Ohio.
No services are scheduled.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chambers Funeral Services, Inc. of Matewan, W. Va.
Virgil Howard
Virgil Howard, 63, of Belo, W. Va., passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at his home.
He was born December 17, 1940, at Myrtle, W. Va. He was the son of the late Lonnie and Pearl Maynard Howard. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Chester Howard, and a sister, Latona Huff. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his brothers, Don Howard of Delbarton, W. Va., Basil Howard of Florida and Greg Howard of Belo, W. Va.; sisters, Dorothy Newsome of Belo, W. Va. and Billistine Mahone of Grafton, Ohio; nine nieces and one nephew.
No funeral services are planned at this time.
Alfred Lockard
Alfred "Butch" Lockard, 51, of Hillsville, Va., formerly of Ragland, W. Va., passed away January 1, 2004 in the Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax, Va.
Born March 31, 1952 at Puritan Mines, W. Va., he was the son of the late Alfred Sr. and Eula "Bootie" Montgomery Lockard. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Jackie Lee White. Mr. Lockard was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his wife, Vickie Blankenship Lockard; two sons, Jackie Lee and Brandon Joshua Lockard of the home; a daughter, Crystal Brown of Chapmanville, W. Va.; two sisters, Deborah Ooten of Dayton, Ohio and Pam Dardi of Pikeville, Ky.; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at Chafin Funeral Home Sunday morning at 11 a.m., January 4, 2004, with Rev. Paul Caudill and Rev. Mike Varju officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. View Memory Gardens at Maher, W. Va. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday evening.
Chafin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Melinda Wolford
Melinda Sue Wolford, 33, of Matewan, W. Va., formerly of Phelps, Ky., passed away Thursday, January 1, 2004, at Williamson Memorial Hospital.
Born November 24, 1970, in South Williamson, Ky., she was the daughter of Luther C. Wolford and Peggy Sue Rutherford Wolford, both of Phelps, Ky. She was the store manager of Family Dollar.
She is preceded in death by two uncles, Ricky and Donnie Wolford.
Surviving are her brother, Clint Wolford of Phelps, Ky.; aunts, Deanna Hatfield of Phelps, Ky., Donna Pruitt and Doris Blankenship, both of Matewan, W. Va.; and paternal grandparents, Clara and Cleve Wolford of Phelps, Ky.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 7, 2004, 1 p.m., at Phelps Funeral Services Chapel, with Rev. Benny Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in the Wolford Family Cemetery at Phelps, Ky.
Serving as pallbearers are Clint Wolford, Chad Hatfield, Terry May, Richie Holt, Eugene Burgraff, James Darrell Lester, Jeremy Hatfield and Jamie Hatfield.
Visitation will begin Monday, January 5, 2004, at 6 p.m., at the chapel with services nightly at 7 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Phelps Funeral Services at Phelps, Ky.
Dorothy Plesco
Dorothy Plesco, 79, of Varney passed away on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at the Appalachian Regional Hos-pital in South Williamson, Ky.
She was born on Sept. 8, 1924, in Majestic, Ky., the daughter of the late Hudson Jacob and Minnie Colim-bine Few Watts Sr. She was a retired factory worker and a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Nick Colie Plesco; two brothers, Clif-ford E. "Pete" Watts and his wife, Jane, and Hudson Jacob "Pood" Watts Jr. and his wife, Joyce; and one sister Joyce "Toby" Schrimsher.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12, 2004, at the Chafin Funeral Home with Bill Snodgrass officiating. Burial will follow in the Lenore Memorial Gardens in Lenore.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 11, at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Chafin Funeral Home of Delbarton, W. Va.
Arisba Ooten
Arisba Ooten, 90, of Myrtle, W. Va., passed from this life January 11, 2004, at Logan Regional Medical Center. She was surrounded by the loving arms of family and friends.
Born December 6, 1913, she was a founding member of the Duncan Fork House of Prayer and the daughter of Matt and Jurusha Mounts (both deceased).
Arisba was also preceded in death by her husband, Ballard Ooten; son, Madison Ooten; two daughters, Mary Elsie Ooten and Dorothy Ooten; sisters, Amy Hundley, Catherine McGee, Nancy Runyon and Delphia Runyon; and brothers, William Mounts and Samuel Mounts.
Survivors include her children, Jurusha (Earl) Parsons, Floyd (Sue) Ooten, Delphia Lucille Brotherton, Gertie Jean Hall, Vada Ruth (Roger) Ooten, Russell Paul Ooten, all of Duncan Fork, Ballard (Beatrice) Ooten of Delbarton, Arnold Tea (Betty) Ooten of Bias, and Julian Ray (Shirley) Ooten of Belo.
Survivors also include 28 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 15, 2004, 11 a.m., at the Duncan Fork House of Prayer with Pastor Roger Ooten and others officiating. Burial will follow at Ooten Cemetery, Duncan Fork, W. Va.
Visitation will be held at Duncan Fork House of Prayer, beginning Tuesday, January 13, 2004, at 4 p.m. for family members with family and friends gathering at 6 p.m. Services will be held each evening at 7 p.m. with Rev. Lewis Hall and other Duncan Fork ministers officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Chafin Funeral Home of Delbarton, W. Va.
Matthew Ross
Matthew "Sweet Pea" Ross, 31, of North Matewan, W. Va., passed away Friday, January 9, 2004, at his residence.
He was born March 2, 1972, in Williamson, W. Va., to the late Willard Ross Jr. and Anna Rose Thornsberry Ross.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his niece, Tracy Rennae Ross.
Surviving are his brothers, Willard "Tony" Ross III of North Matewan, W. Va., Tony Ray Ross of North Matewan, W. Va., Ossie (Cindy) Ross of North Matewan, W. Va. and Michael (Wanda) Ross of Beech Creek, W. Va.; sister, Melinda Hurley of North Matewan, W. Va.; four nephews; and six nieces.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 1 p.m., at Cornerstone Church, Matewan, W. Va., with Jim Ed Whitt, Dave Stratton and Charles Meeks officiating. Interment will follow at Family Cemetery, Rutherford Hollow, North Matewan, W. Va. Friends and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
The family will have a Service of Remembrance from 6 - 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Cornerstone Church with special services at 7 p.m.
Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler, Ky. has assisted the family with arrangements.
Rodney Kennedy Jr.
Rodney Darren Kennedy, Jr., 24, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, formerly of Varney, W. Va., passed away Friday, January 9, 2004, at his residence in Mount Airy, N.C.
Born April 19, 1979, in Williamson, W. Va. to Rodney Elbert Kennedy of Ballard, W. Va. and Lana Browning Kennedy McCoy of Mount Airy, N.C., he was a construction worker. and of the Bap-tist faith.
Surviving are his companion, Rhonda Overby of North Carolina; his father, Rodney Kennedy of Ballard, W. Va., mother, Lana McCoy of Mount Airy, N.C.; special friend, Sandy Christian of Monroe, W. Va.; one sister, Rhonda Nicole Kennedy of Mount Airy, N.C.; one special niece, Chaynoa Marie Kennedy of Mount airy, N.C.; Uncle Bernie and Aunt Connie Kennedy of Varney, W. Va.; Uncle Tim and Aunt Kathy Prater of Lake Walles, Fla.; one cousin, Kourtney Prater of Lake Walles, Fla.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004, 1 p.m., at Mounts Funeral Home in Gilbert with the Rev. Bill Snodgrass officiating. Burial will follow in the Hatfield Cemetery, Hampden Pallbearer will be Family and friends.
Friends may call Mounts Funeral Home Chapel Tues-day, Jan. 13, from 6 - 9 p.m.
Mounts Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tilda McCoy
Tilda Taylor McCoy, 91, of Sprigg, W. Va., departed this world to be with the Lord Monday, January 19, 2004, at Skilled Nursing Facility, ARH.
Born August 13, 1912, in Zebulon, Ky., to the late Auldie Taylor and Loney Cisco Caudill, she was a retired Rawl Sales employee. She was a member of the Sprigg Freewill Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas McCoy; grandson, Fred "Tony" Dearfield; two great grandchildren, Taylor and Hayleigh McCoy; half-brother, Bob Allen; and two half-sisters, Bertha Allen and Ortha Estepp.
Surviving are her sons, Bernie (Ruth) McCoy of Kissimmee, Fla., Franklin (Natalie) McCoy of Ravenswood, W. Va. and Donald (Lois) McCoy of Sprigg, W. Va.; daughter, Jean Pinson of Turkey Creek, Ky.; half brother, Troy Allen of Hurley, Va.; half sister, Edith Smith of Hurley, Va.; eight grandchildren, Tammy Chapman, Amy (Curg) Martin, Timothy McCoy, Sonya (Sean) Adkins, Brian McCoy, Kay (Rick) Jarvis, Theresa (Jerry) Beverly, and Brenda (Jack) Pate.; nine great grandchildren, Brittany Chapman, Mackenzie and Alexis Martin, Jonathan and Justin Adkins, Shannon O'Dell, Christy, Scott and Misty Pate; and one great great grandchild, Kauhlin Pate.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 22, 2004, 1 p.m., at Hatfield Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Harvey Grimmett and Rev. Verlin Epling officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens at Huddy, Ky.
Serving as pallbearers are Curg Martin, Timothy McCoy, Brian McCoy, Shannon O'Dell, Sean Adkins and Rick Jarvis.
Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, 6-9 p.m., at the funeral home with services at 7 p.m.
Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler, Ky. has assisted the family with arrangements.
Ervin Allen Jr.
Ervin Allen Jr., 50, of Ft. Gay, W. Va., passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2004. He was born July 12, 1953, to the late Ervin Allen Sr. and Armenda Bragg.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24, 2004, 11 a.m., at Phelps & Son Warfield Chapel with Ken and Jess Allen officiating.
Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Warfield Chapel.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Phelps & Son Funeral Home.
Rev. Marcus Wells
Rev. Marcus Wells, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away Monday, January 19, 2004. He was born June 4, 1924.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 24, 2004, 1 p.m., at Sulphur Springs United Baptist Church with Jimmy Maynard officiating.
Visitation will be held at noon Saturday at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Phelps & Son Funeral Home.
Donna Hatfield
Donna Sue Hatfield, 70, of Varney, died on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004. at the Appalachian Regional Hospital in South Williamson, Ky.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete and will be announced at a later date by the Hatfield Funeral Home of Toler, Ky.
