BALLARD — Thelma F. Bateman, 94, of Ballard, passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 13, 1911, at Red Sulphur Springs, she was the daughter of the late Chase and Lillie Underwood Ellison.
Mrs. Bateman was a homemaker and a member of the Orchard Women’s Club and a member of Primitive Baptist Church at Princeton.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Bateman; a daughter, Bonnie Psathas; and a brother, Charlie Russell Ellison.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Overton and husband, William, of Baltic, Conn.; a sister, Virginia Belcher of Ballard; a sister-in-law, Dollie Ellison of Peterstown; a son-in-law, Bill Psathas of Pearisburg, Va.; five grandchildren, Billie Psathas Jr., Melanie Landon, Amy Psathas, Penny Overton and W.B. Overton, III; and three great-grandchildren, Rachel, Ryan and Zoe.
Service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home Chapel, Peterstown, with Elder Paul Williams, Elder Joe Blevins and Evangelist Roger Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow in Orchard cemetery, Ballard.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown.
Kenneth Lee ‘Booney’ Borders Jr.
Kenneth Lee “Booney” Borders Jr., born April 17, 1961, through the union of Kenneth and Lucy Borders, departed this earthly realm on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005.
His earthly journey ceased after the passing of his paternal grandparents, Foster and Mary Borders; maternal grandparents, Tom and Bessie Jones; uncles, Foster Jr., Lenzie, Sammy, Augustus, Bill, Clinton, Cornelius, Henry, Paul and Tracy; aunts, Ana, Juanita and Oralee; and cousins, Anthony, Anthony Ray and Mary.
Immediate survivors include his son, Charles; his parents, Kenneth and Lucy; brother, Franklin; and sisters, Debra, Gloria, Sharon and Stephanie. Additional survivors include six nieces, Joneece, Kathy, Miranda, Moneece, Nicole and Renee; three nephews, Byron, Frank-ie and Jonathan; three great-nieces, Chesney, Karrington and Kennadi; and two great-nephews, Donovan and Josh-ua.
Other survivors are uncles, Lawrence and Loraine Jones; aunt, Mattie Walters of Beckley; uncle, Henry Jones and aunt, Patricia Irvin, of Columbus, Ohio; uncle, Chico Franklin; aunts, June Franklin, Louise Outlaw and Roberta Borders in Cleveland, Ohio; uncle, Gene Borders; aunts, Melvina Borders, Marie Borders and May McClain of Cincinnati, Ohio; aunt, Katherine Penn of Canton, Ohio; uncle, Alfred Borders; aunt, Lilly Borders in Fairborn, Ohio; numerous cousins; and special friend, Mary Lomax.
An avid interest in basketball from the time he was a toddler led him to become a star player with the Woodrow Wilson High School Flying Eagles. He initially began honing his skills starting at Piney Oaks Elementary School before progressing on to Park Junior High School. He also participated in football, playing for the East Beckley Wildcats as a youth.
The humble, gentle, loving Kenneth Jr. was an excellent worker until his physical health prevented him from being so. Prior to that, he had worked at Beckley Newspapers, where he was supervisor of production, Cracker Barrel, where he received numerous awards, and K&W.
Final rites for Kenneth Jr. will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Temple with the Rev. Walter Leach officiating. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Beckley.
Friends may call one hour before service Tuesday at the church.
Services entrusted to Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.
Harold ‘Tony’ Cameron
PINEVILLE — Harold “Tony” Cameron, 30, of Pine-ville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, at Charleston Area Medical Center, General Division, following injuries received from an automobile accident.
Calfee Funeral Service, Pineville, is serving the Cameron family.
Howard Cook
BLUE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Howard Cook, 83, of Blue Sulphur Springs, formerly of Eccles, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, at Alleghany Regional Hospital, Low Moor, Va., following a short illness.
Born Oct. 5, 1922, at Pine Knob, he was the son of the late Joseph Ulysses and Martha Ann Accord Cook.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Mae Bryant Cook; a sister, Arizona Bailey; six brothers, Dennis Cook, Lawrence Cook, Chap Cook, James Arthur Cook, Don Cook and George Cook; a granddaughter, Victoria Van Hoye; a grandson, Billy Van Hoye; and four infant great-grandchildren.
Mr. Cook was a retired maintenance worker, having retired from the West Virginia Department of Highways, Beckley, and was also a self-employed mechanic.
Survivors include four daughters, Dorothy Van Hoye and her husband, Bill, of White Sulphur Springs, Wilma Van Hoye and her husband, Charles, of White Sulphur Springs, Sarah Cook of White Sulphur Springs and Anita Cook of Thomas, La.; three sons, Randy Bryant of White Sulphur Springs, Arnold Cook of White Sulphur Springs and Jay Cook and his companion, Melissa Swearengin, of Warm Springs, Va.; a brother, Joseph “Buck” Cook, Jr. of Beckley; two sisters, Barbara Goss of Eccles and Anna Morris of Eccles; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. today at Lobban Funeral Home Chapel, Alderson, with the Rev. Frank Jones officiating. Burial will follow in McElhenney Church cemetery, Grassy Meadows.
Friends may call noon to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Corey Van Hoye, J.R. Vandal, Troy Henry, Eugene Vandal, Rodney Van Hoye and Gary Flora.
Arrangements by Lobban Funeral Home, Alderson.
Ann Milano Lorenz
On Friday, Dec. 2, 2005, surrounded by her family, Ann Lo-renz died peacefully at her home on Crystal Avenue. She was in her 85th year.
Christened Marianna Milano, Ann was born Jan. 4, 1919, at Reggio Calabria, Italy, the second of seven children born to Pietro and Marianna Serra Milano.
Ann came to the United States with her parents at the age of 18 months. Her family first settled in Cleveland, Ohio, then came to the coalfields of West Virginia, eventually settling in Sophia. At the age of 13, Ann quit school to work for her father, Pietro, at Sophia Cash Mart. It was this experience that helped Ann become one of Beckley’s most successful business women. At the Cash Mart, she learned the trade of butchering which gave her a keen sense about quality meats for her future in the food service industry. At the age of 23, Ann and her family moved to Pasadena, Calif. Her first venture in the restaurant business was the Colorado Grill on Colorado Avenue in Pasadena, which she operated for a number of years. Returning to Beckley in 1954, Ann opened Nan’s Lunch on Prince Street and the Beckley Supper Club on North Kanawha Street. Selling the business and moving to Miami, Fla., Beckley beckoned her back in 1964 where she opened The Char on the corner of South Fayette and McCreery streets. The Char continues to operate today as Beckley’s premier restaurant at 100 Char Ave.
Aside from her entrepreneur ventures, Ann had a great love for the Raleigh County Sheltered Workshop, now the Lillian James Learning Center. Serving on the Board of Directors, she was a major contributor to the center and was very active in their fund-raising activities. The children at the center always called Ann their “Guardian Angel.”
A Roman Catholic, Ann was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church. One of the highlights of her life was an audience with Pope John Paul II on Oct. 20, 1993.
In addition to her parents, Ann was preceded in death by three brothers, Frank, Johnny and Tony Milano.
Survivors include her belov-ed husband, Walter “Wally” Lorenz; she was the dear Mother of William “Bill” Browskey and his wife, Patty, of Beckley; loving grandmother to Kim Howell and great-grandmother of Kelli and Doss Howell, all of Bluefield. Two sisters and a brother also survive, Nancy Passal of Boca Raton, Fla., Mary Malignaggi and her husband, Frank, of Fullerton, Calif., and Sam Milano and his wife, Betty, of Villages, Fla.; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend, Wanda Crowder.
Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Francis de Sales Church, Beckley, with Father Samuel Sacus as celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum B, Beckley.
Friends may call 11 a.m. until time of service Monday at the church.
Pallbearers will be Ron Taylor, Joe Herrera, John Mandeville, Doss Howell, Darrell “Peanut” Holley and Eddie Highlander.
Donations of sympathy can be made to the Lillian James Learning Center, P.O. Box 698, Crab Orchard, WV 25827.
Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Beckley.
Tina Kessler Merritt
FAYETTEVILLE — Bettina Gale Kessler Merritt, 50, of Fayetteville, passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at her home.
Born Aug. 17, 1955, at Buckhannon, she was the daughter of Paul Edward Kessler and Betty Booth Kessler of Man.
Tina enjoyed spending time with her family and gardening. She was a homemaker and a former LPN. She graduated from the Smithers LPN School.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, John and Agnes Kessler; and maternal grandparents, Foster and Jewell Booth.
Survivors include her husband, Eddie Merritt; two sons, Eric Merritt of Fayetteville and Brad Merritt of Hico; parents, Paul and Betty Kessler of Man; three sisters, Tam Kessler of Man, Bobbi Griffin and husband, Byron, of Man and Andi Kessler of Fayetteville; a brother, Tim Kessler of Man; several nieces and nephews; special sister, Lillian Atkinson of Fayetteville; three brothers-in-law, Billy and Karen Merritt of Man, David and Cheryl Merritt of Man, and Robert and Kathy Merritt of Man; father and mother-in-law, Boots and Eloise Merritt of Fayetteville; and a very special aunt, Rosie Marshall of Fayetteville.
Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ansted Episcopal Church of the Redeemer with Father Roy Gene Crist officiating. Burial of cremains will follow in Huse Memorial Park, Fayetteville.
Family will receive friends one hour before service Tuesday at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 12110, Charleston, WV 25302.
Dodd-Payne-Hess Funeral Home, Fayetteville, is in charge of arrangements.
Edward Preston Meyers
Edward Preston Meyers, 80, of Beckley passed away Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, after a short battle with cancer.
He was born in Baltimore, Md., on June 26, 1925, the son of the late Joseph Meyers and Mary Hamrick.
Edward was retired from C&O Railroad where he worked as an engineer for 40 years. He served five years in the U.S. Army and three years in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the American Legion of Fayetteville.
Mr. Meyers also enjoyed playing bingo at the Beaver and Bradley fire departments.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years Patricia Meyers; a daughter Kathy Brubaker and husband, Robbie, of Roanoke; a beloved grandson, Brian Cass Jr. of Roanoke; and a very special companion, Casper.
Edward was deeply loved and will be sadly missed by all.
During his battle with cancer, he was taken care of by a very special, caring staff and doctors of the 4B unit at the Beckley VA Medical Center, and most of all by his very precious daughter, Kathy.
Edward generously donated his body to medical research and his wishes not to have a funeral or memorial service will be honored.
Jeffrey Glenn Morrison
LEWISBURG — Jeffrey Glenn Morrison, 29, of Lewisburg, died Friday morning, Dec. 2, 2005, following a sudden illness.
Born Sept. 6, 1976, he was the son of Wanda Irons Dolan of Lewisburg and the late Glenn Morrison.
He was a graduate of Greenbrier East High School and was presently enrolled at New River Community and Technical College.
Mr. Morrison was a member of Old Stone Presbyterian Church and shared his great love of music by performing locally and jamming with his friends on his beloved guitar.
He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn P. Morrison; maternal grandfather, Walter J. Irons; and paternal grandfather, Clyde M. Morrison.
Other survivors besides his mother include a brother, John W. Morrison of Lewisburg; sister, Jennifer Bias and husband, Rodney, of Jacksonville, Fla.; two nephews, Zack and Jacob Bias, and a niece, Molly Bias, all of Jacksonville; maternal grandmother, Emma Jane Irons of Lewisburg; paternal grandmother, Ruth Thompson of Logan; and his loyal companion, dog, Bob.
Service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Old Stone Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Drs. Dexter Taylor and Bill Hedrick officiating. Burial will be immediately following at Rosewood cemetery.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. today at McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Arrangements by McCraw Funeral Home, Lewisburg.
Boots Logan Sheppard
KOPPERSTON — Boots Logan “Jack” Sheppard departed this life Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 14 days at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division.
Born Dec. 17, 1939, at Williamson, he was the son of the late Sidney and Garnell Goodwin Sheppard.
Jack was a coal miner. He loved to hunt and fish.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Cora Faye Barlow Sheppard; a brother, Tolbie Sheppard; and a sister, Rosalie Balderson.
Those left to cherish his memory are a daughter, Lorrie Pafford and husband, Chris, of Newark, Del.; two brothers, Howard Sheppard and wife, Patty, of Kopperston and Donald Sheppard of Kopperston; three sisters Maxine Jude of Pembrooke, Va., Darlene Murphy and husband, Norman, of Kopperston and Debbie Hannah and husband, Terry, of Kopperston; two grandchildren Nikole and Logan Pafford of Newark; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be 11 a.m. today at Adam Toler Memorial Chapel, Oce-ana, with the Rev. James Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Palm Memorial Gardens, Matheny.
Casketbearers will be family and friends.
The family received friends 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Services entrusted to Adam Toler Memorial Funeral Home, Oceana.
