Fred Marcum, 89, of Kermit, died on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, in the Mingo Manor Nursing Home in Williamson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, at the Neeley Baptist Church in Marrowbone.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Phelps and Son Funeral Home of Inez, Ky.
Lola Muncy
Lola Muncy, 81, of Kermit, died on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
She was born on March 3, 1922, in West Virginia, a daughter of the late John H. and Jennie Messer Lowe. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Seargent Jess Muncy.
She is survived by one son, Clyde Muncy of Huntington; one grandson whom she raised, Barry Muncy of Kermit; two daughers, Dottie Blevins and Peggy (Vick) Hurst, both of Reynoldsburg; two sisters, Maretta (Jess) Spaulding and Deloris (Alonzo) Spaulding, both of Kermit; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and special friends, Edna Dillon, Annie Waller, Brenda Williamson, Bertha and John B. Salmons, Birdie Ray and Ann Copley, Nancy Watson, Jessie Messer, Wayne Justice and many more.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, a the Walnut Grove Church of Christ with Birdie Williamson officiating. Burial will follow in the Lowe Family cemetery at Jennies Creek.
Visitation will be after 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at the church with services at 7 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home of Inez.
Bruce White
Bruce David White, 36, of Lenore, died on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, at the Mt. Carmel Hospital West in Columbus, Ohio.
He was born on June 20, 1967, in Man, W. Va., the son of the late Robert M. and Tilda Dempsey White. He was a disabled coal miner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his wife, Melinda Sue Mollett White.
He is survived by his stepson, Whitley R. Maynard of Kermit; stepdaughter, Sara S. Maynard of Kermit; seven sisters, Barbara (John) Baisden Todd of Columbus; Charlene (Dewey) Baisden Murphy and Patricia (Gregory) White Murphy, both of Lovely, Ky.; Rosella (Clinton) White and Deborah (Dean) White Brewer, both of Lenore; Ashley White of Debarton, and Diane White of Aimena, Spain; two brothers, Harold Baisden Jr. of Hatfield, Ky., and Robert M. (Tresa) White Jr. of Dingess; 12 nieces and nephews; one great-niece and two great-nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004, at the Warfield (Ky.) Chapel of the Richmond-Callaham Funeral Home with the Rev. Jaquine Ooton officiating. Burial will follow in the Murphy cemetery in East Kermit.
Visitation will be after 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, at the chapel.
Monia Olesky
Monia Elizabeth "Monnie" Turkette Olesky, 64, a woman with immense integrity and a powerful devotion to her family, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, in her daughter's home in Aurora, Ohio. She had been a Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, resident since 1968.
Monnie met death the same way that she took on life head-on, unflinching, more concerned about her family's emotions than her own painful struggle.
Her spirit soars again, just as it did during her childhood in Cinderella, when she roamed Sycamore Mountain and its Castle Rock with her cousins and neighbors.
Monnie was born on Aug. 1, 1939, in Williamson, the daughter of Fielden and Virginia Brooks Turkette. Monnie was named for her paternal grandmother, Monte Compton Turkette. Besides her parents, Monnie was preceded in death by her only brother, Larry Turkette, also a remarkable human being, who died in 1987 at the age of 44 in Beavercreek, Ohio. Larry's widow, Linda Smith Turkette, still lives there.
Williamson High School graduate Monnie met her husband, Monongah (W.Va) High School and West Virginia University graduate John Olesky, in Williamson on a baseball field when John was sports editor and later city editor of the Williamson Daily News. They shared their love for sports for nearly a half century. They were married
on Aug. 17, 1955, in Oakland, Md., and had lived in Glendive, Mont., Charleston, W. Va., Dayton, Ohio, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Cuyahoga Falls.
After her husband retired in 1996 as television editor of the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, Monnie and John traveled and shared the thrill of whale-watching off Maine, the majestic largeness of the Grand Canyon, the poignancy of "The Phantom of the Opera" in Toronto, the southwest's vastness and the O.K. Corral's smallness, the powerful and chilling wind atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the incredible beauty of the see-through azure water and the rain forest of the Caribbean, and every February for seven years, spent a month walking the beaches of Florida and drinking in the spectacular Gulf of Mexico sunsets. From their beachfront deck on Siesta Key, off Sarasota, they enjoyed reunions with former Akron Beacon Journal co-workers and, last year, Monie's uncle, Harry Turkette, and his mom, Laura Turkette, of New Port Richey, Fla., and once residents of Cinderella.
In the fall, Monnie and John (she often affectionately called him "Ol' Pot, " as in Winnie the Pooh's honey pot) enjoyed their season tickets to West Virginia University football, seated in Mountaineer Field next to John's sister, Jackie Straight of Riversville, W. Va., and Jackie's oldest daugher, Renee Straight of Fairmont, W. Va. Monnie and John also made road trips to Mountaineer games in Blacksburg, Va., against Virginia Tech; in Pittsburgh, against Pitt.; and in South Bend, Ind., to watch Notre Dame. In earlier years, Monnie and John particularly enjoyed having their grandson, John Richard Olesky, attend the Mountaineer Field games with them with his season ticket.
Monnie was exceedingly proud of her children: LaQuita Timberlake, who teaches learning-disabled children in Aurora, and is married
Tom Timberlake; John Larry Olesky, a University of Akron engineering graduate who is in management at Akron's Aircraft Braking System and lives in Tallmadge with his wife, Kathy Catt Olesky; and Monnie Ann Johnston, a CPA, who lives in Brunswick, Ohio, with her husband, Robert Johnston.
Monnie's devotion to her grandchildren is legendary. She took on the hell of chemotherapy, even though she had accepted her fate and was willing to give them more time to deal with her impending death. She told her grandchildren to be happy, not sad, for her because she is happy with the life she had, particularly with them in it. The grandchildren are Devin and Dylan Timberlake of Aurora, John Richard and Abby Olesky of Tallmadge, and Beth, Raymond and Monnie Lynn Johnston of Brunswick.
It brought Monnie great pride and soothing relaxation when she listened to Davin, Beth, Dylan and Raymond play the piano and Dylan also on the saxophone.
Calling hours for Monnie will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Firday, Feb. 6, 2004, at the McGowan-Reid and Santos Funeral Home at 247 Stow Ave.. Cuyahoga Falls with the euology at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be Saturday, Feb. 7, in North Lawn Memorial Gardens in Cuyahoga Falls.
In lieu of flowers or donations, give your grandchildren or small children an extra hug today. Tell them that Monnie had you do it. Monnie would like that.
Maurine Harless
Maurine K. Harless died in Mobile, Alabama on Monday February 2, 2004.
She was born Maurine Kay Lockwood August 8, 1941, in Huntington, W. Va., Maurine to Bettie Kirk Lockwood and Maurice W. Lockwood.
Maurine graduated from primary and secondary schools in Kermit, West Virginia. She graduated from Greenbriar College for Women in Lewisburg, West Virginia and graduated with a baccalaureate degree in library sciences from West Virginia University in Morgantown. Maurine began married
life in Gilbert, with her husband, Larry. They lived there with their children, James Howard Harless II and Maurice Kirk Harless, until 1966. The Harlesses
moved to Mobile in 1966. Maurine had a lifelong fascination with history, architecture and preservation. She worked for many years to preserve America's visible history in the Historic Mobile Preservation Society and the
National Trust for Historic Preservation. Maurine was tireless in her efforts to maintain Oakleigh and to redeem the Battle House. She was a board member of the Mobile Historic Development Commission and of the Allied Arts
Council. Maurine also was devoted to history as an accomplished genealogist.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and, more prestigiously, a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames XVII Century.
She also led an active social life, traveling extensively in Central and South America, Europe, the Far East, and the Holy Land. Maurine provided decades of service in Mobile as a sustaining member of the Junior
League. Maurine was a renowned hostess and an outstanding cook. She also served as president of a Mystic Organization. Her husband's naming an
oceangoing ship "Maurine K." in 1975, also honored Maurine. Maurine was predeceased by her mother, Bettie K. Lockwood, by her grandmother, Kittie C. Kirk, by her husband, Larry Joseph Harless, and by her mother-in-law, June Harless. Maurine is survived by her father, Maurice Lockwood of Spanish Fort, Alabama and her father-in-law James Howard Harless of Gilbert; James Howard (Sjon) Harless, II and Maurice Kirk (Paula) Harless, all of Mobile; her brother, Kirk Lockwood, and her sister-in-law, Martha Spencer, of Houston, Texas; niece and namesake, Rachel Maurine Lockwood, of Richmond, Texas. "Mine" also was the doting grandmother of Hope, James Howard III, Chelsea, Kittie, Hannah, Chase, Preston, and Nathan. Maurine manifested an extraordinary combination of beauty, style, grace and intelligence. She was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. Her family and many friends grieve deeply at her passing.
Visitation will be Friday, February 6, 2004, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2004 at noon from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home.
Internment will follow at Pine Crest cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Historic Mobile Preservation Society, 300 Oakleigh Place, Mobile, Alabama 36604. Funeral arrangements are by Radney Funeral Home, 31255 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36606, (251) 479-4547.
Violas Sammons
Violas Thacker Sammons, 84, died at home on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, in Pataskala, Ohio.
Violas was born in Williamson on Oct. 24, 1919, to the late Lula and Newman Sammons. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had retired from the Norfolk and Western Railroad in 1979. Following retirement Violas moved to Pataskala where he enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, quilting and woodworking. He was an active member of the Summit Baptist Church where he continued to teach a Sunday school class and sing until past the age of 83.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 13 years, Myrtle Rhodes Sammons; son, Glen (Pat) Sammons and daughters Janice (Chester) Brown and Rebecca (Hollis) Coleman, all of Pataskala; one sister, Gladys Blevins of Lucasville, Ohio; grandchildren Deborah (Mike) Collins, Angie (Stacy) Morgan, Steve Brown, Dave (Quinn) Sammons, Scott (Kim) Sammons, Rene (Matt) Six and Shelley (Dana) Coleman Casto; six great-grandsons; two great-granddaughters; stepson, Mack Dale Rhodes of Williamson; stepdaughters, Carolyn (Freddie) Newsome of Williamson; and Donna (Ronnie) Varney of Reynoldsburg; four step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Robert E., Frank, Harry and Bruce Sammons; sisters, Ada Sammons, Lucille (Surface) Sammons; and loving wife of 51 years, Ruth Gaynell Frazier Sammons.
Friends may call at the Kauber-Miller Funeral Home in Pataskala on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. where the funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 9, with Pastor Bryan Andy and Pastor John Hays officiating. Interment will be in the Glen Rest Memorial Estate.
Pallbearers will be Steve Brown, Dave Sammons, Scott Sammons, Mike Varney, Randy Rhodes and Wes Rhodes.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Summit Baptist Church, Building and Remodeling Fund, 7239 Summit Road, Pataskala, Ohio 43062. An online memorial will be located at kaubermiller.plan4ever.com
Dr. William G. Gorby
Dr. William G. Gorby, D.O., J.D., age 53, of Maple Lake, passed away suddenly early Monday morning, February 2, 2004, at his residence. Born April 6, 1950, in Clarksburg, he was a son of William Darrell and Sara Harner Gorby of Bridgeport.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his beloved wife, the former Sharyn Reitz, whom he married
March 26, 1994; three children, 2nd Lt. William M. Gorby of Morgantown, who is stationed at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, W. Va. and twins, Chad Robert Gorby and Brenna Lynn Gorby, both of Bloomsburg, PA; a brother, John N. Gorby and his wife Cindy of Fayetteville, W. Va.; his father-in-law, William Reitz of Brookville, Pa.; several brothers and sisters-in-law including Brenda Powell and her husband Chuck; Rowland Reitz and his wife Anna and William Reitz, Jr., all of Brookville, ; as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and friends.
Dr. Gorby graduated from Bridgeport High School, Class of 1968. He obtained his bachelor of science degree in biology in 1972 and completed his master's degree in biochemistry in 1974, both from West Virginia University. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, in June of 1978. He completed an internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Pinellas Park, Fla., in June of 1979. His residency in anesthesiology was completed at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in August of 1981 and finally completed a fellowship in chronic pain therapy pain management at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, in June of 1982. He was also on staff and carried privileges at several area and tri-state hospitals.
After several years of practice, Dr. Gorby then entered the Dickenson School of Law at Penn State University in 1995, where he graduated in 1998 with a juris doctorate. He was most recently associated with Williamson Wellness Center in Williamson, practicing rehabilitation medicine and pain management.
He was an avid outdoorsman and adventurer as well, having recently returned from a caribou hunt in Alaska. He was an accomplished historian particularly regarding the French and Indian War periods and local Harrison County history. Also, he regularly wrote articles for a national history magazine and was in the process of collecting research data for a book on the history of Harrison County.
Dr. Gorby held his commercial pilot's license and was a certified scuba diver. He enjoyed landscaping, woodworking and was a talented artist.
Even through his many talents and accomplishments, Dr. Gorby remained a kind, down-to-earth and very friendly person. Bill, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, had as many friends among general hospital staff members as he did among physicians. He will always be remembered as a kind, devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Ave., Bridgeport, from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2004. The funeral service will be held at the Bridgeport United Methodist Church on Thursday, February 5, 2004, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Steven E. Dorsey and Rev. Edsil Bragg co-officiating. Graveside committal services will be held directly following the funeral service for the immediate family in Bridgeport cemetery.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to either the Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave., Bridgeport, WV 26330 or the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library, 404 W. Pike St., Clarksburg, WV 26301.
The family of Dr. William G. Gorby, D.O., J.D. has entrusted his arrangements to Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Ave., Bridgeport.
Donald Barrett
Donald Ray Barrett, 65, of Naugatuck, W. Va., passed away Monday, February 23, 2004, at his residence.
Born September 2, 1938, in Stone, Ky., to the late Allen R. Barrett and Thelma Bilter Barrett, he was a retired self-employed painter. Mr. Barrett was of the Church of God faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Verlie Mae Barrett; and one son, Danny Jarvis.
Surviving are his sons, Hart (Jacqueline) Jarvis of Crum, W. Va., Donnie (Lisa) Jarvis of Winco Block, W. Va. and Roy Lee Jarvis of Ajax, W. Va.; daughter, Norma Lee (Bill) Caroll of Ajax, W. Va.; brother, Darrell B. Barrett of Chattaroy, W. Va.; sisters, Penny (Jim) Kauffman of Norfolk, Va. and Patty (Charles) Kirby of Norfolk, Va.; a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 26, 2004, 12 noon, at Pilgrim Home United Baptist Church at Maher, W. Va. with Brothers Earl White, Chris Hensley, Mitchell Elkins and Matthew Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Jarvis cemetery at Winco Block. His grandchildren and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held anytime Wednesday at the church with services at 7 p.m.
Hatfield Funeral Chapel of Toler, Ky. has assisted the family with arrangements.
William Whiteside Jr.
William Whiteside, Jr., 90, of Willow Grove, Pa., died February 11, 2004, at his home.
Born February 15, 1914 in Coeburn, Va., to the late William, Sr. and Elizabeth Whiteside, he retired in 1959 from Allen Creek Coal in Red Jacket, W. Va. and from the Springfield Township School District.
Surviving are his four sisters, Gertrude White, Cal., Mozell and Ida Mae Whiteside of Cleveland, Ohio, and Deloris Whiteside of Tenn.; children, Helen Lawson of Riviera Beach, Fla., Robert (Mary) Whiteside and Betty Jo Davis both of Philadelphia, Pa., Louis Whiteside of Willow Grove, Pa., Linda Whiteside of Rosalyn, Pa. and Paul Douglas (Beverly) Whiteside of Willow Grove, Pa.; devoted grandson, Tyrone Whiteside; 29 grandchildren, which includes Marvin (Sherri) Brown of Williamson; a host of great grandchildren and many friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 21, 2004 at 10 a.m. at McKinley Memorial Baptist Church in Willow Grove, Pa. Rev. Lowell M. McCown, pastor, officiated.
Arrangements were handled by W.D. Jackson Funeral Home, Willow Grove, Pa.
This is a courtesy obituary provided by Gregory Funeral Home, Williamson.
Kenneth McNeely
Kenneth Adrian McNeely, 33, of Elk Creek, Delbarton, W. Va., passed away Thursday, February 5, 2004, at Ruby Energy, Delbarton, W. Va.
Born January 18, 1971, in Virginia, to Mrs. Ed (Cathryn) McClure Balan of Melbourne, Fla., and the late Morris McNeely, he was an electrician for Ruby Energy, Delbarton, W. Va.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two grandfathers, Harry A. McClure and Elmer McNeely.
Surviving in addition to his mother, are his wife, Natasha Marcum McNeely of Delbarton, W. Va.; son, Dalton McNeely of the home; daughter, Taylin McNeely of the home; grandmothers, Cathryn McClure of Virginia and Billie McNeely of Williamson, W. Va.; brother, Morris "Moe" McNeely of Ohio; sister-in-law, Pam McNeely of Lenore, W. Va.; three aunts, Pat (Vince) Romano of Virginia, Roberta Chafin of Virginia and Stephanie (Randy) Walters of Louisiana; two nieces, Cathryn and Catrine McNeely; and two nephews, Alex and Jacob; special cousin, Desirae.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 8, 2004, 2 p.m., at Rogers Funeral Home with Andy Kohari, Mike Kohari and Harvey Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Maher, W. Va. The second shift crew at Ruby Energy will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held after 6 p.m. Saturday at Rogers Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of R. E. Rogers Funeral Home, Belfry, Ky.
Robert Varney
Robert N. Varney, 77, of Hatfield Bottom, Matewan, W. Va., passed away Friday, February 6, 2004, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital.
born February 13, 1926, in Red Jacket, W. Va., to the late Pliant Varney and Daisey Hooker Varney, he was a retired coal miner with Eastern Coal Corp. Mr. Varney was a member of Local Union 5737 and UMWA and served with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was a devoted husband and loving father.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Robby I. Varney and six brothers and three sisters.
Surviving are his wife of 38 years, Ivalene Thacker Varney of Matewan, W. Va.; son, Robert Keith (Paige) Varney of Canada, Ky.; daughters, Vicki (Burton) Murphy of Delbarton, W. Va. and Barbara Sue Grogan of Columbus, Ohio; brothers Reed Varney of Cleveland, Ohio and Ralph (Gertie) Varney of Sandyville, W. Va.; sisters, Lillie (Bob) Pochedley of Columbus, Ohio, Jean (Al) St. John of Livonia, Mich., Delores Donahoe of Detroit, Mich. and Pricie Machinsky of South Gate, Mich.; eight grandchildren, Jordan Murphy, Matthew Murphy, Eden Varney, Laken Jude-Beckett, Gary Rife, Vanessa Kay Rife, Tammy (Jeff) Wiseman and David Lambert; two great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 8, 2004, 11 a.m., at Rogers Funeral Home with Ravin Fields officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Memory Gardens, Huddy, Ky. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be held after 6 p.m. Saturday at Rogers Funeral Home with special services at 7 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of R. E. Rogers Funeral Home, Belfry, Ky.
