: OBITUARIES :
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MAX PRESNELL

Max Presnell, 69, of Waynesville, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, March 5, 2009 at the John F. Keever Solace Center.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Lonnie and Mae Belle Wiseman Presnell.  He was also preceded in death by 2 great grandchildren.  Max was very active in his community and deeply loved.

Surviving are his wife:  Linda Anglin Presnell; 3 daughters:  Karen Hudgins, Helen Presnell and Linda Presnell all of Burnsville; 2 stepdaughters:  Dawn Buddenhagen of Travelers Rest, SC and Penny Arrington of Canton; 2 sisters:  Mildred Swalinski of Waynesville and Wilma Webber of Boone; 3 brothers:  Haston Presnell of Richmond, VA, Lowell T. Presnell and Howard Presnell of Burnsville; 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday in the Fellowship Independent Baptist Church of which he was a member.  Rev. Anthony Greene will officiate.  A graveside service will be held at 4:00 PM Saturday in the Youngs Chapel Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Burnsville.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home and from 10 until 11:00 AM Saturday prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to Care Partners Hospice and designated to John F. Keever Solace Center, P. O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

LEROY McCRACKEN

LeRoy McCracken, 73, of Burnsville, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at his home.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Harry and Bessie Ellison McCracken.  He was also preceded in death by his son:  Ricky Jay McCracken; a sister:  Ruth Butler; and, a brother:  Jimmy McCracken.

Surviving are his wife:  Della Edwards McCracken; daughter:  Elaine Whitson and husband, Roger, of Green Mountain; daughter-in-law:  Tonya McCracken of Burnsville; 3 sisters:  June McCracken of Gray, TN, Fay Jenkins and husband, Harold, of Johnson City, TN, and Shirley Martin of Thomasville; a brother:  Doug McCracken of Hickory; 6 grandchildren; and, 5 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  The Revs. Steve Robinson and Glen Autrey will officiate.  Burial will be in McCracken Cemetery.

The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

JAMES C. WHEELER

James C. Wheeler, 88, of Arden, passed away March 2, 2009.  He was born October 22, 1920 in Burnsville, NC.  Preceding him in death was a brother:  Charles Wheeler.  Surviving are his wife:  Billie Doris Wood Wheeler; a sister:  Gladys Silvers of Burnsville; and, 12 nieces and nephews.  James was a member of Laurel Branch Baptist Church at Pensacola, NC.  He was a son of the late Floyd and Maude Wheeler.

James was a veteran of World War II, having served proudly in the Pacific, Aleutian Islands, and in the recovery effort of Nagasaki, Japan.  By trade he was an instrument mechanical engineer, working at the Atomic Energy Savannah River Project in Aiken, SC, and later retired from Gerber in Skyland in 1985.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Wood Cemetery at Pensacola.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Life together was so good for James and Billie as husband and wife.  God put a song in their hearts, a song of love and devotion.  They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary March 7th.

HUNTER MANEY

Hunter Maney, 92, of Indian Creek, went home Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Mountain Manor Assisted Living.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late C. C. and May Ball Maney.  He was the husband of Beatrice McIntosh Maney who died in 1980.  He was preceded in death by brothers:  Oliver Maney and Kenny Maney.  Hunter was a WWII Army Veteran having served 3 ½ years in The Pacific.  He was a farmer and a respected member of his community and will be missed by all who knew him.

Surviving are a son:  Garrett Maney of Burnsville; 5 grandsons:  Neil Maney, Kevin, Travis, Gregory and Alan Bagwell all of Burnsville; 4 sisters:  Ethel Maney of Burnsville, Alice McSwiggin of Maryland, Emogene Longmire of Henderson and Pearl Day of Georgia; a brother:  Claude Maney of Anchorage, AK; a niece:  Katherine Case and 3 great nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Philip Garland will officiate.  Burial will be in the Maney Cemetery with military graverites conducted by Sgt. E. L. Randolph Chapter 57 DAV. 

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

The Maney family wishes to extend their appreciation to Hospice of Yancey County for the care and support during Hunter’s long illness.

LELA TAYLOR DOAN

Lela Taylor Doan, 88, died Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at Holly Springs Retirement Center in Rutherford County.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Troy and Luella Adkins Taylor.  Lela was retired from the Hadley Corporation, Robinson’s Family Clothing and as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  She was also preceded in death by a daughter:  Margaret Nell Doan.

Surviving are her husband of 73 years:  Jeff; sons:  William Doan and wife, Jackie, and Jeff David Doan, Jr. and wife, Katrinka, both of Asheville; a daughter:  Lois Evelyn Gornto and husband, Norris, of Ellenboro; grandchildren:  Kendall Doan and wife, Karen, Tracy Gornto Bell and husband, Mike, Kristie Gornto Bogle, Johnny Doan, and Wendy Gornto Bennett and husband, Todd; 8 great grandchildren:  Travis and Cassidy Bell, Dalton Doan, Hannah, Victoria and Olivia Bennett and Ben and Franklin Bogle.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.  The Rev. Davy Shelton will officiate.  Burial will be in the family cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

A reception for friends and family members will follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Burnsville, NC 28714, or Hospice of Rutherford County, P. O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.

ARLE HONEYCUTT

Arle Honeycutt, 78, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord Monday, February 16, 2009 at Mission Hospitals Memorial Campus.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Lonnie and Mary Bryant Honeycutt.  He was also preceded in death by a sister: Mable Morrison; 4 brothers:  Eugene, Wayne, Cecil and Jimmy Honeycutt and a great grandson:  Aiden Stamper.  Arle was a self-employed building contractor and a retired foreman with Tyner Construction Company.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Thelma Wilson Honeycutt; 4 daughters:  Carol Danford and husband, Joe, and Terrie Patton of Burnsville; Shirley Gibbs and husband, Buddy, of Orlando, FL and Debbie Callahan of Sugar Hill, GA; a sister:  Kay Champion and husband, Leo, of Carolina Beach; 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Thursday in West Burnsville Baptist Church of which he was an active member, serving as Deacon and Trustee.  Pastor Ricky Ray and Rev. Buddy Gibbs will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 PM prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P. O. Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714 or Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC  28714.

MASEL HOWELL

Masel Howell, 72, of the Crabtree Community, went to his Heavenly Home Monday, February 16, 2009, at his home after a long illness.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Joe and Caroline Bradford Howell.  He was also preceded in death by a sister:  Nadine Howell; and, a brother:  J. R. Stanley.  Masel was a retired coal miner.

Surviving are his wife:  Evelyn Payne Howell; a son:  Steve Howell and wife, Sherry, of Ash Camp, KY; 2 daughters:  Ruth Ann Harris and Theresa Potter of Pikeville, KY; a foster daughter:  Jessica Renfro of the home; 4 brothers:  Roy Howell and wife, Ellen, of Patterson, VA, Arthur Howell and wife, Earlene of Anacoca, LA; Eugene Howell and wife, Jackie, of Marion, and Charles Howell of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; 3 sisters:  Ella Shafer of Kenova, WV, Dixie Byrd of Burnsville and Susie Lewis of Gastonia; 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren; and, many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2PM Thursday in Crabtree Chapel Baptist Church, of which he was a member.  The Revs. Fred Proctor and Cephas Renfro will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM Wednesday at Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the care given by Hospice of Yancey County.

JACK L. WILSON, JR.

Jack L. Wilson, Jr., 45, Attorney-At-Law, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, February 12, 2009 in the St. Joseph Campus of Mission Hospitals.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of Jack and Maphrie Chrisawn Wilson of Burnsville.  He was preceded in death by a brother,  James Ronnie Wilson.  A U. S. Marine Corps Veteran with 5½ years of service, Jack was a graduate of Appalachian State University, received his law degree from The University of North Carolina, and established a law practice in Burnsville in 1991.  Mr. Wilson had served several years as a Trustee of Mayland Community College, was an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast and was a founding member of The Mount Mitchell Toy Run.  Jackie touched many lives and will greatly be missed by all his family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister:  Debbie McCartha and husband, C. E., of Old Fort; 3 brothers:  Ricky Wilson of Conover, Larry Wilson and Dennis Wilson of Burnsville and 6 nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 8:00 P.M. Monday in the chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Forrest Westall will officiate.  Military graverites will be conducted by the U. S. Marine Corps at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday in the Robinson Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 8:00 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Mount Mitchell Toy Run or Hospice of Yancey County.

LUCKY HENSLEY

William Lucky Hensley, 51, of the Little Creek Community, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, February 12, 2009 at UNC Hospital at Chapel Hill.   A native of Yancey County, he was the son of the late Freemont Hensley and the grandson of Ulysses and Sally Hensley, who raised him.

Surviving are his wife:  Sherry Hensley; a stepson: Raymoth Camby of Burnsville; his mother:  Jackie Moore of Thomasville; two sisters:  Sandy Petterson of Silver Valley and Lisa Smith of High Point; four brothers:  Michael Stanley of Okinawa, Japan, William Stanley, Jr. of Archdale, Freddie Stanley of Randleman and Chuck Catlett of Burlington.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P. M. Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  The Revs. Waylon Ledford and Lew Franklin will officiate.  Burial will be in the Ulysses Hensley Cemetery on Little Creek.

The family will receive friends from 12 Noon until 2 P. M. prior to the service.

HOMER T. PRICE

Homer T. Price, 89, of Burnsville went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Mission Hospitals Memorial Campus.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Will P. and Eula Harris Price and the husband of Elsie Simmons Price who died in 2004.  Homer was a World War II Army Veteran and Past Master of Burnsville Lodge #717 AF & AM.

Surviving are his sister and brother-in-law:  Billie Jean and Lee Thompson of Burnsville; 2 nephews:  Roger Thompson of Burnsville and Tim Thompson of Omaha, NE; 2 nieces:  Sherry Dale and Jennifer Laws of Burnsville; 9 great nieces and nephews and 2 great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Sunday in West Burnsville Baptist Church of which he was a member.  Revs. Ricky Ray and Roger Thompson will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church and at other times, at the home of Billie Jean and Lee Thompson.

 

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