: OBITUARIES :
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IKE SAM BRADFORD

Ike Sam Bradford, 75, of the Pensacola Community, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2014 in Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late John Emery and Essie Hylemon Bradford.  Ike was an employee of Yancey Builders Supply for 35 years and worked at Glen Raven Mills.

 

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Sarah Calloway Bradford; a daughter, Kathy Bradford of the home; 2 sons:  Sammy Bradford and David Bradford and wife, Valorie, of Burnsville; 3 grandchildren:  Santeala Bradford, Shyanne Bradford and Shane Burleson; sisters:  Elizabeth Lewis of Morganton, Gertrude Higgins and Mae Allen of Marion, Pearl Bailey and Della Renfro of Erwin and Bobbie Sue Silvers of Washington County, TN; brother, Mack Bradford of Erwin;  and several nieces and nephews also survive.

 

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Ralph Hedrick will officiate. Burial will be in the Eddie McMahan Cemetery, at Low Gap.

 

The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 PM Wednesday, prior to the service, at the funeral home.

RUTH EDWARDS HOWELL

Ruth Edwards Howell, 93, of Green Mountain, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2014, at the home of her daughter in Blue Ridge Lake, Georgia.  Born in Mitchell County, N. C., she was the daughter of the late Harrison Odel and Tessie Peterson Edwards.  She was also preceded in death by her husband:  Richard Horton Howell; and, 4 siblings:   Opal Hefner McKinney, Ted Edwards, H. D. Edwards and Beatrice Elane.

Survivors include her daughter:  Sharon Howell Walden and husband, William Walden, of Blue Ridge, GA; sister:  Betty Ambrose of Erwin, TN; and, favorite nephews:  Gaylon Hefner of Montgomery, AL, Todd Ambrose of Erwin, TN and John Howell of Green Mountain, NC.

Ruth enjoyed needlepointing, reading and news programs, and her Siamese cat, Precious.

Special thanks to John Garland of Green Mountain, NC, and caregivers:  Cathy Ballew of Murphy, NC, Wanda Burke of Epworth, GA, Dell Ray Brooks of Copperhill, TN, and Wilda Dickey of McCarpsville, GA, who were like family to Ruth and her daughter and son-in-law.

Graveside services will be at 1 P. M. Monday, January 13, 2014, in Fairview Cemetery at Horton Hill. 

For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the Fannin County, Georgia scholarship fund in memory of Mrs. Ruth Howell, P. O. Box 1883, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, or United Hospice Foundation, 162 Jeurgens Court, Norcross, GA 30093.

MARGARET BANKS ALLEN

Margaret Banks Allen, 70, of Burnsville passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at Mission Hospital in Asheville.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of Kathleen Banks Honeycutt of Burnsville and the late John M. Banks.

 

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are a son, Jonathan A. Banks of Burnsville; 3 sisters:  Mary Nell Edwards of Charlotte, Jeraldine Penland and husband, Jerry, and Betty Ann Banks all of Burnsville.

 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Dale Banks will officiate.  Burial will be in the Banks Cemetery on Banks Creek.

 

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

THOMAS 'AUDIE' MURPHY

Thomas “Audie” Murphy, 57, of the White Oak Community went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 4, 2014.  He was a son of the late Fred and Shirley Murphy Loftis.  Audie was also preceded in death by a sister, Diane Loftis.

 

Surviving are his wife, Linda Brackin Murphy; daughter, Victoria Murphy; stepson, Keith Robinson; nephew, Jerry Angel and wife, Kristal; great nephews:  Daydrick and Nolan Angel all of Burnsville; sisters:  Sylvia Cox of Asheville and Rebecca Lynn Miller of Weaverville.

 

No services are planned at this time.

 

CORA 'BETTY' FOX

Cora ‘Betty’ Fox, 84, of Burnsville passed away Sunday, January 5, 2014 at Spruce Pine Brian Center.  She was the wife of Clyde Fox who died in 1989.  She was a former employee of Glen Raven Mills and a member of Mt. Mitchell Baptist Church.

Surviving are a sister-in-law, Neta Wilson Fox of Burnsville; a brother-in-law, Albert Fox and wife, Becky, of Weaverville, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Forest Westall will officiate.  Burial will be in the Robinson Cemetery on Rock Creek.

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

Memorials may be made to Mt. Mitchell Baptist Church, 198 Dovers Branch Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

WILLIAM B. 'BILL' PROFFITT

William B. “Bill” Proffitt, 75, of Byrd Branch Road, Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord, Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Vance and Matilda Buchanan Proffitt and the husband of Marie Byrd Proffitt, who died in 2000.  He was also preceded in death by a son, William Dale Proffitt, who died in 1979 and two brothers, Samuel Vance Proffitt, Jr and Thomas Edward Proffitt.  Bill was a US Air Force Veteran, member of Sgt. E. L. Randolph, Chapter 57, DAV and a retired employee of NC Department of Corrections.  He enjoyed collecting coins, antique guns, and pocket watches.

Surviving are a son; Rodney Proffitt and wife Kimberly and grandson Alexander ‘Little Buddy’ Proffitt all of London, Ohio; a sister: Betty Jean Lavagnino of Great Falls, VA; two brothers; Bob Proffitt and wife Wanda and John Proffitt all of Burnsville, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Ray Wilson will officiate.  A graveside service will be held in the Leila Buchanan Cemetery at Glen Ayre. Military graverites will be conducted by Sgt. E. L. Randolph, Chapter 57, DAV.  The family will receive friends from 9 until 10:30 AM Tuesday, prior to the service, at the funeral home and at other times will be at the home of Bob and Wanda Proffitt.

Memorial donations may be made to The Rathbun House, P. O. Box 5363, Asheville, NC 28813.

MAXINE "JEAN" LAWS

Maxine “Jean” Laws, 88, of Burnsville went home to be with the Lord Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Brookside Rehabilitation and Care.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Marshall and Carrie Edwards Deyton and the wife of Joe Laws who died in 1983.  She was also preceded in death by sisters:  Hassie Deyton and Julia McCurry and a granddaughter, Natalie Laws Cowart.  She was a member of Petersons Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.

 

Surviving are a daughter, Frannie Webb and husband, David, of Burnsville; a son, A. J. Laws and wife, Wanda, of Atlanta; grandchildren:  Randy Laws and wife, Michele, and Greg Webb and wife, Nicole, all of Burnsville, Rhonda Pierce and husband, Billy, of Woodstock, GA, and Alvin Laws of Atlanta; a sister,  Dorothy Green of Asheville; two brothers:  Bill Deyton and Budge Deyton and wife, Ida, all of  Burnsville; great grandchildren:  Dejah, Andy, Kayleigh, LeAnn, Brook, Lindsey, Megan, Joseph, Ava, Kanney and Jessica; and a great-great grandson, Nathan.

 

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Grandson, Rev. Randy Laws will officiate.  Burial will be in the Deyton-Laws Cemetery at Bailey Hill.

 

The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:30 PM Sunday prior to the service at the funeral home.

SIR KNIGHT ENDRE GONCZY

Sir Knight Endre Gonczy, 82, of Electra Lane, Burnsville, NC passed over on December 31, 2013 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. Born and educated in Budapest, Hungary,  he was forced under communism to serve in the Hungary Special Forces Army, he was a known and registered “Hungarian Freedom Fighter”, who worked in the formation and fought in the October, 1956 Hungarian Revolution.  He was  Knighted in 2000, by the Free Nation of Hungary for his unfaltering and faithful efforts to free the country from under the yoke of communism.   Endre became a Naturalized and extremely Patriotic American Citizen in July, 1962.

 

He was the owner operator of various auto garages and repair shops, as well as, Endre’s Rolling Repairs.

 

He was a member of Mystic Tie Lodge No. 237, A.F. & A.M., Marion, NC, Past Master in New Jersey and New Hampshire, a member of Spruce Pine Chapter No. 27, Order of Eastern Star, Burnsville, NC and was also a Past Patron in New Hampshire and North Carolina.  Endre was a  member of Arrowhead Court No. 23, Order of the Amaranth, Marion, NC and was a Past Royal Patron, Past Grand Royal Patron and a Deputy Supreme Royal Patron, of the Supreme Council, Inc.

 

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Roberta Smith Gonczy, of the home;  sister-in-law, Julie Ann Pataky and husband, Duane Spock of Monroe Township, New Jersey; nieces:  Helena Sabo of South Amboy, NJ, Alicia James and husband, Francis of Carteret, NJ, Charlene Graham and husband, Thomas of Jamesburg, NJ; nephew, Arthur S. Pataky, II, of Freehold NJ; great nephews:  Matthew and Andrew Sabo, Francis Endre James and John Declan Graham; great nieces:  Eliza and Maizie James, all of NJ; as well as, members of the Masonic Fraternal Family, including Eastern Star and Amaranth.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to North Carolina Diabetes Research Foundation, c/o Allen Spain, 5175 Edgebaston Drive, Kernersville, NC 27284-7881, The Yancey County Humane Society, P. O. Box 1016, Burnsville, NC 28714-1016 or to a charity close to your heart.

 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 PM Saturday, May 3, 2014 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Pastor Robert G. Simes will officiate.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. 

JERRICA ANNE LAWS

Jerrica Anne Laws, 21, of Burnsville, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2013.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of Jerry G. and Bobbie Jo Autrey Laws of Burnsville.  Jerrica was a 2010 graduate of Mountain Heritage High School.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, are a daughter:  Abbie Leigh; a brother:  Sam Autrey of Burnsville; sisters:  Sonya Laws of Asheville, Tonya Laws of Marshall, and Krista Laws of Burnsville; a half-sister:  Amy Powell of Valdese; and, her paternal grandmother:  Atlas Laws of Burnsville.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Sunday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Revs. Dwight Boone, Jr. and Scott Williams will officiate.  Burial will be in the Deyton-Laws Cemetery at Bailey Hill.

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

BETTY CANNON

Betty Cannon, 71, of Burnsville, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2013, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late John Henry and Mae Adkins Miller.  She was also preceded in death by 2 sisters:  Wilma Hylemon and Yvonne Miller.

 

Surviving are 2 sons:  Eric Cannon and wife, Ruth, and Alden Cannon, all of Burnsville; 4 grandsons:  Mitchell, Dalton, Caleb and Adam Cannon; 2 granddaughters:  Raven and Olivia Cannon; sisters:  Shirley Hughes and husband, Bob, of San Angelo, TX, Phyllis Edmonds and husband, Don, of California; 2 brothers:  Chester Miller and wife, Annett, of Easley, SC and Lloyd Miller of Oregon.

 

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Randy Randolph will officiate.  Burial will be in the Howard Cemetery on Piney Hill.

 

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

 

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