Smyth County obituaries for May 10, 2008

Barnes

Aaron Duane Barnes, 25, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in Roanoke.
He was born in Smyth County on Dec. 19, 1982.
He was a graduate of Marion Senior High School and was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Lawrence Barnes, and his maternal grandmother, Ruth Perkins.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Vicki Barnes and Billy Stevens, of Marion; his father and stepmother, Mark and Pam Barnes of Marion; one daughter, Justice Mae Ring of Marion; one stepson, Ralph Ring of Marion; his paternal grandmother, Bessie Barnes of Marion; five brothers, Stephen Matthew Barnes Sr. and wife, Becky, Emmanuel A. Barnes, Chad Barnes, Shawn Barnes, and Marcus Barnes, all of Marion; one sister, Tisha Barnes of Marion; a special friend, Shannon Billings; his niece and nephew, Stephen Matthew Barnes Jr. and Victoria Mae Billings; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with Pastor Mike Sage officiating. Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home of Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Blevins

Jack E. Blevins, 68, of Meadowview, died on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon.
He was a son of the late Tom and Violet Blevins and was a lifelong resident of Washington County.
He retired from Columbus McKinnon Corporation. He was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, J. D. Blevins.
Survivors include his wife, Dora Mae Blevins; one brother, Fred Blevins of Damascus; one sister-in-law, Patty Blevins of Meadowview; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was conducted at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Vann Seal officiating. The committal service and interment was held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9, at Sunset Memorial Park in Damascus.
The family received friends from 6-7:45 p.m. on Thursday prior to the funeral service at Garrett Funeral Home.
Condolences and messages of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting http://www.garrettfuneralhome.com.
Garrett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Blevins

Weaver “Rex” Blevins, 67, died Thursday, May 8, 2008 at his home in Marion. 
He retired from Marion Mold and Tool Inc. with 42 years of service. 
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Garfield Blevins and Mattie Blevins West.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Musick Blevins of Marion; one daughter and son-in-law, Carla Jill and Stephen Snider of Wytheville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gregory R. and Alison Blevins of Richmond and Travis Brett and Sandy Blevins of Severna Park, Maryland; one sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Charlie Testerman of Wytheville; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph D. and Connie Blevins and Dennis and Marie Blevins, all of Marion; six grandchildren, Angela and Joshua Snider, Carter and James Blevins, and Clara and Elizabeth Blevins; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with the Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 p.m. until time of service at Seaver-Brown Chapel. 
Graveside services will be conducted Sunday at 10 a.m. at Rose Lawn Cemetery. 
Flowers will be appreciated or donations may be made to the Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 600 West Ridge Road, Wytheville, Virginia 24382.  Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at http://www.seaverbrown.com. 
Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Crouse

Rachel Francis McNeil Crouse, 63, died Tuesday May 6, 2008 in Johnston Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Smyth County to the late Edward and Coy Keesee McNeil and was preceded in death by her sisters, Edwina McNeil, Naomi Crouse and Carolyn Peterson, and her brothers, Pete McNeil and Johnny Mullins.
She had worked at Buster Brown and was a member of the World Wide Church of God.
Survivors include one sister, Carla McNeil Cox of Rural Retreat; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews; several special friends; and a faithful dog, Fluff.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with the Rev. Jerry Creasy officiating.
The family received friends Thursday from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge of arrangements.

Gentry

Chessie Gentry, 94, of the Sutherland community, died on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
She was a native of Ashe County, North Carolina, and had lived in Johnson County, Tenn., until 1971, when she moved to Bear, Delaware. She had lived in the Sutherland community for the past 10 years. She was a member of Non-Denominational Church in Mountain City, Tenn.
She was the widow of Milton John “M. J.” Gentry and was also preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Gentry, and four grandchildren.
Survivors include three daughters, Sue Gentry Manuel and her husband, Harold, of Damascus, Donna K. Summerville of Egg Harbor, N.J., and Ruby E. Hansen of Bristol, Tenn.; three sons, Elmer G. Gentry and his wife, Mary, of Albany, N.Y., William J. Gentry of Johnson City, Tenn., and Bert Gentry and his wife, Louise, of Milford, Delaware; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, in the Garrett Funeral Home Chapel with Robert Johnson, minister, officiating. The committal service and interment will follow at Gentry and Greer Cemetery, Laurel Bloomery, Tenn.
Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 246, Abingdon, VA 24212.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday prior to the funeral service at the funeral home or at any time at the home of her daughter, Sue Manuel.
Condolences may be sent or viewed and a memorial video tribute may be viewed by visiting http://www.garrettfuneralhome.com.
Garrett Funeral Home in Damascus is in charge of arrangements.

Griffey

Archie Eugene “Juke” Griffey, 69, died Monday May 5, 2008 at his home in Saltville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arch and Lula Griffey, brothers, Cecil Curtis Griffey, Benny Griffey, George Griffey, and William Griffey, sister, Mary Jane Griffey, and son-in-law, Bobby Wayne Farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Hayden Griffey; three sons, Gary Griffey and wife, Sharon, of Saltville; Carl Griffey and wife, Melissa, of Saltville; Archie S. Griffey and wife, Wanda, of Marion; four daughters, Deborah Buchanan and husband, David; Robin Lloyd and husband, Bobby; Julie Prater and husband, Eric; and Carol Griffey, all of Saltville; two brothers, Henry Griffey and wife, Daisy, of Chilhowie; John Griffey and wife, Judy, of Saltville; two sisters, Ruth Cregger and husband, Truman, of Rural Retreat; Sarah Barker and husband, Monroe, of Marion; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; special friend, Mack Davidson of Cedar Branch; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Buckeye Hollow Free Pentecostal Holiness Church in Saltville with the Rev. Wade Kestner, the Rev. Greg Griffey, and the Rev. Bobby Lloyd officiating. Burial followed in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
The family received friends from 6 until 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville was in charge of arrangements.

Hopkins

Beulah Thomas Hopkins, 72, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion.
She was born in Smyth County to the late Albert and Julia Dolinger Thomas and was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth E. Hopkins, two sisters, Doris Ann Thomas and Eunice Farrington, three brothers and sisters-in-law, James A. and Mary Lee Thomas, Douglas and Louise Thomas, and Herbert and Christine Thomas.
She was a member of the Lowman Valley Church and graduated from Marion Senior High School in 1956.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert “Hoppy” Hopkins and wife, Carrie, of Midlothian and Kenneth “Hop” Hopkins and wife, Necol, of Marion; five grandchildren, Jenna Nicole Hopkins, Haley Grace Hopkins, Rehenna Burnett, Alyssa Burnett and Gracie Burnett; sisters, Sue Prater of Servierville, Tenn., Mary Dean of Chilhowie, and Louise Gross of Marion; brothers, Charles Bill Thomas of Marion, Albert Thomas Jr., of Marion, and Stuart Staley Thomas and wife, Kathy, of Greensboro, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Bradley’s Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with Pastor Steve Hutton and Pastor Mike Hopkins officiating. Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lowman Valley Church Cemetery.
The family received friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge of arrangements.

King

Minnie Bell Kitts King, 68, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion.
She was born in Wythe County to the late William S. Kitts and Lealer Marie King Kitts and was preceded in death by two brothers, William Sturlie Kitts Jr. and Sherman Payton Kitts, and a sister, Carolyn Kitts Seabolt.
Survivors include one brother, James Kelly Kitts of Atkins; two sisters, Mary Kitts of Atkins and Lealer Marie Bridgeman and husband, Jack, of Atkins; 13 nieces; nine nephews; and several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Bradley’s Funeral Home in Marion with Pastor Steve Hutton and the Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Hills Cemetery in Groseclose.
The family received friends Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home, Marion, was in charge of arrangements.

Umbarger

James Harold Umbarger, 80, died Thursday, May 8, 2008 in Francis Marion Manor.
He was born in Atkins on Nov. 6, 1927 to the late George Early and Alma Pearl Fortner Umbarger.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy and had retired from Bethlehem Steel.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Janie Umbarger.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Gutermuth, of Baltimore, Md., and
Theresa Bucher, of Baltimore, Md.; one brother, Benjamin Umbarger, of Atkins; one sister, Shirley Creger, of Crockett; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Rd, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329 or to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Exec. Blvd, Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at http://www.bradleysfh.com.
Bradley’s Funeral Home of Marion is in charge of arrangements.