Enter date in YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-M-D formats to view obituaries by specific date.
Enter first and/or last name to view obituaries by name of deceased.
Enter first and/or last name to view obituaries by survivors.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
ERWIN
AARON MICHAEL KEITH FENDER CATHERINE BERGENDAHL “KATIE” JONES FRED DONALD LEWIS WALTER SCOTT BRANK IIIFLAG POND
RUTH REVA RAY GREENEUNICOI
STEVE J. GOUGEAARON MICHAEL KEITH FENDER - ERWIN
Aaron Michael Keith Fender, 24, died Sunday, June 21, 2009.
Mr. Fender was described as “a dear son, a loving brother, a compassionate uncle and a fierce friend.”
He enjoyed spending his time fishing, playing his guitar, caring for the ones he loved and making others laugh. Family and friends knew him as “a kind soul” and a “gentle giant.”
Mr. Fender was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Troy and Mary Gilbert, Clarence and Hilda Proffitt and Roscoe and Emily Shelton; and grandparents, Euit and Thelma Fender and Lynn Gilbert.
Survivors include his parents, Brinson Fender and wife, Debby, Erwin, and Marsha Schorr and husband, Dan, Cape Coral, Fla.; grandmother, Margie Gilbert, Erwin; sisters, Kerri Kochelek and husband, Josh, Lynchburg, Va., Brianne Fender, Johnson City, Summer Pakrul and husband, Matt, Johnson City, and Nelly Hensley, Johnson City; brother, Dustin Walden, Johnson City; fiancé, Megan Hogan, Cape Coral, Fla.; and nieces and nephews, Marli Fender, Henry Kochelek, Cassius Ahrens and Peyton Pakrul.
Funeral servicse were held Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. in the Valley Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Harold Blankenship and James Lynch officiated.
Graveside services immediately followed the service at Evergreen Cemetery Mausoleum.
Active pallbearers were Jason Hensley, Jonathon Cooper, Dustin Walden, Eric Walters, Christopher Mills and Cory McCormick. Honorary pallbearers were Jordan Cooper, Ian West and all of Aaron’s many teammates and friends.
Memorial donations may be made in Aaron’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Attn: Memorial Department, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Valley Funeral Home was in charge.
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
CATHERINE BERGENDAHL “KATIE” JONES - ERWIN
Catherine Bergendahl “Katie” Jones, 95, of Martinsville, Va., formerly of Erwin, died quietly at home, Wednesday, June 24, 2009.
Mrs. Jones was born in Roanoke, Va., Aug. 18, 1914, to the late Oscar E. Bergendahl and Cora Emma Cuddy Bergendahl.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Martinsville.
Mrs. Jones was the widow of William Edgar Jones and also preceded in death by two sisters.
Survivors include two daughters, Catharine J. Nelson and husband, Gary, of Martinsville, and Judith H. Johnston and husband, Phil, of Louisville, Ky.; one son, William Edgar Jones Jr. of LaGrange, Texas; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Thelma Lundy of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Elleen Cairy of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and one brother, Oscar E. Bergendahl Jr. of Erwin
According to her wishes, Mrs. Jones has been cremated and a family memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1901 Patrick Henry Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112.
Bassett Funeral Service was in charge.
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
FRED DONALD LEWIS - ERWIN
Fred Donald Lewis, age 76, of Erwin, died at the Center on Aging and Health Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
Mr. Lewis was a native of Unicoi County and the son of James Willard Lewis and Lee Anna Tipton Lewis.
He worked in Michigan at General Motors, and he later worked in Nevada and Texas and retired from factory work in Florida.
Mr. Lewis was a Baptist.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sons, Steve Lewis and Randy Lewis; sisters, Billie Wright and Reva Hensley; and an infant brother, J.W. Lewis.
Survivors include sons, Freddie D. Lewis and wife, Connie, of Johnson City, David L. Lewis and wife, Stephanie, of Denver, and James W. Lewis, also of Denver; sisters, Thelma Gouge, Georgia Williams, Edith Wilson, Lois A. Wilhelm and Bettie DeHaven and husband, Don, all of Erwin, and Jean Barnett of Elizabethton; special friend, Ann Schaefer; special neighbors at Meadowood Park in Erwin; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will hold a private graveside service at the Lewis Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Tennessee, One Vantage Way, Suite B-130, Nashville, TN
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
WALTER SCOTT BRANK III - ERWIN
Walter Scott Brank III, age 61, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at his residence.
Although he was a native of North Carolina, Mr. Brank resided in Tennessee for the majority of his life.
He was the son of the late Walter Scott “Bud” Jr. and Jane Wilaman Brank.
Mr. Brank served with the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired from the Marines after three tours of Vietnam. He was highly decorated, was a member of the Marine Corp Recon Missions, member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Mechanized Calvary Motorcycle Club.
He attended Nolichuckey Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Higgins-Brank; stepchildren, Monica Price, Heath Price and Jamie Price; granddaughter, Sarah Price; mother-in-law, Lillian Higgins; brother, Neil Curtis Brank, Texas; sister, Martha Cooper of Baileyton; and several nieces and nephews.
Military graveside services were held Monday, June 29, at 10 a.m. at Mountain Home National Cemetery. The Rev. Joey Murdock officiated.
Valley Funeral Home was in charge.
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
RUTH REVA RAY GREENE - FLAG POND
Ruth Reva Ray Greene, 85, 117 Ray Road, Flag Pond, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Unicoi County Memorial Hospital’s long-term care unit following a brief illness.
Mrs. Greene was a Flag Pond native and lived in Hampton, Va., for more than 30 years before returning to Flag Pond in 1981.
She was a daughter of the late Nelson and Ida Belle Franklin Ray.
Mrs. Greene was a homemaker and was formerly employed with Southern Potteries and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
She was well known for being Storm Team Eleven’s Chief Meteorologist, Mark Reynolds’ “weather watcher” in the Flag Pond area for WJHL-T.V.
Mrs. Greene was a member of Jennie Moore Presbyterian Church and the Clinchfield Senior Adult Center.
She was a quilter, raised Chinchilla’s and loved nature, especially gardening and the outdoors.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Greene was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde M. Greene in 1983; a son, Darrell James Greene in 1947 and her daughter, Beverly Grace Greene in 1951; three brothers, Clarence Ray, Robert Ray and Glen Ray; and two sisters, Blanche Riddle and Helen Ashby.
Survivors include her son, Dennis Greene and wife, Kerry, Suffolk, Va.; two grandchildren, Katelyn and Dylan Greene, Suffolk, Va.; several nieces and nephews, including C.A. and Sondra Ray, Atlas and Milton Back, Jacqueline and Ray Fisher; and several great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. at the Robert Ledford Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Elmon Brown officiating. Special music was provided Inez Chandler. Interment followed at Ray-Rice Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers were Clark Back, Jon Back, Milton Back, Ray Fisher, Earl Greene, William Hightower, C.A. Ray, Lewis Ray, Otis Ray, Ronnie Ray, Mark Reynolds, Harvey Rice and Kevin Riddle.
Robert Ledford Funeral Home was in charge.
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
STEVE J. GOUGE - UNICOI
Steve J. Gouge, age 55, 2007 Masters Lane, Erwin, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Johnson City Medical Center following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Gouge was a lifelong resident of Unicoi County.
He was a son of Thelma Lewis Gouge, Spivey Mountain community of Erwin, and the late Robert Gouge.
Mr. Gouge retired in 1992 as a construction superintendent from Brasfield & Gorie Construction Co. and was a former self-employed contractor.
He was a 1971 graduate of Unicoi County High School and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Mr. Gouge attended Riverview Baptist Church.
He was an antique collector and loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.
In addition to his father, Mr. Gouge was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Gouge, and his former wife, Terry Ann Gouge.
In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Mona Lisa Gouge; three sons, Joe Gouge and wife, Selena, and Jason Gouge, all of Erwin, John Gouge, Unicoi; two step-sons, Jerhia Wilson and wife, Heather, and Justin Wilson and wife, Mary, all of Elizabethton; three brothers, Lonnie Gouge and Bobby Gouge, both of Erwin, and Dale Gouge and wife, Phyllis, Proctorville, Ohio; three sisters, Faye Hughes and husband, Ross, Louise Edwards and husband, Everett, and Carol Price and husband, Lee, all of Erwin; four grandchildren, Aleah Gouge, Kendell Gouge, Kylee Gouge and Annabella Wilson; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 26, at 2 p.m. from the Robert Ledford Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Todd McLaughlin officiating. Special music was provided by Ronnie Webb, Clarence Bailey and Inez Chandler. Interment followed at Evergreen Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Joe Gouge, John Gouge, Jerhia Wilson, Justin Wilson and Tim Smith. Honorary pallbearer was Dennis Watson.
Robert Ledford Funeral Home was in charge.
Back to Top • Print This Obituary • E-mail Obituary to a Friend
