All Obituaries

Mrs. Elsie Greene Hodgson, age 96, of 2694 Meat Camp Road, Boone, passed away Monday evening, September 25, 2023 at Life Care Center of Banner Elk. Born May l6, 1927 in Watauga County, Elsie was a daughter of Grace Greene Wilcox and Dwight Greer.  Mrs. Hodgson was a member of Proffit’s Grove Baptist Church.  By occupation, she was a homemaker and was employed at Shadowline in Boone. Mrs. Hodgson was a devoted wife and mother who dearly loved her family, community and her...

Hillie Bynum Shook, age 71, of Newland, passed away Sunday, September 24, 2023. He was a native of Avery County and the son of the late Everett and Lucille Hodges Shook. Hillie, as he was known to people “off” the mountain, and Bynum as he was known to people on the mountain, worked in the Avery County Courthouse since 2009. Prior to this, Hillie worked at Coats American, in Marion, for 32 years. He was a workaholic. He was a goofy jokester who loved all children and his...

Owen Leonard Young, age 87 of Valle Crucis, went to sleep in Jesus on Thursday September 21, surrounded by his loving family.  Owen was raised in Matney, a community nestled between Valle Crucis and Banner Elk.  He was the son of the late Reverend Roscoe Young and Reverend Violet McGuire Young of Morgan County, TN.   Owen and his wife Pauline (Polly) would build on a romance that blossomed in an apple orchard over 70 years ago, raising five daughters and helping to raise their...

Lucy McKinney Shook, age 83, a resident of the Foley Center in Blowing Rock, formerly of the Foscoe Community, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 19th.  She is now reunited with the love of her life, David “Dave” Shook and is resting in the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born in Avery County in the Powdermill community to William and Odie McKinney. Lucy loved people and her community, and cared deeply for both.  Her career in nursing for...

On September 16, 2023, surrounded by his family, Ronald Dewitt Cox, 86, left his home peacefully here on Earth to go to his heavenly home. Ronald Dewitt Cox was born in Watauga County on December 29, 1936, to the late Brady and Hattie Cox. Dewitt is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 66 years, and sons Ronnie and wife, Sharon, and Steve and wife Brenda. He is also survived by his brother James and wife Linda Cox of Deep Gap, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, a son in law Kent...

Robert Howard ‘Bob’ Ward, age 87, of Valle Crucis, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, September l6, 2023 at his home. Born June 23, 1936 in Watauga County, Bob was a son of Alfred Howard and Virginia Dare Ward. Bob served in the US Army from 1953 to 1956. He then served another 30 years in the NC Army National Guard where he retired as 1st Sergeant. He was very proud of his military career and received numerous recognitions throughout the years. Bob worked for Blue...

Donald (Don) Lee Barker, 91, passed away on September 16, 2023 peacefully at his home in Blowing Rock, NC. Don was born on March 14, 1932 to Henry and Catherine Barker of Versailles, Illinois. After graduating from Woodruff High School in 1949, he joined the Army where he served with the 10th Mountain Division and 101 First Airborne Division as a paratrooper, becoming a Jump Master. He met June Franklin, of Champaign, Illinois on a double-date and they courted all through his military...

Our Mom, Louise Ann Hopkins (November 19, 1936 - September 16, 2023) was born in and spent her early years in Oswego, NY. She loved her parents, Dorothy Anita and Arthur Paschke and her two siblings, Fritzi and Paul, and enjoyed being close to her Uncle Clarence and Aunt “Toots”, with whom they shared family dinners and trips to Lake Ontario. Upon graduation from high school, Ann attended Wagner College and then completed graduate work in Philadelphia at the University of...

Billy Roger Blackburn, age 79, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 15, 2023. He was born on February 29, 1944 to Newt and Annie Lewis Blackburn. In his younger years, he loved to farm raising tobacco, cabbage, and a garden. He also raised cattle and horses. He worked for 10 years at Harper Furniture in Lenoir. A dedicated servant of the Lord, he was a proud member of Meat Camp Baptist Church. Bill was a proud member of the Todd community and never met a stranger....

Don Fox went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 11, 2023. He was born on August 24, 1947, to a large loving family of nine siblings. He would want you to know about his Jesus before himself. To be a Christian is to have Christ in your heart, which he accepted this free gift at the age of thirteen. To be Christ like and in everything give your whole heart to Jesus. He was able to love his family and friends unconditionally because of the love of Christ in him. He had a...