WAYNE COUNTY OBITUARIES
APRIL, 1998
DIED - Apr. 3, 1998 ** EMMETT L. ADKINS, 71, of Ranger, W. Va. Born Sep. 15, 1926, a son of the late
Wade and Artie Adkins. Preceded in death by one brother, Wayne and a sister Merle.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; sons and daughters- in-law, Pete and Joan Adkins and
Blaine Adkins; daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Ray Adkins, Phyllis and Clayton
Willis, Sharon and Eddie Brunty and Pansy Adkins.; brother, Jake Hampton Adkins. Burial
Apr. 6, 1998 in Sanders Cemetery on Ranger Ridge.
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DIED- Apr. 3, 1998 ** MRS. RUBY
PRESTON BEARD, 87, of Bluefield, W. Va., in
Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Burial Apr. I, 1998 at Ridgelawn Memorial Park ,
Huntington. Born April I, 1911, in Wayne County, the daughter of the late James and Sally
(Mathews) Preston. She is the widow of Charles R. Beard and was preceded in death by a
son, Charles Thomas Beard. Survived by a daughter, Naomi Ruth Gould; a son, John Edward
Beard; a sister Mary Carmen; a brother Charles Preston.
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DIED - Apr. 4, 1998 ** RICHARD
E. "BOBO" CAINES, 61, of Kenova, W.
Va. Born Jan. 2, 1937, in Wayne County, W. Va., a son of the late Herbert and Myrtle
(Pelfrey) Caines. Survivors include one sister, Lola Harris and his step-mother, Marie A.
Henter Caines. Burial Apr. 10, 1998 in Hillcrest Cemetery.
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DIED - Apr. 4, 1998 ** MR. ALEX
BLAIR, 74, of Kenova, W. Va., at St. Mary's
Hospital. Born Jun. 3, 1923 in Wayne County, W. Va., a son of the late Ben H. and Sarah
(Adkins) Blair. Preceded in death by two brothers, Arlen Blair and B.H. Blair, Jr.; three
sisters, Elma Christian, Australia Maynard and Bennie Lycans. Survivors
include his wife, Pat (Cowgill) Blair; a daughter and son-in-law, Rosanna Blair and Gary
White; a son and daughter-in -law, Dr. Alex Blair and Dr. Jane Kurucz; one brother, Bert
Blair; three sisters, Cynthia Burris, Verta Crowe and Frankie Christian. Burial Apr. 6,
1998 in Blair Family Cemetery
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DIED - Apr. 4, 1998 ** MR.
ARNOLD L. "BILL" CYRUS, 89, of
Huntington, W. Va., in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born Feb. 17, 1909 in Putnam County, W.
Va., a son of the late Locie W. and Lena (Taylor) Cyrus. Preceded in death by one brother,
Homer C. Cyrus; one sister, Mrs. Opal Smith; an infant son, Richard A. Cyrus. Survivors
include his wife, Maxine (Jones) Cyrus; one son and daughter-in-law, Ronald and JoAnne
Cyrus; one sister, Inez Riblett. Burial Apr. 7, 1998 in Woodmere Memorial Park.
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DIED - Apr. 5, 1998 ** MR. ELMER
GRANT MURPHY, 76, of Lavalette, W.Va., in the
Veterans Adminstration Medical Center. Burial Apr. 8, 1998 in Brumfield Cemetery, Shoals,
W.Va. Born January 23, 1922 in Murray City, Ohio, a son of the late Clarence Murphy and
Cora (Guffy) Murphy Young. Preceded in death by his step-father, Chester Arthur Young and
a sister Lorella Corey. Survivors include his wife Prudence (Adkins) Murphy, one son and
daughter-law, Michael Wade and Beth Murphy; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ann
(Murphy) Rowe and Larry Rowe and Leslie Lynn Murphy and Butch Gibson; one brother Chester
Leon Young.
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DIED - Apr. 6, 1998 ** MRS. MARY
JORDAN TOOLEY, 92, of Huntington, W. Va., at
Chateau Grove Personal Care Home. Burial Apr. 8, 1998 at Ridgelawn Memorial Park. Born
Oct. 21, 1905 in Rock Gap, Va., a daughter of the late Columbus and Minnie (Swann) Jordan.
Preceded in death by her husband, Earl Tooley, a daughter, Linda Tooley Ashcraft, a sister
and two brothers.
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DIED - Apr. 9, 1998 ** REV.
NORMAN L. "RAY" BAILEY, 68, of
Huntington, W. Va., in St. Mary's Hospital. Born Dec. 23, 1929, in Wayne County, W. Va., a
son of the late James M. Sr. and Okla (Williams) Bailey. Preceded in death by one
daughter, Kathi Bailey; two brothers, James and John "Cotton" Bailey. Survivors
include his wife, Wanda (McWain) Bailey; one daughter, Dianne Brubaker; two sons, Norman
Bailey, Jr., and Donald Ray Bailey; one sister, Doris Laconelli; one brother, DonaldC.
Bailey. Burial Apr. 13, in Hillcrest Cemetery, Kenova, W. VA.
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DIED - Apr. 9, 1998 ** SISTER
CORA ELIZABETH "BETTY" ADKINS, 61, of
Genoa, W. Va., in Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, W. Va. Born Feb. 20, 1937, at
Dunlow, W. Va., a daughter of the late John Samuel and Ora Lena (Bench) Banfield. Preceded
in death by a son, Sgt. Terry D. Adkins and a brother, S. J.
Basnfield. Survivors include her husband, Richard Adkins; seven daughters and five
sons-in-law, Debbie Lyon, Brenda and Herman Crabtree, Sandy and Tommy Crabtree, Wilma and
Pat Skeens, Bonnie Wright, Wanda and Emery Thompson, and Carol and Timmy Damron; two sons
and daughters-in-law, Richard Lee and Lisa Adkins, and Shane Michael Lee Adkins and
Madeline Adkins; two sisters, Melissa Johnson and Ruth Wellman; one brother, Joe Thompson.
Burial Apr. 12, 1998 in Sam Damron Cemetery, Ferguson, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 10, 1998 ** MRS.
EMMA FRANCES STAPLETON, 83, of Huntington, W.
Va., at the home of her daughter Wynemia Kitchen and James Hammonds. Born Oct. 7, 1914 in
Louisa, KY., a daughter of the late John Monroe and Josephine (Cyrus) Dean. Preceded in
death by her husband, Raymond Stapleton; one son, Howard Stapleton. Survivors include a
sister, Alta Mills and a brother-in-law, Lonnie Stapleton. Burial Apr. 12, 1998 in Robert
Vaughan Cemetery, Wayne, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 10, 1998 ** MRS.
BERTHA HATTEN, 94, of Kenova, W. Va., at her
home. Born May 30, 1903 at Prichard, W. Va., a daughter of the late George T. and Victoria
(Lett) Hatten. Preceded in death by her husband, Edmon Hatten; three sons, Harold,
Charles, and Donald Hatten; three sisters and two brothers., Survivors
include two daughters, Betty and her husband, Joe Dillon, and Sue Stephens and her life
partner, Ed Smolenski. Burial Apr. 14, 1998 in Hillcrest Cemetery, Kenova, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 12, 1998 ** BLANCHE
H. MARCUM, 84, of Grayson, KY, In Kings Daughter
Medical Center, Ashland, KY. Born Aug. 6, 1913, in Martin County, KY, a daughter of the
late Ike and Francis Horn. Preceded in death by her husband, Earl Marcum. Survivors
include a son, Arval Marcum, one daughter, Oretha Daughton;
one sistrer, Helen Horn. Burial Apr. 15, 1998 in Mountain View Memory Gardens, Maher, W.
Va.
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DIED - Apr 13, 1998 ** AMOS MATHES, 79, of Middletown, Ohio, at Middletown Regional Hospital. Born Jul. 12, 1918,
in Cabell County, W. Va., a son of the late Beamer and Nora (Collins) Mathes. Survivors
include his wife, Anita H. Mathes; two sons, Thomas Allen and William Ray Mathes.
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DIED - Apr. 13, 1998 ** MRS CORA
MATHEWS SCHAFER, 91, of Huntington, W. Va.. Born
Feb. 4, 1907 in Wayne County, W. Va., a daughter of the late Taylor and Delphia Mathews.
Preceded in death by her husband Joseph G. Schafer; two daughters, Dorothy Christian and
Eva Clark. Survivors include three sons and two
daughters-in-law, Charles Schafer, Joseph and Marcetis Schafer, and James and Delores
Schafer. Burial Apr. 15, 1998 in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.
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DIED - Apr. 14, 1998 ** MAUDIE
MAYNARD MATHIS, 84, of Huntington, W. Va., at
the home of her son Arthur Mathis. Born Apr. 1, 1914, at Kiahsville, Wayne County, W. Va.,
a daughter of the late Wayne and Bertha (Fry) Maynard. Preceded in death by her husband,
Brad Mathis; a son, Billy E. Mathis; three daughters, Delores
Saunders, Fanny D. Murray, and Betty Miller; four sons, Clarence B. Mathis, James E.
Mathis, Arthur W. Mathis, and Carroll Mathis; two sisters, Fannie Smith and Lina Kingery;
two brothers, Dallas Maynard and Norma Maynard. Burial Apr. 16, 1998 in Mathis Cemetery,
Buffalo Creek Road, Huntington, W. VA.
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DIED - Apr. 15, 1998 ** MRS.
RUTH VARNEY PLYMALE, 77, of Lavalette, W. Va.,
at her home. Born Jan. 7, 1921, at Benton, KY., a daughter of the late K.L. Varney, Sr.
and Lillie (Murphy) Varney. Preceded in death by her husband, Dave A. Plymale; three
brothers, Champ Clark Varney, Kenna Lee Varney, Jr., and Glenn Roush
Varney; one sister, Grace Elmo Varney Rennemeier. Survivors include three daughters and
sons-in-law, Catherine and Larry Sperry, Karen and Phil Lucas, and Sarabeth and Brian
Tolley; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, June Sester, Edith and Benton Blackburn,
and Nancy and Jack Wills; a brother and sister-in-law, Paul and
Vera Plymale. Burial in Docks Creek Cemetery, Kenova, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 15, 1998 ** CLARA
PRATT, 87, of Ironton, OH., at Jo-Lin Health
Center in Ironton, OH. Born Dec. 20, 1910, at Radnor, Wayne County, W. Va., a daughter of
the late Wesley and Arminta VanHoose. Preceded in death by her husband, Carlous Pratt; one
son, Samuel Joe Pratt; three brothers and four sisters. Survivors include two sons, Henry
Pratt and Carlos Pratt; two daughters, Belva Hammond and Bernice Waugh. Burial in Highland
Memorial Gardens.
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DIED - Apr. 16, 1998 ** JOHNNIE
HARRIS, 53, of Lavalette, W. Va., at his home.
Born Aug. 1, 1944 at Kermit, W. Va., a son of the late Ben and Virgie (Spaulding) Harris.
Preceded in death by a sister, Polly Marcum, and a brother, Joe Harris. Survivors include
his wife, Emma Alice Harris; a son, Gregory Allen Harris; two sisters, Bertha Maynard and
Amanda Marcum; one brother, James Harris. Burial Apr. 30, 1998 in Forest Lawn Memorial
Gardens, Huntington, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 16, 1998 ** MRS.
MARGARET N. HARRIS, 76, of Huntington, W. Va.,
at Mariner Health Care Center. Born Jun. 16, 1921, in Wayne County, W. Va., a daughter of
the late Alger and Elva Newman. Preceded in death by her husband, Grover S, Harris.
Survivors include one son, Grover D. Harris; two daughters and a
son-in-law, Arbutus and David Perdue, and Linds S. Holley; one brother, Charles Newman.
Burial at Ridgelawn Abbey of Devotion, Huntington, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 16, 1998 ** HERBERT
A. PERRY, 81, of Xenia, OH., at Kettering
Medical Center. Born Apr. 23, 1916 at Fort Gay, W. Va., a son of the late Arnold and
Minnie (Artrip) Perry. Preceded in death by three brothers, Hubert, Albert, and Boyd
Perry; two sisters, Freda Ross and Oakie Hinkle. Survivors include his wife, Lenore
(Ramey) Perry; two sons and their wives, Hal and Bonnie Perry, and Ed and Linda Perry; one
brother, Walter Perry; three sisters, Zena Tolliver, May Frazier, and Myrtle Perry. Burial
in Silver Creek Cemetery, Jamestown, OH.
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DIED - Apr. 18, 1988 ** HENRY D.
VANCE, 69, of Huntington, W. Va., in Veterans
Affairs Medical Center. Born Mar. 2, 1929 in Wayne , W. Va., a son of the late Callahan
and Sissie Mae (Bowen) Vance. Preceded in death by a son, Donald Meachem. Survivors
include his wife, Marcella (Seymour) Vance; four daughters, Donna Starkey, Pam Limerick,
Kathy Chapman, and Brenda Maynard; four sons, Rodney Vance, John Meachem, Jim Meachem, and
Michael Meachem; two sisters, Virgie Adkins and Alberta Kunis. Burial Apr. 23, 1998 in
Crescent Hill Cemetery, Ceredo, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 19, 1998 ** MITCHELL
"WHITEY" WATSON, 88, of Kenova, W. Va.
Born Jul. 8, 1910 at Hazard, KY. Preceded in death by his wife Lillian Lucille (McCormick)
Watson. Burial Apr. 22, 1998 in Sand Fork Cemetery, Griffithsville, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 19, 1998 ** CHARLES
BLAINE TOOLEY, 63, of Gallipolis Ferry, OH, at
his home. Born Sep. 15, 1934 at East Lynn, W. VA., a son of the late Charles Blaine and
Ina (Adkins) Tooley. Preceded in death by his wife, Hulda (Hazelett) Tooley; two brothers,
James Parsons and Clyde Tooley. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Hilda L. and
George Rader; two sons and daughters-in-law, Henry A. and Judy Tooley, and Andre and Kathy
LaMoine; two brothers, Collis Tooley and Bryce Tooley; three sisters, Erma Adkins, Vonnee
Bernard, and Betty Cooper. Burial Apr. 22, 1998 in Kirkland Memorial Gardens, Point
Pleasant, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 20, 1998 ** MR.
MICHAEL TROY FLOWERS, 19, of Huntington, W. Va.
Born Oct. 27, 1978 in Cabell County, W. Va., a son of Linda (Workman) Flowers and Benjamin
Flowers. Survivors include his maternal grandmother, Louise Workman; a half-brother, Ben
Flowers; a half-sister, Belinda Victor. Burial Apr. 24, 1998 in Mount Vernon Cemetery,
Wayne, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 21, 1998 ** ANTHONY
TAYLOR MATHIS, 28, of Huntington, W. Va., at
Charleston General Hospital. Born Feb. 8, 1970, in Huntington, W. Va., a son of Taylor and
Joyce (Smith) Mathis. Survivors include his wife, Karen Elaine (Sager) Mathis; a daughter,
Abigail Nicole Mathis; two sisters, Anita Bellomy, and Cheryl
Taylor; a brother, Mark Mathis. Burial Apr. 24, 1998 in Woodmere Memorial Park,
Huntington, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 21, 1998 ** JIMMIE
FERGUSON, 85, of Kermit, W. Va., at his home.
Born Jan. 15, 1913 in Wayne County, W. Va., a son of the late Tim and Victoria (Spaulding)
Ferguson. Preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Ferguson; three brothers, Pete, Bill, and
Jay Justice. Survivors include six sons, Clinton, Kenneth, Kelly, Bruce,
Lilemon, and Clayton Ferguson; four daughters, Eloise Pittenburger, Victoria Ornkovich,
Wanda Messer, and Ronnie Mills; one brother, Alex Sammons; one sister, Betty Doby. Burial
Apr. 24, 1995 in Baisden Cemetery, Jennies Creek.
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DIED - Apr. 22, 1998 ** WESLEY
GLEN MAYS, 37, of Kenova, W. Va., at the home of
his mother. Born Dec. 8, 1960 in Huntington, W. Va., a son of Earsel L. Mays and Juanita
Mae (Morrison) Mays. Survivors include a sister, Joyce Arlene Wooten; a brother and
sister-in-law, Lesley Roger and Dee Mays. Burial Apr. 24, 1998 in Docks Creek Cemetery,
Kenova, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 22, 1998 ** RUTHIE
M. CALDWELL, 92, of Fort Gay, W. Va., in Mariner
Health Center, Huntington, W. Va. Born Oct. 30, at Dunlow, W. Va., a daughter of the late
John and Valeria (Nester) Webb. Preceded in death by her husband, William Keither
Caldwell; a daughter, Thelma Marie Maynard; a son, Denvil Caldwell; and two brothers,
Arthur and Willie Webb. Survivors include six daughters, Frances Nelson, Dora Nelson,
Barbara Caldwell, Ann Whitt, Ada Coburn, and Mae Zimmerman; four sons, Ervin Caldwell,
Bill Caldwell, Dewey K. Caldwell and Sammie K. Caldwell. Burial Apr. 25, Greasy Ridge
Cemetery, Dunlow, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr 25, 1998 ** MARIE
CLAY NEWMAN RUBY, 87 of Ashland, KY, in CAMC
Memorial Division, Charleston, W. Va. Born Oct. 7, 1910, at East Lynn, W. Va., a daughter
of the late John Doss and Ella (Adkins) Clay. Preceded in death by by her two husbands,
Pearley Newman and E. Ray Ruby. Survivors include her
daughter, Carol N. Jefferson and her husband, Roger. Burial Apr. 28, 1998 in Spring Hill
Cemetery, Huntington, W. Va.
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DIED - Apr. 25, 1998 ** MR.
ERVIN LEONARD ARTHUR, 69, of Huntington, W.Va.
Born Dec. 31, 1928 in Huntington, W.Va., a son of the late Brady and Bertha (Baisden)
Arthur. Survivors include his wife, Marcelee (Brumfield) Arthur; one step-son, Roy
Chatterton; three brothers, Jesse, Verlin, and Norman Arthur.
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DIED - Apr. 25, 1998 ** BILLY L.
HANEY, 59, of Defiance, OH. Born Oct. 13, 1938
at Gilbert, W. Va., a son of the late William and Evelyn (Spratt) Haney. Preceded in death
by a brother , Adlolphus Haney and a half brother, Burt Spratt. Survivors include his
wife, Janice (Bunke) Haney; one daughter, Lisa Marie Haney; one son, Charles Lee Haney;
one sister, Lillian Hoffman; one brother, Gail Haney. Burial Apr. 29,1998 in St. Stephen
Lutheran Cemetery, Defiance, OH.
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DIED - Apr 28, 1998 ** JERRY LITTLE, 49, of Crum, W. Va., at Three Rivers Medical Center, Louisa, KY. Born Jan. 23,
1949 at Crum, W. Va., a son of William and Florence Little. Preceded in death by one
sister, Diana Little. Survivors include his wife, Melissa (Roberts) Little; two daughters,
Vella (Bub) Peters and Crystal (Sammy) Maynard; two brothers, Ronnie and Jimmy Little;
three sistrers, Elaine Spaulding, Brinda Williamson and Pam Allen. Burial May 1, 1998 in
Little Cemetery, Crum Hollow, Crum, W., Va.
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DIED - Apr. 29, 1998 ** WOODROW
FULLER, Jr., 59, of Crum, W. Va., at his home.
Born Feb. 17, 1939 at Wayne, W. Va., a son of Laura Belle Fuller and the late Woodrow
Fuller. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine (Jude) Fuller; one son, Ferell Fuller; two
daughters, Elizabeth Bailey and Jennifer Fuller; two brothers, Sollie and
Glenn Fuller; two sisters, Sue Dillon and Velvia Fields. Burial May 1, 1998 in Fuller
Cemetery, Jennies Creek, W. Va.