LANCASTER, VA – Lola Mae Hale Clark, age 102, died Wednesday, June 29, 20ll. Born in Wise County, VA on March 15, 1909, Mrs. Clark had lived in Southwest Virginia before moving to St. Petersburg, FL in 1974 and then moving to Lancaster, VA in 1994.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles (Pete) Clark and is survived by three sons and their wives, William and Clarius Clark of Mechanicsville, MD, George and Josie Clark of Culpepper, VA and Steve and Margaret Clark of Ft. Mill, SC; a daughter and her husband, Susie and John Pierce of Lancaster, VA; eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton, Va. with Rev. Gary Hill officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box 176, Lively, VA 22507 or to the charity of your choice.
BILLY LEE FLETCHER
Wise, VA – Billy Lee Fletcher, Age 81, died at his residence Tuesday, June 28, 2011. He retired from Clinch Valley College in 1991. He was preceded in death by his parents Milford W. and Ada Fletcher.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Arbutus Fletcher of Wise; daughters, Brenda Caudill, Big Stone Gap, VA and Pamela Sargent, Wise, Virginia; granddaughter, Hannah Sargent, of Wise; grandson, Kenny Caudill, Big Stone Gap, VA; 2 great grandchildren; sisters, Betty David, Salem, VA, Ann Fletcher, Roanoke, VA and Carol Fletcher, Falls Church, VA; half-sister, Vanessa Harney, Frankfort, KY; half-brothers, James Fletcher and Earl Fletcher, both of Lexington, KY; nephew, Mark David, Richmond, VA; and niece, Carol Ann David Munoz, Stafford, VA.
The family will receive friends 6 PM to 7 PM Friday, July 1, 2011 in Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home Chapel in Norton. Services will be conducted Friday at 7 PM with Minister Steve Mosca officiating. Interment will be Saturday in Powell Valley Memorial Gardens.
WILLIAM "BILL" KELLEY
NORTON, VA – William Franklin “Bill” Kelley, 78, of Norton, died June 17, 2011 at Morristown Hamblen Hospital in Morristown, Tennessee. Bill was born September 3, 1932 near Castlewood, Virginia, son of Bayard and Frances Spurrier Kelly who preceded him in death.
Bill graduated from Castlewood High School in Castlewood and enlisted in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War, serving 4 years and was honorably discharged. Upon discharge, Bill began his career in law enforcement with the Town of Wise Police Department as a Patrolman. He then accepted a position as a Jailer for WiseCounty.
He applied for a position as a Patrolman with the City of Norton, where he was employed from 1960 to 1964 being promoted to Sergeant and then to Lieutenant. From 1964 to 1968 he served as a Deputy with the Wise County Sheriff’s Department. From 1968 to 1974 he was Chief of Police for the City of Norton. From 1974 to 1979 Bill was Chief Deputy of the Wise County Sheriff’s Department. From 1979 to l984, Bill was again Chief of Police for Norton. He ran for Sheriff of Wise County and the City of Norton in 1984 and was elected. He served as Sheriff for 12 years.
He received a Degree in Law Enforcement Management and Supervision from NorthwesternUniversity. He served as Chairman for the LENOWISCO Law Enforcement Committee beginning in 1969. Bill is a member of the Hoge Lodge of Wise and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean Hamilton Kelley, son Tim Kelley and daughter Rhonda Robertson, of Norton; sister, Betty Murray of Michigan; brother, Jim Kelley of Michigan; sister, Libby Sluss, of Wytheville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6-7:45 PM Monday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Masonic services will be conducted at 7:45 PM in the funeral home chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:00 PM Monday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Lee Kidd officiating. Graveside committal services with Military Honors will be conducted 2:00 PM Tuesday at Temple Hill Memorial Park, Castlewood, Va. Family and friends will meet 1:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
Pallbearers are Capt. James Lane, Patrolman Joe Baird, Lt. Roger Cook of the City of Norton Police Dept., Capt. Grant Kilgore, Lt. Ronnie Aistrop and Sgt. Doug Evans of the Wise County Sheriff’s Dept., Jeff Dotson of the Town of Wise Police Dept. and Sheriff Carlos Noaks, Sheriff of the City of Norton. Honorary pallbearer will be John R. Wells. Capt. James Lane will be in charge of the Police Honor Guard.
PATRICIA McCRACKEN
NORTON, VA – Patricia Joyce Watkins McCracken, 65, entered into rest after a lengthy illness with cancer Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She was loved and very faithful to everyone. She was a member of the Tacoma Methodist Church. She was a patient advocate in the Pharmacy Connect Program with MEOC for the past 8 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Quinten C. Watkins and Myrtle Ruth Jones Watkins and a daughter, Jamie Allison McCracken.
She is survived by 3 sons, Donnie and Kathryn Gilbert, Seven Valleys, PA, Charles and Michelle McCracken, Appalachia, VA, Jeremy and Erin McCracken, Norton, VA; 2 brothers, Quinten and Anne Laster, Culpepper, VA, Gerald and Marietta Watkins, Bristol, VA; 2 sisters, Carol and Gary Bowman, Appalachia, VA, Eloise and Ralph Lawson, Wise, VA; 6 grandchildren, Adam, Mariah, Harrison, Amanda, Connor and Blake; ex-husband and lifelong friend, Jerry McCracken, Kingsport, TN; several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Saturday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 PM Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. David Gilbert and Rev. Tony Nunley officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 10:00 AM Sunday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 9:30 AM Sunday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the MEOC Fuel Fund, P.O. Box 888, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.
IVA PEARL SHOCKLEY
NORTON, VA – Iva Pearl Shockley, age 70, died Sunday, June 12, 2011 in Lonesome Pine Hospital after a brief illness. She was a lifelong resident of the Norton area and was a daughter of the late Daniel and Roxie (Collier) Brickey.
She is survived by her husband of fifty-five years, Bill “Moe” Shockley, Norton, VA; sons, Anthony Dwayne Shockley and Johnny Ray Shockley, both of East Stone Gap, VA, Billy Shockley and wife Hillary, Champlin, NC and Clayton D. Shockley and wife Jessica of Norton, VA; daughters, Mary Lou Dawn Shockley, Elizabethton, TN and Robin Lynn Shockley, Norton, VA; 8 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; brothers, Coy Brickey, Junior Brickey, both of Tennessee; sister Marie Banks, Danville, VA.
The family will receive friends from 12 Noon to 2:00 PM Wednesday in Hagy Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Allen Culbertson officiating. Interment will be in Laurel Grove Cemetery.
GERALD COLLINS
NORTON, VA - Gerald “Buddy” Collins, 75, of Kingsport, departed this life to be with God Sunday morning, June 12th, at his sister’s home in Norton, surrounded by his loving family.
He was preceded in death by his parents James Collins and Genelle Starnes Collins and his brother, Frankie Collins.
Gerald served 20 years in the U.S. Army retiring in 1977 after several combat tours and many overseas assignments. In addition to God and his family he loved adventure, skydiving, whitewater rafting, skiing and biking.
Many have expressed their admiration for his kindness, his humor, and his tireless dedication of helping others. He was always the first to want to reach out and help someone in need. His strength and courage has been a beacon to those who knew him and he will be greatly missed.
He leaves behind his beloved sister, Joan Flanary, his brother James Collins, his son Glen Collins, his grandchildren Zachary, Rachel and Joseph Collins his nieces Debra Flanary Rife and Liz Collins-Russell, his nephews Michael Allen Flanary and James Patrick Flanary and his friend Hope Thomas.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Tuesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 PM Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Robert Fultz officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 11:00 AM Wednesday at the White Oak Gap Cemetery. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team and local veterans groups. Family and friends will meet 10:30 AM Wednesday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
LACY ELLARD TRENT
NORTON, VA – Lacy Ellard Trent, 71, died Monday, June 6, 2011. He attended the Church of God in the Josephine Community of Norton. He was a truck driver currently employed by Presley Trucking. He was preceded in death by two sons, Allen Trent, Steve Trent, and a sister, Loma Gay Trent.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Bonnie Trent, Norton, Va.; 2 sons, Greg Trent, of Illinois, Micheal Trent; 3 daughters, Lisa and Gary Castle, Illinois, Sheila Trent and her fiancé, Russell Krout, Norton, Va., Sherry Trent, Gate City, Va.; 7 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; a niece, Doreen Kazimierczuk, Norton, Va.
The family will receive friends from 2-3:00 PM Friday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. A Memorial service will be conducted at 3:00 PM Friday in the funeral home chapel.
