NORTON, VA – Valerie Ann Stewart, 50, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 at her home. Valerie loved children, as evidenced by her work: she was a former first grade teachers’ aide at Norton Elementary and Middle School, worked for Appalachian Children’s Theatre and with a center for the abused and neglected. She was a past president of the Norton Elementary School PTA, had been a Girl Scout leader, and to the J.I. Burton Band flag corps, she was lovingly referred to as their “Fairy ’Guard’ Mother.”
She is survived by her husband, William “Bud” Stewart, a daughter, Caitlin Stewart of Norton; her parents, Bill Clough, Jr. and Annette Addison Clough, Newport News, VA; a brother, Bill Clough III, Newport News, brother and sister in law: Greg and Mia Stewart, Norton; and a niece and nephews: Hannah Stewart, Joshua Clough, Ethan Stewart and Evan Stewart
The family will receive friends from 6-8:30 PM Sunday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services will be conducted 10:00 AM Monday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens with Rev. Roger Sloce officiating. Family and friends will meet at 9:30 AM Monday to travel in procession to the cemetery.
FRED DANIEL DEAN
BIG STONE GAP, VA – Fred “Danny” Dean, 63, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 in Holston Valley Hospital. He coached Little League Baseball in Big Stone Gap and was a former president of the organization.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Dean of Big Stone Gap, VA; 2 sons, Christopher Dean of Gray, TN, John Dean and his wife Michelle of Big Stone Gap, VA; a daughter, Amanda Roberts and her husband Jesse of Big Stone Gap, VA; 5 grandchildren; a brother, James Dean and his wife Madielene of Randolph, OH; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 7-9:00 PM Thursday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Graveside funeral services will be conducted 1:00 PM Friday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 12:30 PM Friday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
REV. LILLIE MAE MCCRARY
NORTON, VA – Rev. Lillie Mae McCrary, 84, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2011 in Mountain View Regional Medical Center. She was a member and Assistant Pastor at Blackman Chapel AME Zion in Norton. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Carl McCray and her second husband, Willie McCrary.
She is survived by two daughters, Lena Foster and her husband, David of Coeburn, Ophelia Forney of Norton; four sons, Robert Forney of Norton, Thomas Forney and his wife Edna of Coeburn, Timothy Forney of Norton, Paul Forney and his wife Kim of Norton; daughter-in-law, Wanda Forney of Baltimore, MD; 30 grandchildren; several great and great-great grandchildren; aunt, Beatrice Livingston; cousin, Breford Hamilton; niece, Carolyn Johnson; special friends, Sadie Coleman, Richard Lomax, T.D. Lassiter, Frieda Sensabaugh and Effella Goodgame.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Leslie Lee, Jr., Rev. Joseph Comage and Rev. Todd French officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak View Cemetery in Big Stone Gap.
ROGER BYRON ISOM
NORTON, VA – Roger Byron Isom, 63, passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 at Johnson City Medical Center after an extended illness.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Charlene Isom, and a brother, Benny Isom.
Surviving to mourn his loss are his daughters, Glenna Ball and her children, Joshua, Corey, Hagan and Raelyn, all of Norton; Cheryl (Tracy) Fields and their children, Nathan and Noah of Norton; two sisters, Billie (Franklin) Stidham of Knoxville, TN and Gayetta Collins of Wise; one sister-in-law, Debbie Isom of Norton; a special niece, Kim (Mark) Mullins and their children, Mark Benton, Kristen, and Emily of Big Stone Gap; special friends with whom he resided, Darrell and Glenda Cooke and their children, Jeremiah, Aaron, Sabrina and Jessica of Norton; and special friends with whom he also resided, Andy and Chasity Mullins and their children, Kayleigh (his special little buddy) and Abigail of Wise; and a host of other friends and relatives.
Private services will be conducted at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home, 956 Park Ave., Norton, VA 24273.
DON STUART CASSELL
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Don Stuart Cassell of Chattanooga, TN died Thursday, December 1, 2011. Don was born in Norton, Virginia on October 31, 1930, the son of Estelle Kate and Cecil Boyd Cassell. He was preceded in death by his parents and a beloved son-in-law, the Reverend Mike Williams.
Survivors are his wife, Evelyn Daniels Cassell, son, Don Stuart Cassell, Jr. and wife, Sarah, Knoxville, TN, a daughter, Terri Lee Williams of Alpharetta, GA, daughter, Kimberly Cassell Strauss and husband Ron of Oviedo, FL, son Timothy Daniels Cassell and wife Stephanie of Norton, VA. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Stuart Ijams Cassell, Nicholas Boyd Cassell, James Oliver Cassell, Julian Herron Cassell, Daniel Knight Williams, Anna Ruth Williams, Scott Christopher Strauss, William Daniels Cassell, and Thomas Andrew Cassell.
Don attended Norton schools where he played on a State Championship basketball team. Don was also an Eagle Scout, and upon graduating from high school was awarded a Virginia Bureau of Mines Scholarship to Virginia Tech where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He continued his post graduate studies at Auburn University. Don served two years in the US Army Signal Corps where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He served 10 months in Germany earning the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Occupation Medal. In his professional career, Don held teaching positions at Virginia Tech, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He worked underground as a mining engineer with the Clinchfield Coal Corporation in Dante, VA, and as a nuclear engineer with General Nuclear in Dunedin, FL. At Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga, Don worked as a thermal hydraulic analysis engineer and later as manager of the analytical engineering department. He earned two patents for the development of devices used in the steam generation and heat transfer industries. Don held membership in several professional societies and was a member of First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
Memorial services will be at 4 PM Saturday in the McEwen Chapel of First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN, with Dr. Thomas Quisenberry officiating. The family will receive friends at the conclusion of the memorial service. Military graveside services will be conducted at 1:30 PM, Monday, December 5 at the Powell Valley Memorial Gardens in Big Stone Gap, VA. Pallbearers will include Don’s grandchildren, brother-in-law, Milt Wilson of Jasper, GA and childhood friend, Bill Hendrick, Big Stone Gap,VA.
The Cassell family would like to express their deep gratitude to the loving, compassionate caregivers and staff at Alexian Healthcare Center and to Jim Heistand for his constant friendship throughout Don’s long illness. Don’s children wish to extend their warmest gratitude to their Uncle Milt and Aunt Jeanie Wilson for helping them understand the depth of love shared by their parents as they watched their mother so selflessly commit herself to their father’s care. Their vigilant support of their mother often lifted her spirits and Don’s children’s at just the right moment. In them was seen the hand of God at work. We have no greater treasure than the gift of your love so often extended to each of us.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Community Kitchen in Chattanooga, TN.
