RUTH KILGORE

NORTON, VA – Ruth Mickles Kilgore, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, at the home of her nephew and niece, Larry and Joanna Gardner surrounded by her loving family. She retired from Ben Franklin Department Store having worked in the Norton and Wise stores. She was a daughter of the late Charles and Myrtle Craft Mickles. In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kilgore; five brothers, Ralph, Clyde, William, Ed and Charles, Jr.; and two sisters, Kathleen and Margie.

She is survived by four sisters, Beulah Collier of Norton, VA, Sue Barlow of Richmond, VA, Irene Renzo of Canada and Louise Witt of Goshen, OH; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family will receive friends from 12-1 pm Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 pm Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Charlie Carter officiating. Burial will follow in the Kilgore Cemetery.

LULA MAE STURGILL

NORTON, VA- Lula Mae Sturgill, 92, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, at her residence. She was a beloved mother and had a heart of gold. She was the daughter of Jonny and Margaret Stidham. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Otis Sturgill; one daughter, Juanita Thorp; one son, Earl Sturgill; and three granddaughters, Rhonda Ellis, Jackie Stidham, and Lynn Frick.

She is survived by one son, Danny Sturgill of Knoxville, TN; five daughters, Sherry Hamilton and her husband Darrell of Norton, VA; Linda Morgan and her husband Roger of Coeburn, VA; Louise Ellis and her husband James of Coeburn, VA; Jearline Farmer and her husband Jonny of Norton, VA, Pat Teague and her husband Ken of Florida; several grandchildren, great grandchildren including two special great grandchildren, Brooklin Stover of Norton, VA; Jasmine Ellis of Coeburn VA; one brother, Henderson Stidham of Tacoma, VA; one sister, Shirley Dotson of Wise, VA; several nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Friday, Dec. 23 2016, at Hagy and Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton, VA. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Friday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Eddie Farmer officiating. Graveside service will be conducted 10 am Saturday, Dec. 24 2016, at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 9:30 am to travel in procession to the cemetery

JIMMY HAROLD TATE

NORTON, VA – Jimmy Harold Tate, 82, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Holston Valley Medical Center. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Blountville, TN. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran having served 21 years. He was a son of the late Wayne and Helen Absher Tate. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his sister, Deanna Tate and two brothers, Bobby Tate and Alfred Lee Tate.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Tate of Blountville, TN; his daughter, Hope Tate of Huntsville, AL; two step daughters, Billie Carol Bailey of Blountville, TN and Teri Cook of Kingsport, TN; four brothers, Frank Tate, Gerald Tate and Gary Tate all of Norton, VA and Mike Tate and his wife, Karen, of Jonesville, VA; two sisters, Nancy Darnell and her husband, Howard, of Johnson City, TN and Sandy Rose and her husband, Dallas, of Clinton, TN; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton, Va. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Robert Fultz, Jr. officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted at 2 pm Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, at the Wells Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home by 1:30 pm to travel in procession to the cemetery.

ROY RUFUS ROBERTS

NORTON, VA – Roy Rufus Roberts, 81, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at Johnson City Medical Center. Roy retired after 35 years of service from Bell Atlantic as an area manager. Roy was a member of the First Baptist Church in Norton, Va. He was a former member of Norton City Council and the Norton Lions Club for many years. Roy was a U.S. Army Veteran. He was Wise County Citizen of the year in 1988. He was a son of the late William Roberts and Vadie Bryant Roberts. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Henry Roberts, and his sisters Dennie Carroll, Buna Lawson, Bonnie Stewart and Ruth McAmis.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley Stallard Roberts of Norton, Va.; his daughter, Robin Roberts Carico of Norton, Va.; his granddaughter, Shelby Carico of Athens, OH; a brother, George Roberts of Norton, Va.; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friend from 5-7 pm Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Collie officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home by 10:30 am to travel in procession to the cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 499, Norton, VA 24273.

LEO CASTRO-BLEDSOE

NORTON, VA – Leo James Castro-Bledsoe, 5 years old, died Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Mountain View Regional Medical Center.  Leo attended Miss Anne’s Kindergarten class at Norton Elementary and Middle School.  He was cherished by his family, classmates, and his neighbors.  He enjoyed drawing and learning to write.  A generous, caring little boy who always thought of others before himself and he was “the glow of an angel” and “made the old feel young again.” Leo was the perfect image of love and a true angel here on earth who has now gained his wings.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Jamie Nidiffer Pritchard, his great grandfather, John Bledsoe, and his uncle, “Pappaw” Bill Bledsoe as well as his uncle Jake Bledsoe.

Leo is survived by his mother, Sarah Bledsoe and Austin Sargent of Norton; his grandfather John “Boy” Bledsoe of Norton; his father, Jose’ Antonio Castro Naredo of Sergio Vutron Casas, Mexico; his siblings, Gamileil Castro and Neydi Castro and “big brother” Andrew Sergent; special grandmothers, Loretta “Nina” Bledsoe and Nina Honaker; his aunts Kay Kash and Amy Burke; his uncle, John Henry Bledsoe; his great grandmother, Evelyn Bledsoe; several cousins and relatives in the Nidiffer family, and his close neighborhood buddies and classmates.

Funeral services were conducted at 7 pm Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Wells officiating.

KIMBERLEY STILL BOGGS, MD

KNOXVILLE, TN - Kimberley Still Boggs, M.D. entered peacefully into his eternal home on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, at the Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Kim was preceded in death by his father, D. L. Boggs, Jr. and brother, Jeffrey Allen Boggs-at birth. Born in Abingdon, VA, he was raised in Wise, VA by two loving parents, D.L. Boggs, Jr. and Patsy Gayle Still, who adored him immensely. Kim graduated from J.J. Kelly H.S. in 1971, attended Lipscomb University 1971-1973 and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1976. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1980 and completed his Pediatric residency from Ohio State University in 1985. Kim served in private practices in Mt. Vernon, KY; Muscles Shoals, AL; Carrolton and Albany, GA; and Abingdon, VA. from 1986-1997.He served as a locum tenens physician for Medical Doctor Associates in Atlanta, GA from 1998-2003 which was halted by an automobile accident during that time, forcing him to retire. Kim moved to Knoxville, TN in 2007. He loved his service and charitable work as an active member of Mended Hearts, President of the Civitan Club - 2011-2014, volunteered at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital 2013-2014, as a Chaplain in the Steven’s Ministry at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in 2015 and as social activities representative at Homewood Assisted Living at Deane Hill 2007-2016.

He is survived by his loving mother, Pat Boggs, brother Lee Boggs and wife Diane and his sister, Amy Puckett and her husband Randy and their daughters Katherine and Margaret Barker.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Wise Baptist Church, 211 Spring Avenue NE, Wise, Virginia. Funeral services will follow there at 1:00 PM. Funeral Services will be led by Pastor Mike Winters and assisted by Dr. Ray Jones. Burial will follow in the Wise Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home of Norton, Virginia is serving the Boggs Family.

ROBERT DARRYL FARMER

NORTON, VA – Robert Darryl Farmer, 53, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at Holston Valley Medical Center. He was a retired coal miner having worked for Paramont Coal Co. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed following the Dallas Cowboys and NASCAR, He was preceded in death by a daughter, Tajarae Mailea Farmer; his parents, Frank Linkous Farmer and Anna Mae Bledsoe Farmer; his grandparents, Raymond and Oca Frye; a sister, Helen Nunley; and a step son, Bryan Keith Large, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle Lea Farmer of Norton, Va.; sons, Johnny Cruise Farmer and Robert Linkous Farmer, both of Norton, Va.; step children, Ashley Vaughn Thacker, Brent Patrick Thacker, Cody Scott Mickles; grandchildren, McKenzie Hinson, Emmitt Blake Mickles, Jacob Scott Mickles; brothers, Frank Daniel Farmer and his wife Sherri of Jacksonville, NC, Rev Edward Dwayne Farmer and his wife Deborah of Mt. Sterling, Ky., William Johnny Farmer and his wife Jearline of Norton, Va.; sisters, Deborah Farmer Addison and her husband Roger and Lisa Farmer Barnette and her husband Greg, all of Norton, Va., Linda Beverly and her husband Wilbur of Charlottesville, Va., Billie Chappell of Astoria, Va.; Terri Hughes of Afton, Ga.; Several nieces and nephews; his special friends, John Greear and Lenny Thacker; and his special pet companion, Rio.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 7 pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Edward Farmer officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted at 11 am Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Norton. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home by 10:30 am Tuesday to travel in procession to the cemetery.