BIG STONE GAP, VA – Frank Clisso
died Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Lonesome Pine Hospital following an extended
illness. Born in Wise County, Virginia to
the late Pete and Allie (Rossi) Clisso, he was preceded in death by his first
wife, Vivian Clisso, and ten brothers and sisters. Frank was a World War II U.S. Army veteran
and member of the UMWA. He was a former
construction foreman for J. M. Turner Construction and assisted in the
construction of the Flannigan Dam in Dickenson County. He retired from the City of Norton as the
director of public works.
Surviving are his wife, Shelby M.
Clisso, a son, Monty Clisso, Mooresburg, TN, his daughters: Rosalee (Jerry) Miniard and Brenda (Larry)
Hill, all of Norton, a stepson Kedric Meade, Big Stone Gap, VA, his
sisters: Josie Crabtree, Connie (Johnny)
Day, and Sharon Clisso, all of Wise, VA; his brothers: Clyde (Clara) Clisso, Grand Rapids, MI,
Hobert (Molly)Clisso, Norton, and Don (Phyllis) Clisso of Wise. There are eight grandchildren, nine great
grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends
from 5-7 PM Thursday at the Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home in Norton. Funeral services will be at 7 o’clock in the
funeral home chapel with the Reverend Phillip Bates officiating. Family and friends will gather at 1:30 PM
Friday at the funeral home, where they then will travel in procession to the
Gardner Cemetery on Powell River for burial at 2 PM. Military honors will be provided by the
Virginia National Guard Honors Team and local veterans associations.
LORETTA FISHER
East Stone Gap, VA – Loretta “Kathy” Fisher, 51, died Sunday January 22, 2012 at her home. Kathy was a member of Ramsey Freewill Baptist Church in Norton. She was a former resident of Norton before making her home in Appalachia and then East Stone Gap. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Martha and Frank Nunley and Loretta and Grady Beverly.
She is survived by her husband Sam Fisher, East Stone Gap, VA; son Jeremy Minor and his wife Ashley of Norton; daughter, Angela Lovett and her husband Chad of Kingsport, TN; grandchildren, Micah and Elijah Minor, Jakob and Jaelyn Lovett; her parents, Bill and Mary Beverly of Norton, VA; brother, Billy Beverly of Williamsburg, VA; 1 niece, 3 nephews and 3 grand nieces.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 7:00 PM with Rev. Benny Boles and Rev. Randy Carter officiating. Interment will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday in American Legion Cemetery in Powell Valley. Family and friends are requested to meet at the funeral home at 10:30 AM Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Ramsey Freewill Baptist Church, c/o Becky McElroy, 125 9th Street NW, Norton, VA 24273.
CHARLES MUIR
NORTON, VA – Charles Jerome “Charlie” Muir, 50, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 at his residence in Norton. Born in Silver Springs, MD he had made his home in Norton since the late 1970’s. He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Sonia O’Hara in 2004.
He is survived by his son, Andrew Falin of the Eastern Shores, VA; father, Douglas F. Muir, Jr. of Tracys Landing, MD; brothers, Mike Muir and his wife Barbara, John Muir and his wife Marie and Douglas Muir all of Norton, VA; sisters, Susan Kennedy of Abingdon, VA, Anna Knapp and her husband Kyle of Pennsylvania, Eileen Owens and her husband Michael of Norton, VA.
The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 PM Tuesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 PM Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Ken Taylor officiating. Graveside committal services will be conducted 11:00 AM Wednesday at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 10:30 AM Wednesday at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
STEVEN SHELLEY
NORTON, VA – Steven Napier
Shelley, 60, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol,
TN from a sudden, aggressive cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Dr. Ronald N. Shelley, Sr. and Zelma F. Shelley and his brother, Ronald N.
Shelley, Jr.
A resident of Washington County
and Norton, Virginia, Steven worked for the Virginia Department of Forestry for
28 years. During his professional career, he was best known for his work
involving environmental education within the Washington County school system
and his passion for conservation. Countless students were entertained and
educated by his unique presentation of the importance of environmental
awareness and reforestation.
He is survived his wife, Michele
Knox of Norton, VA; his brother, Paul Shelley of Bellingham, WA; his niece
Katherine Shelley and her mother, Marilyn Noll of Vancouver Island, B.C.; and
his faithful dog, Henry.
He is also survived by his
brother-in-law, Neil Knox and his wife Jane and daughter Maggie of Abingdon,
VA; brother-in-law, Bobby Knox and his wife Martha and son Conner of Bristol,
TN; sister-in-law, Ramona Bailey with her husband Mike of Abingdon, VA; along
with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please make
donations to: Upper Tennessee River Roundtable and Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful,
330 Cummings Street, P.O. Box 2359, Abingdon, VA 24212 or to Second Harvest
Food Bank, P.O. Box 2579, Abingdon, VA 24212.
CECIL RAY LANEY
NORTON, VA – Cecil Ray Laney, 87,
died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 in Lonesome Pine Hospital. He was the son of the
late Lonnie James and Bessie Belcher Laney. He worked as a section foreman for
32 years with the former Interstate & Southern Railways. He was a founding
member of the Norton Rescue Squad and was a former Boy Scout Master Troop 205.
He was a member of Suthers Lodge 259 A F & A M. He was preceded in death by
his wife, Pauline Mefford Laney and a brother, Arthur Laney.
He is survived by sons, Larry R.
Laney and his wife Joyce of Norton, VA, Donald R. Laney of Essex, MD; 3
grandchildren, Jennifer Laney, Heather Robinson, Roger Laney; great
grandchildren, Rachael Clayton, Anna Alanis and Luis Alanis; one brother,
Efford Laney of Wise, VA.
The family will receive friends
6-8:00 PM Wednesday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home. Masonic services will
be conducted Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Funeral services will be
conducted 2:00 PM Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Ralph McFarland officiating. Burial will follow in
the Laurel Grove Cemetery.
WILLIE WINKLES
NORTON, VA – Willie Winkles, 90, died
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 at Wellington Place in Kingsport, TN. Willie (known as
Lefty) was a native of Guntersville, Alabama. He was born October 31,
1921, to the late John H. Winkles and Kasey Sims Winkles. He spent most of his adult years in Norton
after completing a decorated Navy tour during World War II. He met and married his wife, the former Trula
Spears, a Norton native, in Washington, D.C. following his discharge. Trula
preceded Willie in death in 2004.
Upon his arrival to Norton he started
pitching for the Dorchester Cardinals of the Lonesome Pine League sponsored by
the Wise Coal & Coke Company. He was
with Dorchester three years beginning in 1947, Dixiana one year, and the Norton
Braves his final two years before he was offered a contract with the Boston
Braves to pitch for their Double A farm club in Atlanta. Due to family reasons he declined and
remained in Norton as a career employee/owner of Daniels Plumbing and Heating
and was a long-time member of the Norton Lion’s Club. He was the last known surviving member of all
the coal company sponsored teams in Southwest Virginia and Eastern
Kentucky. He played with his life-long
friends like Jim Daniels, Red Brooks, Cliff Stallard, and Roy Flanary, his
catcher.
Willie spent his senior years caring for his
late wife and playing golf with his many friends at Lonesome Pine Country Club
in the infamous “Shootout Group.” His
number one partner and cart-mate during most of this time was W. Jack Davis, whose
companionship made his last golfing days very special.
His last wish was being selected to meet the
Atlanta Braves Team during spring training by Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime
Foundation. He was not able to make the trip, but did receive some nice items
of Braves’ memorabilia during his “call-up to the Braves” ceremony.
In addition to
his wife he was preceded in death by a brother, Homer Winkles of Rainsville, AL
and a sister, Roslyn Bowen of Hinesville, GA.
He is survived
by his son, Mark Winkles of Kansas City, MO; a daughter-in-law, Kelly Winkles
of Kingsport, TN; 3 grandchildren, Eric Winkles Boggs, Marion, VA, Erin Winkles
of Martin, TN, Jonathan Winkles of Johnson City, TN; 4 great grandchildren; 2
brothers, O.A. Winkles of Milton, FL, K.B. Winkles of Dallas, TX; and several
nieces and nephews.
The family will
receive friends from 6-8:00 PM Friday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral Home.
Committal services will be conducted at 1:00 PM Saturday at Powell Valley Memorial
Gardens Mausoleum with military rites conducted by Gate City National Guard
Funeral Honors Team and local veterans groups. Entombment will follow in the
mausoleum. Family and friends will meet at 12:30 PM Saturday at the funeral
home to travel in procession to the cemetery.
Memorial
contributions may be made to the First Church of God, P.O. Box 857, Norton, VA
24273; or to West Colonial Hills Baptist Church, 1202 Kendricks Creek Road,
Kingsport, TN 37663.
JENNIFER P. SMITH
COEBURN, VA – Jennifer Philene
Smith, 38, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 at Mountain View Regional Medical Center.
Born in Norton she had made her home in Florida since 1981 and recently moved
back to Wise County. She was a member of the Moose Club in Palatka, Fla. and
was a member of the St. Jude Native Americans. She was preceded in death by her
father, Phillip Earl Smith.
She is survived by her mother,
Betty Farmer of Palatka, Fla.; a daughter Kristen Michelle Gardner of Palatka,
Fla.; a son, Robert Alexander Weaver of Coeburn, Va.; granddaughter, Briannah
Marie Gardner of Palatka, Fla.; a brother, Michael Roberts of Palatka, Fla.; a
sister, Rachael Etta Thomas of Palatka, Fla.; step brothers, William Farmer of
Arkansas, Tommy Farmer of Jonesborough, Tn.; step sister, Kathy Kelly of Pound,
Va.; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family will receive friends
from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Thursday at Hagy & Fawbush Funeral home. Funeral
services will be conducted 1:00 PM Thursday in the funeral home chapel. Burial
will follow in the Laurel Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks
that donations be made to the funeral home to help with funeral expenses.
