Obituaries

Helen Diane Klare Dahlin

Aug 30, 2023

Helen Diane Klare Dahlin, 81, of Lenoir, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

She was born on Beaver Island in Clinton, Iowa on January 4, 1942 to the late Lewis Klare and Helen Christine Ohrt Klare. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle “Shelly” Brewer; four siblings, Betty Hutton, Mary Ann Sexton,...

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Roby Lee Sutton

Aug 29, 2023

Roby Lee Sutton, 79, of Old Fort, went to be with the Lord on the evening of Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at Memorial Mission Hospital.

A native of Marion, Lee was born August 15, 1944 to the late Roby YJ Sutton and Dorothy Elizabeth Parker Sutton.

Lee was a math teacher before beginning a career in the...

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Marty Lee Creasman

Aug 28, 2023

Marty Lee Creasman, 49, of Old Fort, passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 at Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville.

Marty was born in McDowell County, NC on October 9, 1973, to Joyce Anne Manley Creasman and the late Wilburn Theodore Creasman. Marty was very good with his hands. He loved music and enjoyed tinkering with electronics....

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Joseph John Merola

Aug 28, 2023

Joseph John Merola, 76, of Mooresville, North Carolina, passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey on October 23, 1946 to the late Louis J. Merola and Elina Viotto Merola. He is also preceded in death by two grandsons, Bradley Martin and Brandon Sanders.

Joe was...

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Annie Ellison Brown

Aug 27, 2023

Annie Ellison Brown, 90, of Marion, went Home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center in Asheville.

She was born in Cocke County Tennessee on May 23, 1933 to the late Fred Ellison and Nancy Ann Hall Ellison. Her husband, Fred Thomas Brown, and nine siblings also precede her in...

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William Arvile Penley

Aug 27, 2023

William Arvile Penley, 89, of Marion, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2023.

He was born in Caldwell County on August 3, 1934 to the late Julius Nathan Penley and Bertha Tolbert Penley. He is also preceded in death by his wife, Lorene Radford Penley; grandson, Richard McCloud; and his siblings, Monroe Penley, Ralph Penley, Margie Lawing, Maggie Miller,...

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Norman Lee Stevens

Aug 26, 2023

Norman Lee Stevens, 78, of Marion, passed away Saturday, August 26, 2023 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center.

He was born in Old Fort on June 24, 1945 to the late William Randolph Stevens, Sr. and Ruby Frances Melton Stevens.

Norman was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a talented craftsman who could build anything....

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Patrick Michael Conner

Aug 25, 2023

Patrick Michael Conner, 66, of Marion, passed away Friday morning, August 25, 2023 at Mission Hospital.

He was born in Rutherford County on July 6, 1957 to the late Clyde Freeman Conner and Nellie Brown Conner. He is also preceded in death by six siblings, Carroll Conner, Jack Conner, Ray Conner, Jewel Simmons, Lillie Mae Hodge, and Josephine...

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Janis Myree Zibelin

Aug 24, 2023

Janis Myree Harrell Zibelin, 78, of Nebo, passed away Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Solace Center in Asheville.

Janis was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 1, 1945, to the late Raymond Charles Harrell and Violet Myree Harrell Bland. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Marion and was married to her...

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Gregory Scott Elkins

Aug 22, 2023

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 Gregory Scott Elkins, 64, of Marion, passed away at Mission Hospital-McDowell.

Gregory was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on August 8, 1959 to Catherine Reynolds Bossert and the late Gene Elkins.

Surviving Gregory are his wife, Bridget L. Elkins and his brother, George Elkins.

There are no services planned at this time.

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John Lenn Hodges

Aug 22, 2023

John Lenn Hodges, 38, of Mooresboro, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on June 22, 1985 to Linda Marie Howard Henson and the late Ronnie Lenn Hodges.

John was an avid outdoorsman. He loved camping, fishing, and enjoying time by the bonfire with family...

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Hazel Vess McPeters

Aug 22, 2023

Hazel Vess McPeters, 92, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center.

She was born in McDowell County to the late Otis Theodore Vess and Flossie Odell Elliott Vess. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Bruce McPeters; daughter, Vicky Lynn McPeters; and three siblings, Frank Vess, Roy Vess, and Lothella...

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Pamela Jean Gooding

Aug 22, 2023

Pamela Jean Gooding, 62, of Marion passed away at Mission Hospital-McDowell on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

She was born in Kinston, NC to the late Cecil Gooding and the late Norma Jean Ross.

Pamela is survived by her sister Donna Lynn Gooding Harris and her husband Tandy, nephew Ross and niece Caroline. In addition she is survived by many...

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Debra Lee Minish Webb

Aug 21, 2023

Debra Lee Minish Webb, 68, of Morganton, passed away Monday, August 21, 2023 at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

A native of McDowell County, she was born April 3, 1955 to the late Harold Bruce Minish and Betty Jean Lindsey Ellis. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, Allen Minish, Larry Sparks, and Lynn Sparks.

Debbie...

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Jonathan James Stroud

Aug 20, 2023

Jonathan James Stroud, 37, of Marion, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2023.

He was born in Burke County to Scott Stroud and Karen Jean Curtis Stroud on August 24, 1985. Jonathan was known to have a heart of gold and was always helping those in his neighborhood. He was a great mechanic and could fix anything he set...

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Timothy Wayne Stephenson

Aug 20, 2023

Master Trooper Timothy Wayne Stephenson, 59, of Marion, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 20, 2023 at UNC Health Blue Ridge.

He was born in Asheville on June 2, 1964 to the late Pastor Francis Daniel Stephenson, who was a Baptist minister for more than 55 years, and the late Betty Jo Stephenson. He is also preceded in death...

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Lori Beth Cox

Aug 18, 2023

Lori Beth Cox, 40, of Marion, passed away unexpectedly Friday, August 18, 2023.

She was born in Greeneville, Tennessee on August 2, 1983. Lori loved listening to music and reading. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband, John Wayne Bailey; father, Donnie Everett Cox; mother, Rosa Lee Garland Stanley; her daughter, Zoe Hendrix...

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Leroy Albert Price

Aug 18, 2023

Leroy “Bud” Albert Price, 75, of Gaffney, SC, passed away Friday, August 18, 2023 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Bud was born in McDowell County, NC on April 15, 1948, to the late Clarence Albert Price and Hazel Jean Ellington Price. He was married to his wife of 55 years, Rita Dills Price. Bud...

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Donna Jean Hampton Stepp

Aug 17, 2023

Donna Jean Hampton Stepp, 62, passed away Thursday, August 17, 2023 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospital in Asheville.

She was born in Burke County on August 25, 1960 to the late Charles Hampton and Nora Wigley Hampton.

No services are planned at this time.

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James "Jim" Cecil Varner

Aug 17, 2023

James “Jim” Cecil Varner of Marion, N.C. passed away on August 17 at Mission Hospital in Asheville. He was 78. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Beam Funeral Service. Rev. Jerry Lewis will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. Jim was born...

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