The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 142

12V FRIDAY MARCH 2 2001 THE CHArtLOTTE OBSERVER CATAWBA VALLEY DEATH NOTICES ASHLEY JOAN BENFIELD Ashley Joan Benfield 16 of NE Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Catawba Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident Bom April 14 1985 in San Antonio Texas to Dewayne Laretha Brown Benfield She attended Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church and was employed by Dairy Queen Valley Hills Mall Ashley was a member of the St Stephens High School Chorus Juniorettes Honor Roll and was active in sports She was a cheerleader during elementary school and high school In addition to her parents survivors include one sister Amber Benfield of the home one brother Tim Benfield of the home paternal grandparents Elmer Joan Benfield of Hickory and her maternal grandmother Clara Brown of Quincy IL A memorial service was held Thursday March 2 2001 at Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church with Rev James Williams and Rev Scott Howard officiating Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery Memorials can be made to St Stephens Music Booster Club 3205 34th St Dr NE Hickory NC 28601 Attention: Music Booster Club or Cindy Benton Arrangements are being made by Bass-Smith Funeral Home JOE DEPRIESTStaff Director Jesse Cline (seated) who grew up around Newton talks with Lincoln County historian Darrell Harkey about a photo of mill workers Wanted: Mill photos to set right mood for Wynette tale Tammy Wynette is nearly two hours of dialogue and live music From By Your and to Wanna Play and Me To Your the show has most of hits The characters include Wynette ex-husband George Jones two back-up singers and a country band featuring a steel guitarist who once played with Wynette not just a musical Cline said about her but mostly about people who listened to her music and the culture they grew up Throughout the show the mill photos will be flashed on stage He has a few actresses in mind for the role of Wynette but still basically wide open Auditions begin Monday at the Eighth Avenue Studios in New York Cline hopes to tour the show through the South this summer with possible stops in Lincolnton Gastonia and Charlotte was a cotton picker and a Cline said about the same thing as textiles when you come right down to Penley of Claremont one grandson Brandon Lee Penley of Claremont six brothers James Ralph Penley Donald Archie Penley Larry Howard Penley and William Lee Penley all of Hickory Charles Adam Penley of Newton and Joseph Clyde Penley of Icard and friend Ann Joines of Hickory Funeral services were held on Thursday March 1 2001 at Hickory Funeral Home Chapel and were conducted by Rev Scott Bollinger of St Lutheran Church of Claremont Burial followed in Fairgrove United Methodist Church Cemetery Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements JAMES RUBEN PROPST James Ruben Propst 84 of Hickory died Tuesday February 27 2001 at Frye Regional Medical Center following a brief illness Visitation will be held on Friday March 2 2001 at Hickory Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 pm The funeral service will follow at Hickory Funeral Home Chapel at 8:30 pm and will be conducted by Rev James Stephenson A graveside service will be held at Catawba Memorial Park on Saturday March 3 2001 at 11:00 am Born August 4 1916 in Catawba County he was a son of the late Ruben and Lodelia Blankenship Propst Mr Propst was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and was retired from Adams Mills Hosiery In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two half brothers Allie Campbell and Cecil Campbell and one half sister Anna Yount Surviving are his wife Pearl Miller Propst of the home one daughter and son-in-law Jerry (Martha Propst) Terry of Hickory one son Larry Wayne Propst wife Alice Bowman of St Paul MN two granddaughters Vickie Terry of Hickory and Stephanie Propst of St Paul MN two grandsons Christopher Propst and Jonathan Propst both of St Paul MN one great grandson Ryan Christopher of Hickory and one sister Catherine Whitener of Hickory In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church 1911 Zion Church Road Hickory NC 28602 Hickory Funeral Home in charge of arrangements ROBIN LEE ROLLINS Robin Lee Rollins 16 of Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Catawba Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident Bom May 1 1985 in Hickory she was the daughter of Philip Linda Rollins father step mother and Toni David Baker mother step father She was a member of Viewmont Baptist Church and a 10th grader at St Stephens high School where she was on the J-V Soccer Team She was in the Choral Group at St Stephens High School and she was an active member of the Youth Group at Viewmont Baptist Church Survivors include two brothers Nathan and Kyle Rollins of the home one sister Hope Scroggs of North Wilkesboro one step sister Lauren Brown of the home paternal grandmother Mrs George (Erma) Rollins of Hickory maternal grandmother step grandfather Polly Bill Murdock of Statesville maternal grandfather Colin Robinette of Taylorsville and a number of aunts uncles and cousins Funeral services were held Thursday March 1 2001 at Viewmont Baptist Church Rev Dr Layne Smith officiated Burial was at the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens Members of the Roseman Sunday School Class served as pallbearers and members of the Viewmont Baptist Church Class served as Honorary pallbearers In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Viewmont Baptist Church Youth Scholarship Program 1246 2nd St NE Hickory NC 28601 Bass-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements MUSICALromlV rell Harkey who agreed to put out the word about project very excited about Harkey said had more mills than any county in the country and Lincoln ran a close second When I was growing up on a mill hill everybody played hillbilly music The songs were sad but they were stories of life It was what people had Both of parents worked in mills and listened to country music something he avoided After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University and doing graduate work at Bowling Green State University Cline was a New York-based actor and singer He toured nationally with Robert Goulet in and Ann Blyth in He has performed at the St Louis Municipal Opera the Miami Performing Arts Center the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna Va and the Municipal Theatre in New Orleans As artistic director at the Media Theater for seven years staged more than 42 Broadway revivals Heroine of Heartbreak: Count On Observer Classifieds 704377-55551 COLE SPENCER GARRETT Cole Spencer Garrett 16 of Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Catawba Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a car wreck Bom November 20 1984 in Catawba County to Jimmy Garrett Carri McMahan Garrett Church Cole was a Sophomore at St Stephens High School and was a Member of St Stephens Lutheran Church Missouri Synod He was employed by Chick-Fil-A and was the Music Director Organist for Fairgrove United Methodist Church In addition to her parents survivors include a stepfather James Church of Sherrills Ford one sister Cortney Garrett of Sherrills Ford maternal grandparents JC Sue McMahan of Hickory paternal grandmother Catherine Garrett of Claremont maternal great grandmother Mabel Spencer of Conover six aunts uncles and numerous cousins FUneral services will be Friday March 2 2001 at St Stephens Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Rev David Guelzow will conduct the service Pallbearers will be Matt McNeely Joe Locket Michael Church Christopher Church Alan Garrett and Steven Leonard Students at St Stephens High School will serve as honorary pallbearers Memorials may be sent to St Stephens Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Music Program 2304 Springs Road NE Hickory NC 28601 and St Stephens High School Chorus 3205 34th St Dr NE Hickory NC 28601 Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements RACHEL SMITH GRIFFIN Rachel Smith Griffin 87 of Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee FL died Friday February 23 2001 She was bom on Thursday January 22 1914 in Taylorsville to the late Jefferson Davis Smith and Emma Hill Smith She was a member of Taylorsville Presbyterian Church She graduated from City Hospital School of Nursing in Winston-Salem In 1943 she joined the Red Cross Later that year she enlisted in the US Army where she served as an Army Nurse including a tour of duty during the Korean Conflict In 1960 she graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Nursing She retired from the Army Reserves in 1968 with the rank of Lt Colonel In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Robert Griffin and a granddaughter Frances Elizabeth Pearce Survivors include her son Robert Griffin Jr of St Petersburg FI two daughters Theodosia Kountz of Florida and Jill Pearce of Crawfordville FL one sister Nancy Palantzas of Goldsboro NC ten grandchildren 11 great grandchildren two sisters-in-law Dot Smith and Virginia Smith both of High Point and a number of nieces and nephews A graveside service was held on Thursday March 1 2001 at Taylorsville City Cemetery and was conducted by Rev Kerri Mock Memorials may be given to the Taylorsville Presbyterian Church PO Box 507 Taylorsville North Carolina 28681 The Griffin family entrusted the Florida arrangements with Meadow Wood Funeral Home in Tallahassee and Alexander Funeral Service in Taylorsville PAMELA RENAE KI I LER Pamela Renae Kistler 39 of Conover died Monday February 26 2001 at Caldwell Memorial Hospital Born March 29 2961 in Catawba County she was the daughter of Roy Winecoff Jr and Virginia Austin Winecoff She was employed by DZ Trucking Company in Granite Falls Survivors in addition to her parents include her husband William Kistler of Conover one brother and sister-in-law Rick Kay Hollar of McLean VA a step brother Greg Hollar of Granite Falls grandmother Vertie Starnes of Hickory one uncle Leonard Austin of Hickory and two aunts Margie Wallace of Conover and Betty Hollar of High Point A memorial service was held on Wednesday February 28 2001 at Bass-Smith Funeral Home Chapel and was conducted by Rev Tom Huntsinger Memorials may be made to Sandy Ridge Baptist Church 3702 16th St NE Hickory NC 28601 Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge KEONA CLARK MILLHOLLAND Keona Clark Millhoiland 17 of Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Catawba Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident Born January 15 1984 in Honolulu Hawaii he was the son of Alexandra (Sandy) Banach John Gifford Millhoiland Keona was a member of St Aloysius Catholic Church He was a Junior at St Stephens High School where he was a member of the swim team winning numerous awards including two time winner of the NC State 500 Freestyle He was a member of Catawba Valley Aquatic Club He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Irene Joseph Banach In addition to his parents survivors include one sister Marjorie (Maggie) husband John Dalstrom Jr of Hickory paternal grandparents Sue Kenneth Millhoiland of Hickory two uncles Richard Banach of Colorado Springs Colorado and David Millhoiland of Hickory one aunt Maijorie Meyer of Clinton NY five cousins Paul Cathy Schiffel of Hickory and god mother Janice Fishe-Butler of Mt Pleasant SC Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM at St Aloysius Catholic Church with Father Ed Sheridan conducting the service Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park Pallbearers will be John Butler Aaron Keever Joshua Webb Billy Scott Koehler Brad Penley Kyle Eaker Brandon Brown Honorary pallbearers are St Stephens Swim Team CVAC In lieu of flowers donations can be made co Keona Clark Millhoiland Scholarship Fund 400 2nd Ave NW Hickory NC 28601 Bass-Smith Funeral Home is handling the arrangements GLADYS OXENTINE Gladys Oxentine 72 of Taylorsville died Monday February 26 2001 in Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte She was born on January 11 1929 in Wilkes County to the late Earl Findley Speaks and Estelle Laws Speaks She was a member of Wayfound Baptist Church She retired from Gulf State Paper in Conover after 21 years In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Hubert Oxentine in 1966 and her grandson Steven Oxentine in 1993 Survivors include two sons Charles wife Melissa Oxentine and Samuel Oxentine wife Martha all of Taylorsville one brother Arlon Speaks of Taylorsville one sister Irene Triplett of Yadkinville long time friend Hayden Bowman of Taylorsville nine grandchildren seven great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews The funeral was held on Thursday March 1 2001 in the Chapel of Alexander Funeral Service and was conducted by Rev Neil George Burial followed in the Taylorsville City Cemetery Pallbearers included her grandsons Jason Oxentine Jeremy Oxentine Jeffrey Oxentine Darin Oxentine Shannon Oxentine and Arnold Kerley Honorary pallbearers included Jacob Beard Joshua Beard and Hayden Bowman The Oxentine Family has entrusted the arrangements with Alexander Funeral Service in Taylorsville LINNIE DEAL PENLEY Mr Linnie Deal Penley 69 of Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Catawba Memorial Hospital following a brief illness Born April 13 1931 in Catawba County he was a son of the late Charlie William and Laura Raby Penley Mr Penley was a member of Fairgrove United Methodist Church and was retired assistant plant manager of King Hickory Furniture Company In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Nancy Moss Penley Surviving are one daughter Kathy Marie Proffitt of Matthews one son Michael Lee MEW BEETLE MARGARET YOUNT COREY Margaret Yount Corey 86 of Hickory died Monday February 26 2001 at Frye Regional Medical Center following a period of declining health Born March 2 1914 in Catawba County she was a daughter of Odus Vance and Dorothy Eckard Mrs Corey was a member of St Andrews Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Circle and was a nursery attendant She was a homemaker In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband John Edward Corey Survivors include two daughters Dorothy Elizabeth Corey of the home and Vic (Susan C) Batts of Raleigh two granddaughters Cameron Corey Batts and Kathryn Leigh Batts both of Raleigh three sisters Nina White of Hickory Bobbie Rudisill of Cherryville and Ruth Sigmon of Newton and one brother Earl Yount of Spartenburg SC The funeral was held on Thursday March 1 2001 at St Andrews Lutheran Church and was conducted by Rev Richard Fritz Burial Catawba Memorial Park Hickory Funeral Home in charge of arrangements SIDNEY AVERY EVANS Mr Sidney Avery Evans 57 of Newton died Wednesday February 28 2001 at Frye Regional Medical Center following an illness of 2 12 weeks He was born September 3 1943 in Catawba County to Viola Fisher Evans of Newton and the late Tom Evans He attended Newton Conover High School and was a retired truck driver with Vita Foam in Newton He was a member of DAV Chapter 84 and the American Legion and was of the Baptist Faith He was a Private E-l in the US Army and received a National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal In addition to his father he was preceded in death by two brothers Lewis and Kenny Evans Surviving are his wife AJice Ann Holtzclaw Evans two daughters Christina Evans Pyatt husband Wade Pyatt of Newton and Mary Rose Evans of Maiden three brothers William Evans Lawrence Evans and Earl Evans all of Newton and a sister Margret Travis of Newton The funeral will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday March 3 2001 at Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Taylorsville and will be conducted by the Rev Paul Schronce Burial will be with full military rites by DAV Chapter 84 will be in Mt Herman Baptist Church Cemetery in Alexander County The family will receive friends at Adams Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 pm on Friday March 2 2001 and at other times will be at their respective residences Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville is in charge of arrangements STARTING "paramount VOLKSWAGEN 520 Hwy 70 SE Hickory 828-322-5835 wwwparamountautocom Reach Joe DePriest at (704) 868-7745 or jdepriestcharlotteobser-vercom -CARPET STORE Thick Berber Carpet s299yd Thick Plush Carpet s299yd Commercial CarpetVinyl 399yd Super Thick PlushBerber s399yd Compare Elsewhere at 624 Kennedy St 704-347-0415 I visit us of chorlottecorpet com 7500' Model EM215 Stock A647 Over 30 InStock! 25 CASH OR TRADE PLUS TAX APR WITH APPROVED CREDIT 2001 avic EX TO THE READERS We offer Death Notice information in the Catawba Valley Neighbors section of The Charlotte Observer free of charge For further information please consult with your funeral director or call (828) 324-1330 a SALE PRICE $14300 STOCK A647 TAGS DOC FEES 84 MO AT 9 90 We Make It Easy To Find With large type and easy-to-read grids magazine makes to find your favorite shows Get it every Sunday (The Charlotte Friends it easy Morganton 437-3181 IHKX0CT323-1511I.