Featured, Obituaries

Obituaries – Week of March 4, 2021


Bethalee Brewer
Bethalee Brewer, 90, of Red House, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2021. She was a member of Riverside Baptist Church and Grandview Baptist Church. She worked for several years as nurses aid at Charleston General and then went on to own her own nursing home in Nitro. She finished her career as a caregiver in her home.
Born June 20, 1930 in Nitro she was the daughter of the late Dwight Moody Buckland and Bertie Allice Higginbotham Buckland. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Wilmer Woodson Brewer; son, Wilmer “Woody” Brewer; infant daughter, Alice Mae Brewer, great grandson, Grey Forrest Pritchard; brother, Dwight Buckland and sister, Juanita Hill Selbe.
Survivors include her daughter, Diana Jean (Kenneth) Rollins of Red House; sons, Gary Lee (Kathy) Brewer of Grand Rapids MI and Danny Lee (Valerie) Brewer of London OH; brothers, Billy (Judy) Buckland of FL and Luther (Loraine) Buckland of OH; sister, Kathalee Davis of Dunbar; grandchildren,Allen Rollins, Aaron Rollins, Matthew Brewer, Stacy Brewer, Shannon Nelson, Natasha Brewer, Christopher Brewer, Nicholas Brewer and Brittany Pritchard. Bethalee is also survived by twenty three great grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral service was at Raynes Funeral Home, Eleanor with Pastor Woody Willard officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Memory Gardens, Red House.

William “Bill” Burns
William J. “Bill” Burns, 96, of Culloden, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, after a short illness. He was retired glass blower, working for Sloan Glass in Culloden. Bill loved farming, fishing and caring for his animals. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Ellen Irene Salmons Burns, and several brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his daughter, Edna Thomasson and sister Sue (Ronnie) Jackson, all of Culloden, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside service was Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Jackson Burns Cemetery on Coon Creek Road in Culloden.

Sandra Sue Chandler
Sue Chandler, age 79, of Hurricane, passed away peacefully Friday, February 19, 2021 at Teays Valley Center, Hurricane.
She was a former live-in caretaker/companion for many years. She was a member of Rehoboth Baptist Church, St. Albans. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Chandler; parents, Charles and Lois Wilson; brothers, Ralph, Dennis and Chuck Wilson; and sister, Kathryn Wilson-Reynolds; as well as many extended family members and friends.
Sue is survived by her sister, Beverly Wilson McCraw.
Burial was in Valley View Memorial Park, Hurricane.

K.C. Colston
Kenneth, “K.C.” Colston, 55, of Hurricane, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. He was born December 17, 1965 to the late Kenny and Connie Colston. K.C. was a graduate of Hurricane High School class of 1984 and was a retired welder from AEP.
He is survived by his daughter, Cassidy Colston of Vermont; sister, Angie Dick of Huntington and uncle, Gary Colston of Florida.
Graveside service was Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Tyler Mountain Cemetery.

James Ottis Holliday
The Honorable Judge James O. Holliday, of Hurricane, died peacefully at home on February 19, 2021, surrounded by his wife and family. Born October 12, 1928, in Omar, James was the son of the late Ottis M. and Faye Louise Miller Holliday. He was a Korean War Veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and Heroic Acts. A graduate of Logan High School, West Virginia University, and WVU Law School, James opened a practice in Hurricane, serving the local community until becoming Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney, and ultimately a 29th Judicial Circuit Court Judge, a position he held until retirement; and then continued working as a Temporary Supreme Court Justice, Senior Status Judge and Mediator.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Ott and Faye Holliday and sister, Regina Holliday Matney. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 66 years, Sarah (Sally) Fletcher Holliday, his five children, John (Diana), Betsy (Scott), Andy, Anne, Mike, and daughter-in-love Michele; grandchildren, Meghan, Cade (Lauren), Chase, Cody (Jessica), Claire (Joe), Jim (Olivia), Cole, Logan (Kate), Ali (Chris), Aggie, Anna, Andrew, Ben, and John Michael, and great-grandson Hayes. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.
James was held in high regard by all who knew him. He was a man of integrity, fairness, and faith; a man of few words, but an inspiration to all who listened when he spoke. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on in everyone who loved him.
A private memorial service for family will be held March 13, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. and will be live-streamed for those who would like to participate. We invite friends and colleagues to send a 1-2 minute video to honor him to https://www.allenfuneralhomewwv.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church-Holliday Memorial, PO Box 424, Hurricane, WV 25526. Funds will be used to provide scholarships for Peterkin Church Camp. The livestream link will be on St. Timothy’s and Allen’s websites.

Robert Allen Hughes
Robert Allen Hughes, 85, of Hurricane, went to be with the Lord on February 28, 2021, after a short illness.
He was a retired Airforce veteran with 23 years of service, serving in Vietnam, Germany, Turkey. and Saudi Arabia. He was also retired from AEP John Amos Power Plant with 30 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his wife Sarah Hughes and son Douglas Paul Hughes.
He is survived by his children, Patrick Wayne Hughes of St. Albans, Pamela Hughes of Hurricane, Denis Hughes Chapman of Milton; grandchildren, Sarah, Shannon, Nicci, Brittany, Thomas, Christian, Elizabeth and Emma and great grandchildren Waylon, Lyla and Thomas Jr.
Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2021, at Allen Funeral Home with Pastor David Bowen officiating.Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Allen Funeral Home.

Lenora Grimm
Lenora Shipper Barner Grimm, 96, of Grimm’s Landing, was called to her heavenly home Monday, February 22, 2021, at Eldercare of Ripley. She was a “Rosie the Riveter” working in a factory during World War II soldering radio boards. She spent several years working for the Kodak Corporation and owned Grimm’s Grocery along with her husband for many years. Lenora was a member of the Buffalo Church of God where she played the piano for 33 years and was a member of the Women of the Church of God. She loved to cook and will always be remembered for her cooking.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Franklin Shipper and Ester Erwin Shipper. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Richard Grimm; daughters, Dianne Higginbotham, Barbara Hayes and Kathy Means; son-in-law, Emit Jeffers and sister, Pauline Miller.
Survivors include her sons, Stephen (Tina) Savage of New Jersey, Rodney (Lynda) Barner of South Carolina; daughters, Carleen (Denny) Bailes of Point Pleasant, Susan (Ed) Truitt of Grimm’s Landing, Toni (Ronnie) Higginbotham of Grimm’s Landing, and Lisa (Steve) Reedy of Buffalo; son-in-law’s, Kermit Higginbotham of Grimm’s Landing and Mike Means of Grove City OH. Lenora is survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren .
Funeral service was Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Raynes Funeral Home, Buffalo with Rev. Mitchell Burch officiating. Burial was in Buffalo Memorial Park, Buffalo.

Charles Michael Koenig
Charles Michael “Mike” Koenig, 79, of Teays, passed Feb. 18, 2021 at his home.
He was born August 15, 1941, to Mike and Ginny in Big Chimney. Michael was a great man and a gifted storyteller.
Mike loved golf, Cincinnati Reds, the Browns and the Mountaineers. He graduated from Elkview High School in 1959 and sent on to serve in the Air National Guard. Afterwards he went to work at Union Carbide and retired from Bayer Corp.
He will be so missed by his wife, Jayne; his son’s Mike and his wife Patty; his son, Tom and Elsa; his son Tracy; his son Mark and his wife Jessica; his daughter, Toby; and his cousin Shirley Vasilliou; his grandchildren, Mika, Madison and Miranda, Seth and McKenzie, Braxton, Bryson and Ava.
Burial was in Hall Cemetery in Big Chimney.

Stephen Delbert Paxson
Stephen Delbert Paxson, 67, of Red House, passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021. He was a 1972 graduate of Winfield High School. He worked for several years at Union Carbide and Gritt’s Midway Greenhouses, and also sold produce independently for many years. He was a member of the Mt. Union Community Church, and attended Midway United Methodist Church.
Born October 6, 1953, he was the son of David E. Paxson of Pittsboro, North Carolina, and the late Patricia Mae Thornton Paxson. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by brothers, Mark Paxson and Alan Paxson.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Mary Paxson; son, Stephen Delbert Paxson II of Pliny; daughter, Patricia Ann Yates of Pliny; step-son, Gary Higginbotham; step-daughters, Cindy Beckett and Joy Moody; brother, Daniel Paxson of Pittsboro, North Carolina; as well as 15 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Midway United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Harris officiating.

Patricia Ann Sigman
Patricia Ann “Patsy” Sigman, 82, of Red House, passed away Monday February 22, 2021 at her home following a long illness. She retired from the Rite Aid warehouse with 19 years of service. She attended Lone Oak Church of God Mission.
Born June 26, 1936 in Poca, she was the daughter of the late Samuel A. Harrison and Lennie Mae McDaniel Harrison. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Merrell Sigman; brothers, Bennie Harrison and Sammy Harrison; an infant brother and an infant sister.
Survivors include her son, Mickey (Trisha) Sigman of Red House; daughter, Vicki (Randy) Tribble of Leon; sisters, Irene Painter of West Monroe LA and Judy (Delmas) Roberts of Eleanor; sister in laws, Betty Sigman of Liberty and Betty Riffee of Dayton OH; grandchildren, Nichole (Jimmy) Mitchell, Brandon (Jessie) Honaker, Whitney (Chad) Pritt; great grandchildren, Adison Mitchell, Austin Mitchell, Eden Honaker and Casen Pritt. Patsy is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Funeral service was Friday, February 26, 2021 at Raynes Funeral Home, Eleanor with Pastor Scott Casto officiating. Burial was in Center Point Cemetery, Liberty.

Charles “Butch” Stickdorn
Charles Wayne “Butch” Stickdorn, 70, of Nitro, passed away February 22, 2021.
Butch was retired from Proud Eagle and a former employee of Coca-Cola. He is a 1968 graduate of Poca High School and a proud WVU fan.
He is preceded in death by his grandson Jamie Cain; parents Buzz and Rose Stickdorn and grandmother Emma “Nan” Stickdorn.
Butch is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Bonnie Stickdorn; daughter Tara and husband James Cain; sister Brenda Lacy; grandchildren Dylan and Rachel Cain and a host of other family and friends.
A tribute to the life of Butch Stickdorn was held Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Gatens-Harding Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bron Walker officiating. Entombment was in Haven of Rest Memory Gardens.

Ralph Gene Stone
Ralph Gene Stone, 85, of Hurricane, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Hospice of CAMC, Charleston.
Born December 1, 1935 in Cabin Creek, he was a son of the late Tilton and Margaret Stone. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Cardis and Tilton Stone and his former wife, Connie Palmer Stone.
Ralph was a graduate of East Bank High School and was a corporate pilot for both Stone and Thomas as well as the State of West Virginia. He logged over 35,000 safe flight hours over his career and was certified through the FAA as a Flight Instructor and Safety Flight Instructor. He was an avid golfer playing in several local tournaments (sometimes even winning!) and loved WVU football. After retiring from flying, Ralph worked for the DMV, Liberty Square office, where he made lifelong friends.
Surviving are his daughters, Kelly Diane Stone of Hurricane, Amanda Lenaa Ryan (Steve) of St. Louis, MO; granddaughter, Samantha Ryan Skillington (Dr. Andrew) of St. Louis, MO; great-granddaughter, Morgan Faye Hall; sister, Patricia Roberts, (Wondel) of Hamlin; brother, Carl Ray Stone (Joann) of Marmet; sisters-in-law, Becky Stone of Marmet and Ruth Stone of Danville.
Funeral service was Saturday, February 27, 2021, at Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Rev. Randy Scott officiating. Burial was in Elk Hills Memorial Park, Big Chimney.

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