Obituaries

Janette Grindstaff

Janette Young Grindstaff, 92, widow of Charles Grindstaff, passed away Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.  Born June 1, 1927, in Spruce Pine, she was the daughter of the late Jess and Jettie Duncan Young, of the Pine Branch Community.

Vivian Byrd

Vivian Byrd, 77, of Sullins Branch Road, Spruce Pine, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at her home. Born Sept. 23, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late James and Mertie Conn Haney.

Inez McRae

Inez Johnson Blevins McRae passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community. She was born June 19, 1922, in the Toecane community of Bakersville in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. She was the only daughter of Pearl McKinney Johnson and George Johnson.

Lester Huskins

Lester Lee Huskins, Mitchell County native and 74 years young, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Florence, South Carolina, hospice. He joins his much-loved mother, Lessie Young Ransom; and his two sisters, Nola Anne Huskins DeWitt and Shelba Huskins Woody.

Wanda Lee Tipton

Wanda Lee Tipton, 85, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, at Select Specialty Hospital in Bristol, Tennessee, after a brief illness. A native of Green Mountain, she was a daughter of the late Floyd B. and Ethel Johnson Peterson.

Elizabeth Davenport

Elizabeth Davenport, 102, of Old NC 226 in Spruce Pine, the Grassy Creek community, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family. Born in the Grassy Creek community of Mitchell County, she was the oldest daughter of the late Thomas Samuel Greenlee and Amelia Meares Greenlee.

Gordon Howell Sr.

Gordon Kenneth Howell Sr., 96, of Deer Park Lake Road, Spruce Pine, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine.  He was born Aug. 11, 1923, in Rebels Creek, to Arthur and Mamie Boone Howell.

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Burleson

Elizabeth “Betty” Carol Burleson, 89, of Mine Creek Road, Bakersville, went home to be with the Lord Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. She was a native of Mitchell County and a daughter of the late Arnold and Carrie Young McKinney. She was retired from Mitchell County Head Start Program.

Mary Ruth Ayers

Mary Ruth Gunter Ayers, 82, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, at Mitchell House in Spruce Pine. She was born June 2, 1937, in Mitchell County, the daughter of Willis A. and Iva Burleson Gunter. Her beloved husband, Bobby Ayers, died in 1987.

OBITUARY: Lottie Ollis

Lottie Heaton Ollis, 95, of Spruce Pine, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, at the Mitchell House in Spruce Pine. Born Aug. 1, 1924, in Avery County, she was the daughter of the late Sam and Myra Burleson Heaton.