Obituaries

SPRUCE PINE -- Michael Marion Collins, 37, of Spruce Pine, passed away Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. He was born Oct. 28, 1979, to his loving mother and father, the late Kathy King Collins and Michael William Collins. He was also preceded in death by grandparents, Ernest Warren King and Daphne King Forbis, and William and Helen Collins. He was a loving father, son, nephew, cousin and friend. He had an unconditional loving heart and giving spirit, never met a stranger and always had a smile to share with everyone. His love of music, especially playing the guitar, continued throughout his life.

LINVILLE FALLS -- Bobbie Lee Dennie, 83, of Linville Falls, passed away Dec. 9, 2016, at his residence.

A native of Avery County, he was born Dec. 31, 1932, a son of the late Roy Garvel and Emily Dellinger Dennie.

Bobbie went to Clemson College. He worked at American Thread before moving to Charlotte and becoming a supervisor at Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, where he worked for 36 years and in those years missed only one day of work.

He was a member of Pisgah United Methodist Church and enjoyed traveling, gardening and being with his grandchildren.

CHARLOTTE -- Fred Emerson Smith Jr., 87, died Dec. 5, 2016, at his residence at Aldersgate in Charlotte following the complications of a stroke.  

Fred was born May 14, 1929, in Spruce Pine, to the late Georgia McDaniel Smith and Fred Emerson Smith Sr.  

Fred is survived by his wife of 60 years, Canses Moretz Smith; his daughter, Lauren Smith McCullough and her husband, Joe; and three grandchildren, Kathryn McCullough, Daniel McCullough and his wife, Sara, and Robert McCullough. 

MORGANTON -- Carver “Pop” Weatherman, 92, of Morganton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016.  

The family received friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.  The funeral is 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Walker Road Baptist Church with Dr. Rocky Branch officiating. The body will lie in state at the church from 10:30-11 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.

BAKERSVILLE -- Lorraine Lenora Simpson, 89, of Misty Cove Road, Bakersville, went home to be with the Lord, Nov. 11, 2016. She had lived in Mitchell County since 2000 and had previously worked at her daughter’s business, Melony’s Restaurant, in Bakersville.

Survivors include children Melony Poppo, of Bakersville, Harry Simpson, of Kerhonkson, New York, Elaine Quick, of Orlando, Florida, Laurie Brooks, of Mount Dora, Florida; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

BURNSVILLE -- Ruby Deyton, 94, of Burnsville, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation.  

A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Carrie Hensley Edwards and the wife of Earl F. Deyton, who died in 1986. She was also preceded in death by sisters, Ruth Riddle and Ethel Pate; and a brother, Phillip Edwards.  

BURNSVILLE -- Betty Jean Greene, of Bolens Creek, Burnsville, went home to be with her Savior Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016. 

Betty was born on Oct. 5, 1941, to Troy Guy and Margie Mann Guy in Avery County.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Clifford Vern Greene Sr.; son, Clifford Vern Greene Jr.; daughter, Melissa Jean Ponder; sister, Loy Clawson; brother, Warren Guy; great-grandson, Zaiden Ponder; sisters-in-law, Willis Guy and Patsy Greene Young; as well as her mother-in-law, Alice Woody Greene.