Donald Ray Sowards, Sr., 87, of Charleston received his wings at home on Friday, January 26, 2018 while surrounded by family. He was born on December 4, 1930 to the late Beulah Mae Salmons and Holbert Aulden Sowards.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years and the love of his life, Wilma Pauley Sowards; son, Donald “Donnie” Sowards, Jr.; grandson, Zachary Alan Sowards; brother, Rodney A. Sowards; and sisters, Anna Lou Shamblin and Patty Jo Holstein.

Don loved his family and was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle.

He had many interests, he was an oil painter, arrowhead hunter and gun maker. Don was an avid songwriter, singer and musician. He loved bluegrass music and was an innovator, making bluegrass music popular in WV. He assisted countless musicians in writing songs and playing different instruments. He learned to play multiple instruments at an early age, although, the mandolin was his favorite. He could play it like no other. Don formed The Laurel Mountain Boys Bluegrass Band. His son, Mark, played the banjo along with him as the band traveled all over WV, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia in the 70’s, 80’s, and the 90’s. He had a beautiful Tenor voice and sang Lead on multiple albums the band recorded.

Don loved his country and was a proud United States Marine Veteran. Serving during the Korean War, wounded 3 separate times, and achieving 3 Purple Hearts.

He retired from CSX Railroad in 1996 with 30+ years service.

Don leaves behind son, Mark Sowards (Lesa); granddaughter, Kyla Fields (Jeremy); grandson, Donald “D.R.” Sowards, III; great granddaughters, Chloe and Alara Bailey, Heidi Sowards and Audree Sowards; brother, Ronald Sowards; sister, Wilma Hailey; and many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Al Mendez officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25387-2536.

The Sowards family would like to thank a very special angel, she is the most compassionate and caring nurse we’ve ever met, Kim Miller of Hospice. This angel went above and beyond the call of duty to care for Don and his family.

Gatha Irene (Turley) Estep of Hurricane, formerly of Alum Creek passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, January 24, 2018. She was Born June 13, 1940 in McCorkle, WV. She was 77.

Gatha received her Masters Degree from WVSU in Education. She taught from 1979 until 2003 at Duval High School, Guyan Valley High School, Yeager Vocational and Marshall University.

She loved to oil paint, collect antiques, cooking and quilting. Gatha enjoyed spending time with her quilting club. She was a member of the Eastern Star “Hamlin” and formerly attended Alum Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

Gatha is preceded in death by her parents, Maywood and Lena (Griffith) Turley; sisters, Wiladean Smith and Doris Harless; brother Denzil Turley; and grandson, Matthew Paul Estep.

She is survived by her son, Michael (Janine), he was the light of her life; her grandchildren, who she adored, Megan and Michael (Mikey) Estep all of St. Albans; sister and her best friend, Lyndell Shaffer; nephew, Kevin Shaffer of Yawkey; nieces and nephews, Monica, Martha, Susie, Lena Faye, Lou, Theresa, Pam, Brenda (who was like a sister), BB, Shelva, Preston, Jessie and George; and lifelong friends Joan Harvey, Hazel Diehl and Omar Estep.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 29, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Anderson (Old Pine Grove) Cemetery, Sumerco. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

Zola Macel Wright, 85, of Sumerco, WV departed this earth to be united with God on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, with Eloise (Weasy), Darrell (Tickie), Roger (Boo) and a friend, Butch, were by her side along with medical personnel.

Zola was born in Eli, WV, on May 1, 1932, the daughter of the late Harvey and Grace (Moore) Quintrell.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Thurman, a grandchild, Deanna Ward, two sisters,  three brothers, and a son-in-law.

She was a wonderful Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.  She was a member of Eli Baptist Church but attended New Covenant Baptist Church, Alum Creek.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy (Bob) Adkins of McCorkle, WV, Marylin (Kermit) Roberts of Hurricane, WV,  Eloise “Weasy” Roberts of Sumerco, WV,  and Juanita (Tom) Ward of Orlando, FL,  sons, Darrell “Tickie” (Stephanie) Wright of Yawkey, WV, Richard (Denise) of Pennsylvania, and Roger “Boo” at home, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, sister, Eva Gillenwater of Sumerco, WV, and brothers, Tommy “Tink” of Alum Creek, WV, and Vernon Quintrell of Hamlin.

Service will be 2:00pm, Sunday, January 28, 2018, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Jackie Miller officiating.  Burial will follow at Midkiff Cemetery, Sumerco.  Friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

Brownie Hager August 31, 1930 – January 20, 2018

Born up the hollow of Bark Camp, to the parents, Shelton and Dolly Egnor, she was the youngest of 10 children, 5 brothers and 4 sisters, (all predeceased) With long, curly dark hair, and twinkling brown eyes, her Daddy nick-named her Brownie. She always spoke fondly, and with great love, of her years growing up.

She married Arlen R. Hager (predeceased) in 1947. Although she never officially joined the military she was a true patriot, birthing and raising her 5 children from the hollers of WV to Army military bases from Fort Knox Kentucky to Germany and France.

She once embarked on a journey at the tender age of 23yrs. with her new born daughter Patsy, and her two small sons, Bruce and Donny, that begin down the holler and ended in Bussac, France. A friend gave her a ride to New York where she boarded a military plane. When it arrived in France the fog was too thick for landing so they were re-routed to Germany and from there boarded a train to France. In the 2 years while there she gave birth to a daughter, Peggy, and upon return to the states, gave birth to another daughter, Priscilla at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The family did another tour of duty in Germany for 3 years then returned home and settled in a home on Left Fork.

She moved to Alum Creek to be closer to her job, director of the McCorkle Senior Center, and for the next 20 years spent her weekdays with the people of McCorkle. Upon retirement she moved back to her place on Left Fork, just a couple miles from the home where she was born and raised.

Her bravery, resilience, hard work, laughter, and love were the echoes of a child born and raised in the hollers of West Virginia. To all who knew and loved her, she was special, she was Brownie, and although we give her up reluctantly, we rejoice in a life well lived, a job well done, and know she is in the hands of God.

Her children: James Bruce and Sandy Hager, Donald Ray Hager (deceased), Patsy Ramona Hager (deceased), Peggy Re’gina Clymo, and Priscilla Rose Hager, grandchildren: Rachel and Mike Adkins, Tracy McKinney, Stacy and Billy Kepple, Alfred and Dina Van Gundy, Mary and Jen Moore, and Christopher Clay, 13 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Tuesday, January 23, 2018, with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey, WV.

ELLA R. (PAULEY) FITZWATER, 86, of Alum Creek, traded her battered body for a heavenly one on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Hubbard House West surrounded by her family.

She was a member of Faith Baptist Church and served as the Pastor’s wife and church pianist for many faithful years.  She had a love for music and at the age of 13 began playing the piano at several local churches as their church pianist which was amazing in itself being self-taught.  Later training her children to harmonize and travel around the area singing for the Lord known as the Fitzwater Family singing group.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Pauley Sr., and Mary Velma (Hager) Pauley and son, Rev. Michael Fitzwater, brothers, Fred Jr., Charles, Paul and sisters, Clara and Louise.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Rev. Eldon N. Fitzwater, daughters, Nancy (Joe) Taylor of Alum Creek, Janet Sue (Dennis) Dunlap of Milton, Jackie (Mark) Lanham of St. Albans, and Mary Fitzwater of Dunbar, daughter-in-law, Phyllis Fitzwater, and sister Rachel (Jim) Waldron of Elkview, seven grandchildren, Rob (Denise) Angela (Bob), BJ (Kris), Jay (Sarah), Anita (Dave), Matthew and Katie and three adopted grandchildren, Allison, Wes, and Shae, nine great-grandchildren, Nate, Carter, Alexa, Caylan, Carly, Savannah, Collin, Andrew, and Michael, and one great-great-grandson, Bronson and many nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Lisa Queen, NP, and special caregiver and friend Anna Spencer and  also, other caregivers, April, Sissy, and Dorothy.  Many thanks to Hubbard Hospice West for your kindness and care.

Service will be 1:00pm Friday, January 26, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Chaplain Lt. Matthew Lanham officiating.  Entombment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park Mausoleum, South Charleston.  Friends will gather from 6:00-8:00pm Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers if you desire, donations may be made to Kanawha Hospice, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV  25387-2536.

Johnnie Ray Chandler, 65, of Alum Creek went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the home of his sister, Sandy.  He was preceded in death by his wife Deborah of 42 years.

He was a mechanic/heavy equipment operator.  He was a member of Briar Creek Baptist Church.

He is survived by his son, Johnnie (Stephanie), daughters, Becky (Todd) Mosteller, sisters, Sandy Harper and Charlotte, seven grandchildren, Jonathan, Savannah, Madison, Chloe, Matthew, Jeffrey and Alicen.

Services will be 1:00pm on Monday, January 22, 2018, at Curry Funeral home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Tommy Roberts officiating.  Burial will follow at Chandler Family Cemetery at the homeplace.  Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

Lorena C. Carr, 87, South Charleston, passed away Monday, January 15, 2018, at CAMC-Memorial Division.

She was a Life Member of the Alum Creek VFW Auxiliary, and was a graduate of DuPont High School.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fletcher Carr.  She is survived by her daughter, Patty Carr of South Charleston, son, J. Bryan Carr of Dunbar, sisters, Betty Griffith of Calabash, NC, Ann Summers of Charleston, Dreama Holstine of Ripley, and brother, Rev. Edward Jarrett of Charleston and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service to follow at a later date.  Following her wishes, her body was donated to the Human Gift Registry, School of Medicine, West Virginia University.

Ronald Maxwell Coy, 55, of Yawkey, WV departed this life on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.

He was born November 10, 1962 in Rutland, Ohio, a son of the the late Walter and Arlene Coy.

Ron served as a Youth Pastor and Sunday School teacher at several area churches.

He retired from Patriot Coal and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 38 years, Janie; sons, Joey Coy, David (Jillian) Coy and Scottie Coy all of Yawkey; brothers, Randall (Patricia) Coy of Yawkey and Russell (Tammy) Coy of Westerville, Ohio; sister, Drema Holeston of Morrisvale; grandchildren, Eli, Mallory, Keagen, Zach, Chloe, Julia, Isiah, Jacob, Aubrey, Gavin and Scottie Coy, Jr.; and daughter-in-law, Shannon Coy.

Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 19, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Jackie Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Coy Family Cemetery in Yawkey.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Patricia Ruth Melton, 84, of Durham, North Carolina, formerly of Alum Creek, West Virginia, went home to be with her Lord on January 12, 2018,  at home.

Born on May 21, 1933, in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Pat was the daughter of the late Thomas Richard and Mary Ann (Gillispie) Lemons. 

Pat was raised in Alum Creek and graduated from Charleston High School in 1948.  She attended both Morris Harvey College and the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies where she received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, respectfully.   Pat taught French and Spanish for many years at Dunbar High School in WV, and after retiring, both substituted and volunteered in several schools in Kanawha County. 

Pat was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church in Alum Creek where she served in many capacities, among them Sunday school teacher, choir director, and church clerk. She also enjoyed music, cooking, sewing, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Pat is survived by her loving husband and constant care-giver, Ben Melton of Durham; brother, Thomas Lemons (Myoko) of Knoxville, Tennessee; daughters Patty George (Jeff) of Westminster Maryland, and Cheryl Waldron (Tim) of Iowa City, Iowa; sons John Melton (Denise) of Alum Creek, and Roger Melton (Laura) of Durham; thirteen grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.   Pat is also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Todd Lemons.

Warmest thanks are extended to the Croasdaille Home Care Department for the wonderful care provided to Pat during her illness, with a very special thank you to Joann Toler, whose loving, gentle manner is greatly appreciated. 

 A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road in Alum Creek, WV with Pastor Tim Waldron officiating. Friends may call on Friday, January 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, January 20, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Graceland Memorial Park, 100 Graceland Circle, South Charleston, WV.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Transitions Live Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Howard Ray, Mooney, 85, of Ridgeview went home to be with the Lord, on Sunday, January 14, 2018. 

He played on the famous Olcott baseball team in the late 1940’s.  He was a member of the Emmons Church of God.  He served in the US Army during the Korean war and was a member of the Alum Creek VFW serving on the  honor guard, retired as a machinist for General Electric in Cincinnati, OH, where he built airplane parts. 

He was preceded in death by his son, Jerry, parents, Walter & Elizabeth Mooney, syblings, Harold Clark, Walter Mooney, Jr., Bessie Caruthers Huff, Carl Shug, Paul Carter, and Robert Mooney. 

He is survived by his wife, Patty, daughter, Debbie Klems, brothers, Buck (Laura) Mooney and Jack (Donna) Mooney, and four grandchildren. 

Service will be 1:00pm Thursday, January 18, 2018, with Pastor Mike Graley and Evangelist Stevie Cox officiating at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek.  Burial will follow at Barker Cemetery, Ashford, with military graveside honors by the Alum Creek VFW Post #4768.  Family and friends will gather from 6:00-8:00pm Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the funeral home. 

The family wants to give a special thank you to the staff of Eastbrook Nursing home and Kanawha Hospice for their wonderful care.