Pearl Maxine Neal, 95, of Sod went to be with the Lord, Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Harmony at Southridge.

Maxine was born May 27, 1928. She was a homemaker and attended the Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hoyle Neal; her parents, Earl & Vesta Bragg; sister, Sylvia Klocke; brothers, Calvin & Kelly Bragg; her dear grandsons Austin & Patrick Neal.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Carl) Pauley; son, David (Connie) Neal; grandchildren, Lorie (Jason) Dunlap, Andrea (Bart) Midkiff, Amy (Stewart) DeViese, Christopher Neal; great grandchildren, Madisyn Midkiff, Greysen, Preston, & Ellie DeViese, Kevin & Ryan Neal; brothers, Alan Bragg, Carl Bragg, & Teddy Bragg.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Minister Richard Runyan officiating. Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

June 2, 2023, Loraine Harmon George, 98, passed away peacefully at her home in Alum Creek, West Virginia, after living a full and wonderful life. She was surrounded by family, on that beautiful sunny day, as she was welcomed into the arms of the Lord and reunited with loved ones and friends alike.

Loraine was born on November 2, 1924, to General Weaver Harmon and Frances “Fannie” Ford Harmon in Olcott, West Virginia.

Along with her parents, General Weaver and Fannie, and siblings Nellie Akers, Connie Darby Ball, Marshall Harmon, Chester Harmon, and Woodrow Harmon, Loraine is predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Paul Jackson George, daughter Connie Sue Comer, grandson Mark Wayne McClure, and great-grandson Luke Ramsey Comer.

Loraine is survived by her daughters Joyce Kay McClure, Jo Ann Bare Hanson (Luther), grandchildren Marta Ree McClure Hays (Robert), Matthew McClure (Cammie), Christy McClure Kiser Carnley (Leslie), Amy Bare Crouser (Randy), Betsy Bare Dodd (Michael), Mollie Bare (Jesse), Brock Comer (Lisa), Jennifer Comer Lipscomb (Brian), Jonathan Comer (Bethany), Blaine Comer (Jessica), 30 great-grandchildren, 17 great-great grandchildren, and a host of friends and extended family.

Loraine married the love of her life, Paul Jackson George, in March of 1942. Paul and “Sapphire”, a name he affectionately called Loraine, made their home in Alum Creek, where they went on to have three daughters: Joyce “Kay”, Jo Ann, and Connie Sue.

In addition to being a loving, dedicated wife and mother, Loraine also loved the Lord. She held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with everyone she met. She was a life-long member of Hopewell Baptist Church in Alum Creek.

Loraine’s kindness was contagious, and she inspired others to be kind as well. Through her actions, Loraine was a witness to her faith. She believed in the power of prayer and the importance of living a life that reflected her beliefs. She shared her faith with others through her words and actions and was always willing to offer a listening ear, lending a helping hand, or simply being there for someone in need.

Loraine loved spending time, on her back porch, with her family and friends. She especially enjoyed visits from her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Loraine’s legacy of kindness and faith lives on through the many lives she touched. She will always be remembered as a shining example of what it means to live a life of love and compassion.

The family would like to thank all who helped with her care over the last fifteen months and a special thank you to Kathy Falbo and to Kanawha Hospice.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Hopewell Baptist Church, South Charleston with Pastors Jonathan Comer, Chris VanNatter, and Dwight McClure officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the church.

Jeremiah Curtis Linville, 27, of Sod, West Virginia passed away Monday, May 29, 2023.

Jeremiah had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. His son Jace was his motivation for life. He loved to kayak, go riding, and spending time to celebrate life with friends and family. Jeremiah was a family man and enjoyed those times together the most.

Jeremiah was preceded in death by his father, Gregory Linville of Alkol; mother, Tammi Gibson of Yawkey; grandfather, Gary Linville of Alkol; and great grandparents, Izola and Curtis “Slim” Meadows of Alkol.

He is survived by his son, whom he loved with his whole heart, Jace Colton Linville of Hamlin; his loving grandmother, Rhonda Susie Holseton of Sod; uncle, Dewayne (Lillian) Gibson of Timberlake, NC; his loving sisters, Jessi (Nick) Fleming of Hamiln, Josie Linville of Sod, Shandy Dingess of Alkol, Traci Linville of Danville and Amber (Jereme) Browning of Alkol, Shana Dingess of Alkol; his nephews, Conner Searls of Alkol, Owen Fleming of Hamlin, Brixton Hager of Alkol, Jereme and Archer Browning of Harts, Aayla and Aalia Browning of Harts; a very special cousin Reece (Payton) Miller of Alum Creek; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and a special dog named Dolce that he loved so much.

Jeremiah will be so missed by everyone that knew him. His smile and laugh could light up a room.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 5, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Workman officiating. Burial will follow at Egnor Cemetery, Alkol. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Geraldine Marker, 87, of South Charleston went home to be with the Lord Monday, May 29, 2023, at Hubbard Hospice House West.

Geraldine was a member of McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church and a 1954 graduate of Washington District High School. She was always in family business, from tree trimming to Garcie R. Marker & Sons, Inc. She enjoyed camping with friends and trips to the beach and Amish Country.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Deb & June Webb Kirk; son, Ricky Marker; brother, Bob Kirk; and sisters, Louise Sowards & Imogene Burgess.

Geraldine is survived by her husband of 68 years, Garcie Marker; sons, Allen (Tami) Marker, Steven (Laura) Marker; brothers, William “Buddy” (Junie) Kirk, Roger Kirk, Danny (Billie) Kirk; sister, Kathie (Charles) Holstine; grandchildren, Mike (Chrissy) Ball, Autumn (Patrick) Humphreys, McKenzie Marker, Stevie-Lynn (Leslie) Goff, Seth Marker; and great grandson, Henry Humphreys.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Isaiah Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod. Friends and family will gather 2 hours prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312.

Roy Raymond Pauley, 62, of Charleston, formerly of Alum Creek & Yawkey, went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Hubbard Hospice House West.

Roy was a heavy equipment operator in the coal mining industry.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Pauley.

Roy is survived by his mother, Ninnon Pauley.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home with Pastor Rick Cooper officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Ruby (Murrell) Provance was born January 27, 1932, in Sikeston, MO, the daughter of the late John and Lillian (Robertson) Murrell. She died on Friday, May 26, 2023, at Dayton Hospice in Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and four sisters; her husband, the Reverend Merlin Eugene Provance; their daughter, Tamara Sue Bolender and son, Mike Provance.

She leaves behind grandsons Chad and Chase Bolender; son-in-law, Ronald Bolender, Mt. Vernon, OH; and great granddaughters, Imogen, Tamara, Charlotte, and Madeline, Miamisburg, OH.

Ruby faithfully served with her late husband of nearly 56 years over some 38 years in fulltime ministry for the Church of the Nazarene with pastorates in IL, WV, OH, and TN; as well as the latter 12 years he spent as an associate pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in South Charleston.

She was prominent in the development of the Davis Creek Nazarene Day Care Center; and directed the center four years during their 19-year ministry at Davis Creek. She also directed the Children’s Department at that church. She was an avid student of the Bible and taught adult Sunday School classes some 25 years; however, the children always remained her favorite people.

Ruby provided significant assistance to the late Dr. Mary Lee Daugherty in founding and establishing the Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center (AMERC), a specialized training center for seminary students who plan to do ministry in the Appalachian region and other small town rural communities across the nation and abroad. AMERC first began in Charleston, WV and later was moved to Berea, KY. Ruby and Merlin moved to Berea to assist with the moving of the training center where they lived three years before returning to Charleston.

She attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN where she met her late husband, and also attended Marshall University/the Logan Branch while they served that church. Ruby was the co-author with the late Dr. Mary Lee Daugherty of the book, The AMERC Story; an Adventure in Contextualized Theological Education, a book published in 2003 and detailing the first 17-year history of the organization.

A service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 5, 2023, at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:30 until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation the “Bolender Endowed Scholarship” (in honor of her deceased daughter Tamara Bolender). Checks should be made payable to “Mount Vernon Nazarene University” and mailed to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Development Office, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050. Note on check that the funds are to be applied to the “Bolender Endowed Scholarship in memory of Ruby Provance.

Mildred Virginia England 

(October 13^th, 1925 – May 25^th, 2023) 

Mildred Virginia (Sibley) England, 97, peacefully passed away on May 25^th, 2023, in Charleston West Virginia with her loving family by her side. 

Mildred was born October 13^th, 1925, in Cumberland, Maryland to her parents Clarence J. Sibley and Mary E. Sibley, nee Baker. Mildred had a wonderful relationship with her parents and loved to share stories about them with her children, grandchildren, and close friends. 

The youngest of five children, Mildred spent much of her childhood surrounded by family and would reminisce on fun times she had with them ice skating on the frozen canal in the winter, getting picked up from school in her dad’s work truck, a special road trip and day spent exploring Washington, D.C., making homemade root beer in the cellar, snacking on ham-salad sandwiches her mother would make for company, and playing outside with the neighborhood kids in the summer. 

At around the age of twenty, Mildred was introduced to Leon G. England, by her elder sister, Kathryn, and brother-in-law, John England. The two soon fell in love and were married on May 2^nd, 1947. Together, they raised two children: son, Mark G. England, and daughter, Leslie A. (England) Moutz. 

Over the course of their marriage, they enjoyed taking several trips to Colorado, a favorite vacation destination. Later in life, it would also become home to their son, giving a welcome reason for more travels out west. Due to Leon being a train engineer, one of their favorite ways to travel was by train. In the early years of their marriage, Mildred would often take the train to meet her husband when he was working out of town so they could enjoy each other’s company on the ride home. 

Mildred was an excellent seamstress and skillfully made clothing for her family, including her daughter’s wedding dress. She was an active member of Grace Baptist Church in Cumberland, Maryland and would volunteer there in a variety of capacities. Some of her favorite things included cooking, reading, sewing, the family pets, her church family, trips to Amish Country with her children, annual Black-Friday shopping with her son-in-law, and seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in person or in pictures.

Mildred England is survived by her son: Mark England (Sherry), daughter: Leslie Moutz (David), granddaughters: Katie Koch (Stephen), Hannah O’Shaughnessy (Michael), Holly Gust (Tim), Brooklyn Hall, grandson: Graham Moutz (Haille), and great-grandchildren: Addie, Naomi, Eric, Joshua, and Blake. 

She is preceded in death by her husband: Leon G. England, parents: Clarence and Mary Sibley, siblings: Kenneth Sibley, Kathryn England, Charles Sibley, and Paul Sibley. 

Funeral service will be 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Oakwood Baptist Church, 855 Oakwood Road, Charleston, WV 25314 with Pastor David Moutz and Reverend Don Biram officiating. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Sunset Memorial Park, Cumberland, MD

Jerrell E. “Vancy” Holbrook, age 85 of Sod, WV went to be with the Lord, Saturday, May 27, 2023, at home surrounded by family. He was born October 20, 1937, in Clothier, WV to the late William and Clema Vance Holbrook.

Vancy is survived by wife, Marcella “Tootie” Holbrook; son, Clifton (Amy) Holbrook; daughters, Monia (Glenn) Turley, Vanieca “Nisa” Holbrook, and Branita (Randy) Bratka; grandchildren, Ben Holbrook, Matthew Holbrook, Jesse Holbrook, Lydia Dawson, Hunter Holbrook, Kayley Holbrook; great grandchildren, Kathryn Holbrook and Christopher Holbrook; brothers, Jerry, Jimmy, and Robert Holbrook; sisters, Emma Jean Hagen, Brenda Cross, and Ida Faye Holbrook.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis A. Holbrook and grandson, Timothy McCallister; brothers, Bill, Elwood, and Gaylord Holbrook.

Vancy retired from UMWA and AFLCIO as a construction worker and from MTD in Ohio.

He was a beloved husband, Christian father and grandfather, and a fantastic father-in-law. Known by his children as a strong man with a loving, giving, and compassionate heart. He loved the Lord with all his heart and led by example. He taught the love of Jesus to all he met.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Billy Silva officiating. Burial will be at Madison Memory Gardens. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Steve Ryan
September 12, 1943 – May 22, 2023

Live, Laugh, Family…
Three perfect words to describe the celebration of the life of Steve Ryan, who was born in Alkol, WV on 9/12/43 and passed away in the arms of loved ones in Superior Township, MI on 5/22/23.

Family

Lawrence Stephen Ryan was the loving husband to the late Beverly (2008) and is survived by his daughter Stephanie, son Marc; Paw to grandsons Stephen and John, and great grandson Killian.

Steve was the son of the late James Earl and Cidella (McClure) and brother to Arvil Gay, Earl Jr., Victor, and Phyllis.

The familial roots started deep and strong in rural West Virginia where he and his siblings worked long and arduous days on the family homestead growing and raising all of family’s sustenance. Steve acquired his masterful culinary skills from his mother who he admitted was a great, great cook!

The early years molded the adult Steve Ryan into the man, husband and father he became. Three older brothers made sure of that! Protecting his baby sister also taught him to become the soft, loving and nurturing father and grandfather he was.

Live

Steve’s thirst for life was as big as the mountains and as deep as the oceans. Steve’s humble and hardworking beginnings provided the courage to move to Vermilion, OH, where he began his career at the bottom rungs of Ford Motor Company and after 37+ years, retired in 1999 as a Plant Manager. What an achievement! Steve’s success let him to not only raise his family, but enabled him to help many other extended family members in return. Other than these personal awards, Steve was also granted 2 maximum Certificates of Commendation from Ford resulting in 2 automobiles as a prize! Wow, and what a blessing, thanks, Steve!

From rural West Virginia, to Ohio, to Michigan, Steve also had the blessing to travel and work in Mexico City, Australia, and even Russia. Steve experienced more of the world than many will ever have the chance to do in their lifetime.

And did Steve love sports? Boy, did he ever! Steve excelled and lettered in football, baseball, basketball, track and if golf were a high school sport, we are sure he would have lettered in that as well. Steve’s natural leadership abilities enabled him to be the BMOC star quarterback, lead the BB team as the point guard, excel in multiple track events (4×100, hurdles, long jump), and play multiple positions on the baseball diamond. All this being said, the most special was coaching his little girl in softball.

It didn’t matter if on the playing field, in the backyard playing cornhole, or sitting around the kitchen table playing board games, Steve was a true competitor wanting to compete at the highest level (maybe stretching the rules a bit, lol).

Woodworking was another joy for Steve. From building treasure chests to furniture, from tinkering in the shop to turning art on the lathe, Steve could do it all! It was a pleasure to turn to him for assistance with any project and he was always willing and able to help!

We will always remember how much Steve loved to cook. Not only was his cooking impeccable, but the presentation needed to match! All entrees and appetizers were amazing and would qualify for ‘Bon Appetite’ magazine. Steve was also willing to coach. If he thought you were cooking something wrong, he would be sure to step in to assist.

Laugh

All of his personal achievements wouldn’t mean anything to Steve if it wasn’t for his time with his family. Story telling was an artform for Steve and he loved it. He loved to talk about his family, WV, Ohio, sports and his travels.

But spending time with his children and grandchildren and holding each in his arms were the most special times for Steve. The most cherished memories of Steve from his family include 4 wheeling in the Lorain mud and hanging out at the diner afterwards whooping it up. Golfing under the blue skies all while fixing a slice was a definite favorite pastime. Then there is teaching a 9-year-old boy how to drive while he worked the pedals. Once he got his Thunderbird, he turned the same small boy loose in the parking lot all by himself while he cheered and watched the T-Bird turn circles around him. Most of all, there were several times Dad would rescue his little girl from peril just to keep her safe. We all remember the precious times just hanging out during happy hour to hear stories at his favorite watering hole, Aqua.

This is a CELEBRATION and remembrance of the life of Steve Ryan. GOD BLESS YOU AND WE WILL LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!

Visitation for Steve will be held Thursday, May 25th, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCabe Funeral Home, 851 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, Michigan.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Pastor Clint Craddock officiating. Burial will follow at Forks of Coal Cemetery, Alum Creek. Friends and family will gather 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Jason Scott Gillispie, 40, of St. Albans, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at home.

Jason was a tattoo artist and jack of all trades. He enjoyed outside work like landscaping and flowers and loved the beach.

He was preceded in death by his father, John W. Gillispie.

Jason is survived by his son, Jacoby Gillispie; mother, Teresa Gillispie; sister, Lisa Gillispie (Rich Brown); brother, John Gillispie, II; and ex-wife, Amber Keener.

Services will be 1:00PM Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at Emmons Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Gary Gillispie officiating. Burial will follow at Gillispie Family Cemetery at Emmons. Family and friends will gather one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions towards funeral services be made to Curry Funeral Home, PO Box 9, Alum Creek, WV 25003.