Monzella Mae McDougal, 90, of Sumerco went to be with the Lord Sunday, July 28, 2024, at home.

She was a member and Sunday School teacher at McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church for over 40 years. She loved gardening, canning, and cooking.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ora and Pansy Pauley; son, Gregory McDougal; sisters, Shelby Cecil and Grace Smith; brothers, Raymond Denzil and Fray Pauley; grandson, Zach Slack.

Monzella is survived by her husband, Lanny; daughters, Doreen (Greg) Slack and Amanda (Tim) Hayslett; daughter-in-law, Ginger McDougal; sister, Shirley (Victor) Ryan; grandchildren, Robert and Daniel Weaver, Alex Slack, G.W., Leigh Anna, John Ross and Chasity McDougal, Timothy (Jackie) Hayslett, Kristen (Michael) Loveday and 11 great grandchildren.

Service will be 1:00pm, Saturday, August 3, 2024, at McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Isaiah Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd W. Charleston, WV 25387.

James “Ratchet” Wallace Gillenwater, 70, of Yawkey, WV, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Guy & Mary Louise Gillenwater and his brother, Bobby.

Jimmie was a 1974 graduate of Duval High School and a member of Boiler Makers Union #667.

He is survived by his daughters, Monica (Jeremy) Schwab and Heather (Michael) Jennings, four grandchildren, Chloe Huffman, Maelee (Carter) Fife, Paige Jennings and Addison Tharp and his seven siblings.

Service will be 7:00pm, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Curry Funeral Home with Pastor Richard McCallister officiating. Family & friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

A private burial will be held at a later date at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey.

Frank Haynes, 84, of South Charleston, formerly of Frankfort, KY, went to be with the Lord Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Harmony South Ridge.

Frank was an active member of the Capital City Christian Church in Frankfort, KY, where he taught Sunday School for many years. He was a United States Army Colonel who proudly served his country for 30 years. He was commissioned through the ROTC program at Texas A & M University. Following completion of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School, he served 3 tours in Vietnam. Later he served as an instructor at the Army Primary Helicopter School. In 1982, he was assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he helped develop and test the AH-64 Apache and OH-58 (AHIP) Kiowa. He finished his 30 years as Inspector General of the Kentucky National Guard, retiring May 31, 1992. After retiring from the military, he was a cattle farmer in Frankfort, KY, where he loved helping his friends and neighbors. Frank also later retired from Southern States and was a member of the local Cattleman’s Association. He was proud to be an active member of the Frankfort VFW Post #4075. Frank loved God, family, friends, and country.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Jimmie; parents, Huel & Ruby Meeler Haynes; and seven siblings.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Tom) Minturn and their children, Addalyn and Lillian; son, Jeff (Jennifer) Gnerlich.

Graveside service with full military honors performed by Frankfort VFW Post #4075 will be at 1:30pm, Friday, August 2, 2024, at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliffe, KY with Pastor Jon Sutphin officiating.

Elbert “Mike” McClung, 78, of South Charleston passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Adena Medical Hospital in Chillicothe, OH.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kay Dotson McClung; beautiful daughter, Erin (Dwight) Humphrey of Raleigh, NC; grandson and best buddy, Johnathan McCLung of South Charleston; special sister-in-law, Carolyn (Arl) Pauley and their son, Brad Pauley of Charleston; and his little buddy Newton (known by Mike as Nate).

Mike was a former barber and retired from the WVABCC. He loved animals, history, fishing, and science fiction.

The family would like to thank Carolyn, Arl, and Brad for their outpouring of love and support during this time. Special thanks to Dr. Susan Cavender, Mike’s longtime family doctor, Pastor Ruth Anne Delong and Alum Creek Church of the Nazarene, Pastor David Moutz and the Oakwood Baptist Church, the staff at CAMC General Stroke Center, CAMC Memorial 2 West staff, and the Adena Regional Medical Center staff.

Mike’s wishes were to be cremated and there will be a private family service held at a later date.

Robert Bruce Dunlap, 66, of South Charleston, went to be with his Lord, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at CAMC Hospice.

Bob was a Christian and like Jesus he was a carpenter, currently working at Scary Creek Paintball.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Mikki; parents, Herschel & Erma Wilson Dunlap; brothers, Jim & Terry Dunlap; sister, April.

Bob is survived by his wife of 26 years, Brenda; stepchildren, Serina (John) Posocco, Chris (Rachel) Holestine; grandchildren, Travis, Haley, Brooke, & Casey; siblings, Mark Dunlap, Tom (Dee) Dunlap, Karen (Gordon) Eskew, Bill (Trish) Dunlap, Mike (Lisa) Dunlap.

Service will be 1:00pm, Friday, July 26, 2024, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with his brothers Mike & Bill Dunlap officiating. Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod. Friends and family will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Richard Dale Akers, 75, Vietnam Veteran of South Charleston went to be with the Lord on Friday July 19, 2024. “WOW” (his words of excitement).

He is survived by his wife Ellen Akers, brother Marvin Akers, sister Christy (Micky) Akers, brother- in-law Curtis Potter and Mother-in-law Pat Maertens, and his fabulous children Adam (Kristi) Akers, Jeffrey Akers, Sarah (Joe) Engle and step-son Brent (Anne) Garrett. His wonderful grandchildren: Sierra Akers Embrey, Claire Kelley, Benjamin Akers, Ian Kelley, Peyton Akers, Bonus grandchildren Amanda Kelley, Jaelyn and Kadyn Dooley, Amazing Great-grandchildren Owen, Mason and Noah Embrey, Mayleigh and Lexi Kelley, and MANY other special kids he loved. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and extended family.

“You won’t believe” (his words), Dale was preceded in death by his parents James Adair and Elaine Mae Akers and his sister Linda Sue Buckley.

Dale was known as the “Naz Cat” for 20 years at the South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene Church where he was a member. Dale served the Lord in many ways, reaching out to many people. He worked 30 years (FMC, Olin, Clearon) as a welder, painter, maintenance and many other positions.

In lieu of flowers Dale would love it if you would buy a Veteran a meal, give support to a child in need, or in true Dale fashion, give a random child a few dollars.

Service will be 7:00pm, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene, 4923 Kentucky St., South Charleston, WV, with Pastor Kent Estep officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will be 11:00am Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleton, WV.

Lowell Wayne Holeston, 58, of Yawkey passed away Monday, July 15, 2024, at CAMC Memorial Hospital.

He was a retired police officer from the Belle Police Department but also worked in Madison, Hamlin, and Danville. He was an avid music fan and a talented guitarist, playing at several local establishments.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell Dean and Katherine Kinder Holeston.

He is survived by children, Shane Holeston and Lacey Shaffer; sisters, Diana (Allen) Spears and Karen (Darell) Stephens; grandson, Keaton Holeston; best friends, Whitey Sutphin and Russel Dunlap; and nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Funeral service will be 2:00pm, Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Curry Funeral Home with Pastor Dwight McClure officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Sumerco. 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 Curry Funeral Home, PO Box 9, Alum Creek, WV to help offset the funeral cost.

Carolyn Lee Songer, 77, of Charleston, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024, at Select Specialty Hospital, Charleston.

She was a graduate of Charleston High School. She retired from Thomas Memorial Hospital as the lead medical stenographer.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick Harrison Songer, Jr.; daughter, Betty Lee Songer; son, Frederick Harrison Songer, III; brother, Harold Taylor; sisters, Dorothy Mae Taylor and Jean Taylor.

She is survived by son, Donald (Stacey) Songer; grandchildren, Katelyn Lowe, Austin Lowe, and Ciara Songer (Daniel Jones); great grandchildren, Brantlee Clay Jones, Marlea Rae Jones, and Dante’ Michael Spratt, several nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Graveside service will be 9:00am, Friday, July 19, 2024, at Songer Cemetery, South Charleston.

Gilbert Pauley, 91, of Ridgeview, WV went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at his home surrounded by family after a short illness.

He was born in Fork Creek, WV, son of the late Jess & Esta Pauley. He was a member of Dartmont Freewill Baptist. He retired from Valley Camp Coal Company and was a member of Laborer’s Local 1353 and UMWA Local 340.

Gilbert loved to hunt, garden, and can things from that garden. He was famous for his Sunday biscuits and cornbread.

He was preceded in death by is wife, Mabel Pauley; brothers, Freeman Pauley, Raymond Pauley, and Delbert Pauley; sister, Trilby Williams.

Survivors include his sons, Gary (Nada) Pauley and Keith (Tracia) Pauley; daughter, Patricia McAdams; 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends whom he loved dearly.

Funeral services will be 11:00am, Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Curry Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Gibson officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8, Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Pine Grove, WV.

Donald Glen Petry, 87, of Kenna, West Virginia left this life to be with the Lord on July 13, 2024.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Goldie and Glen Petry, his sisters, Margaret and Joanne and his brother, Bill.

He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver, Joyce Petry, his daughters, Pam White (Robert), Vicki Lilly (Greg) and bonus daughters, Sally Bailey and Kathy Blades (Alan). Grandchildren left to mourn his passing are Emily Gibson (James), Bill White, Brooke Bailey, Kacie Clark, and Chase Clark and five great grandchildren, also brother-in-law, Darrell Matheny (Margie). All of whom he loved very much.

As a young man, Don joined the Navy where he spent parts of his military time at the South Pole.  Throughout his lifetime he was a hunter and fisherman and enjoyed any time he could spend on the water or in the woods.  He retired from the Kroger Company in 1997 after driving for them for 25 years.  During retirement, Don spent much time camping and fishing.  He spent many winters in Florida in order to escape the West Virginia cold.

Don loved being around people.  He loved a good joke.  He had a song in his heart.

He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 1:00pm with Pastor Steve Berkhouse officiating.  Friends may call at the funeral home for visitation one hour before the service.  Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.