Maggie Abbott, 89, of Yawkey, WV, went to be with the Lord Thursday, May 21, 2020 at home.

She was a faithful member of Sycamore Grove Missionary Baptist Church for many years.

Maggie was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Cleo Abbott; daughter, Joyce Miller; parents, Orville and Vallie Breedlove Roberts;step-mom, Lucy Roberts; sisters, Louise Byrd, Belle Hayes and brother, Harley Roberts.

She is survived by sons, Freddie, Stanley (Nona), and Joe; daughter, Kathleen (Roger) McCallister whom she made her home with the past 5 years; siblings, Mable Waits, Buster (Norma) Roberts, Rose (Forrest) Johnston, Harry (Phyllis) Roberts, Julia Roberts, Robert (Nora) Roberts, Rebecca (Walter) Cook, and Arthur (Mary) Roberts; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson.

A walk through visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday, May 26, at Curry Funeral Home from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00p.m. A private service will follow with Pastor Darrell Searls officiating.  Burial will follow at the Stone Family Cemetery, Alkol, WV.

Merle Sparks Seagraves left this life, eager to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 surrounded by her family at home.

Born August 8, 1936, to Lindsey Sparks and Rosa Crum Sparks in Delbarton, WV, she was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and, possibly one of her favorite titles, “MaMaw”.  She was a special friend to many. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lindsey & Rosa Crum Sparks, and husband, Julius Seagraves.

Surviving with so many loving memories are her sisters Elizabeth (Jennings) Maynard of Paintsville, KY, and Ozella Varney of Barboursville, WV, children, Betty (Sonny) Gillenwater of Foster, WV, Tom (Lou) Chafin of Alum Creek, WV, Rose (Mark) Hasen of Alkol, WV, and Robert (Deirdre) Seagraves of Savannah, GA. 

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Neil (Summer) Hasen of Alkol, WV, Krystle (Eddie) Gillespie of Alkol, WV, Jessica (Justin) Roach of South Charleston, Lindsay (Grant) White of Elkview, WV, and Courtney Seagraves of Savannah, GA, great-grandchildren, Julianna Hasen, Kaylee Lilly, and Lenora Roach, many special nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and a host of cherished friends and neighbors. 

Merle graduated from Burch Hill School and retired from Boone County Community Organization.  Her favorite hobby was basket weaving, and she played a mean game of Rook and Boggle.  She was a Christian who showed God’s love to all who were blessed to know her.

Graveside service to honor her life will be held at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, 2:30pm Saturday, May 23, 2020, with Pastor Randell Kinder officiating.  There will be a walk through visitation held at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, from 1:00 – 2:00pm. 

Until we meet again, we will miss her instructions to “hurry back” to visit.

Jerry Lee Allen, 75 of Sod passed away on Tuesday May 19, 2020 at Hospice House at CAMC after a long illness.

Jerry was a proud 50 year member of Laborer’s Union Local 1353.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dreama Allen; parents, Glen and Nellie Jean Allen; sisters, Christina Allen, Dreama Politino, and Linda Brogan.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Hope (Eric) Staats of Spencer, companion, Betsy Jarrett; brothers Larry (Kathy) Allen of Yawkey, and Dale Allen of Sod; sister, Lisa (Jerry) Saunders of Hurricane; 3 grandchildren, Katelyn, Jules, and Landon Staats all of Spencer.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday May 22, 2020 at Pine Grove Cemetery, Sumerco, with Pastor Bub Anderson officiating.

Richard Lee Dunlap, 69, of Alum Creek, WV, went home May 19, 2020 at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, WV.

He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 – 1971 and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, Air Medal with Numeral Ten, Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with Three Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1950), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal First Class Unit Citation Badge.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marcel Lee and Norma Jean Dunlap; and brother, Scotty.

Richard is survived by his wife, Sarah Margaret; children, Andrea (Tim) Miller, Thadis (Tiphanie) Dunlap, Rebecca Dunlap, Michelle Dunlap, and Eric (Cheyanne) Vaughan; siblings Jimmy (Diane) Dunlap, Roger Dunlap, Lisa Dunlap, Betty Bragg, Sandy (Ledford) Turley and Donna Bragg (Arthur Wilson; 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 26,at Lively Cemetery, Sod, WV, with military graveside rites conducted by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations be made to Curry Funeral Home. 

Olive Irene Blake, 82 of South Charleston went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Blake, Sr.; son, Michael Anthony Blake; grandson, Michael Blake and brother Danny Pauley.

She is survived by her son, Ed Jr., 6 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter; Brother, Terry Pauley; sisters, Anna Mae, Vesta, Janine, Connie and Sherry.

Funeral service and entombment will be held at 1:00 PM Monday May 18, 2020 at Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston with Pastor Greg Blake officiating.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Brooke and Heidi for their loving care of Mom this past year.

Debra Ann Kincaid, 63, of Sod, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 10, 2020 at Hospice House at CAMC.  Services will be scheduled at a later date. 

James “Bump” Vandale, 70, of Charleston, WV, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2020 at CAMC-Memorial Division.  He is predeceased by his father, Jesse L. Vandale.

Jim retired as a manager for Allied Warehousing, and he was a Vietnam Veteran receiving three purple hearts.  He also was a former Foodland store manager at South Charleston and Yawkey. 

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carol Cash Vandale, daughters, Kelly (Jason) Varney and Tracy (Tyler) Arkell, son, James (Kelly) Vandale, grandsons, Chase and Dylan Arkell, and granddaughter, Halli Vandale.  He is also survived by his mother, Genivieve Vandale, brothers, William “Bill” (Kathy) Vandale, Steve (Shelly) Vandale and David (Leslie) Vandale.

A private burial service will be Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV.  Full military honors will be scheduled at a later date. 

The family would like to thank the ER staff at CAMC-Memorial for their compassion and care. 

Pauline Hanshaw, 90, of Charleston, WV, gained her angel wings at her home on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. 

She retired after 23 years from Sears Roebuck. 

Pauline (Maw) is survived by her son, Dave (Buzz) Hanshaw and wife Debbie; daughter-in-law Ann Hanshaw; grandsons Rick Hanshaw and wife Opal, Michael Hanshaw and wife Lori, David Hanshaw and Jeff Hanshaw; brother Buck Riffe and Becky; sisters Edith Parsons and Wanda Williams; 12 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Bertha Riffe; son, Jerry Hanshaw; grandsons Rusty Hanshaw and Jimmy Hanshaw; and sister Lola Fields.

Pauline was an independent and strong woman.  She would give her opinion without flinching or apology.  She never dismissed you for your choices and always welcome you home when it didn’t work out.  She will certainly be missed by all.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Chaplain Pete Thompson officiating.     Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park.    The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Peggy Joyce Russell Cooley went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 4, 2020, after dying of Alzheimer’s disease.  Peggy was born on January 26, 1934 in Morgantown, WV.

After graduating from Morgantown High School in 1952, she was hired as the Secretary to the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at West Virginia University. While working there, she became friends with Jerry West, Rod Thorn and many other athletes, as they came into her office to collect their scholarship checks.  It was during this time she met her husband, Dr. Frederick Cooley, who was attending WVU School of Medicine.  Upon his graduation, they moved to Charleston, where Fred became the first Director of the Charleston Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.

Peggy was an avid tennis player.  She loved playing competitively with her friends, winning many tournaments as both a 3.5 and 4.0 player.   She loved to read; her library of books encompassed every genre from the classics to biographies, autobiographies to inspirational; the books she left behind would impress the most voracious reader.

She also enjoyed gardening, and spent countless hours outside landscaping her beautiful home.  She treasured her time at the beach with her family, and would read books under an umbrella by the ocean for hours on end.  Those annual vacations have provided her family with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

Peggy was also a huge fan of the WVU Men’s Basketball and Football teams; she would never miss watching a game on TV while listening to Tony Caridi on the radio.  She was overjoyed a few years ago when she was able to travel to the WVU Coliseum and visit Coach Bobby Huggins’ office, where she sat decidedly down in his chair, and smiled for a photograph!

Peggy loved her church, Village Chapel Presbyterian and served on several circle committees over the years while ministering to others.

Most of all she loved her family. Her laughter, smiles and affection made our home the most wonderful place to grow up; we could not have asked for a more loving and devoted mother and wife.

We would also like to take this opportunity to say how very thankful we are for Brookdale Charleston Gardens.  Just knowing how much the amazing staff loved and took such wonderful care of her is priceless to all of us.  Words will never be able to truly express our gratitude for their loving care, especially during the past few months when we were unable to visit her because of the Coronavirus.

Most importantly, Peggy knows Jesus as her Savior, for which we are deeply thankful.  Our Grammy, Momma and Wife will be incredibly missed.  However, we can rejoice in knowing that one day we will be reunited with her in Heaven.

Peggy was preceded in death by her father Benjamin Russell, mother Lillian Russell and brother George Russell. She is survived by her loving husband, Fred, her three daughters; Lauren Monk (Mike), Heather Ritchey and Kerri Milgram (Craig), six grandchildren: Katie Cumberledge, R.J. Ritchey, Dr. Micah Monk, Christopher Milgram, Cassidy DeBord and Cade Flanagan as well as five great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Charles Darren Roberts, 45, of Alum Creek, WV, died on Friday, May 1, 2020 at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Louise Roberts.

He is survived by his two daughters, Kayla Roberts and Emilee Roberts; two sisters, Tammy (Jerry) Rakes and Kathy (John) Hudson; one brother, Kenny (Lee) Roberts; three nephews, Edwin (Andrea) Neal, Morgan and Garrett Roberts; one niece, Torie Walker; one great-niece, Lila Neal.

Through it all, Darren  truly loved his daughters, family, and friends.  Darren’s contagious smile, good sense of humor, and compassionate heart made him a joy to be around.  He will be missed by many.

His favorite verse from the Bible was Matthew 6:14, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

For the safety of friends and loved ones during this COVID-19 pandemic, the family has chosen not to have a service at this time.  Darren would have wanted everyone to be “Safer at Home”, so we ask that you may think of a special time that you shared together, a memory to honor him. 

A celebration of his life will be held on a later date.