On February 2, 2020 Caleb Allen Reese Skeenes was called home to be with  the Lord. On April 4, 1995 Caleb was born to Jeremy Skeenes and Nikki Cooper. 

Caleb was blessed with a host of parents. Jeremy and Jamey Skeenes, Nikki and Brandon Bays, Jamie and Callie Hughes all loved and influenced Caleb’s life.

 Caleb adored his family. He loved his brothers and sisters dearly. He was a great big brother to Olivia, Kelcei, Logan, Grayson, Keagan, Avery and Laney. He was always picking on them, playing with them and making them feel special in some way. 

Caleb was a cherished grandson to Kenny and Lynda Lawerence, Jerry and Kathy Skeenes, Barry and Jeanie Hamilton-Smith, Sherry Hughes and Glen and Lisa Hughes. Caleb had a sweet tooth that his Mamaw’s loved to satisfy. 

Caleb had the privilege of knowing his great- grandparents. He loved offering a helping hand to his Papaw Bernie and going to Mamaw Honey’s (Lina Smith) to eat ham. 

Not only was Caleb the first grandson on both sides of the family but he was the first nephew as well. This meant lots of love and extra spoiling. He was the sweetest baby boy that his Aunt Chelsie, Aunt Jacobi and Aunt Crissy got to hold and kiss. 

Caleb had several uncles and aunts Justin (Brooke) Skeenes, Ben (Christy) Smith, Jessica Hamilton, Chelsie (Rusty) Shaffer, Jacobi (Michael) Randall and Michael Hughes that loved him so much. 

He had so many cousins that he loved making memories with, he never wanted to miss a holiday dinner or birthday party with them. 

Caleb was a faithful and loyal friend to so many and will be greatly missed. 

Caleb was preceded in death by several loving great grandparents, Helen Lawerence, Narzie Cooper, Buddy Smith, Lenora and Allen Skeenes, Brookie and Short Breedlove, Great Aunt Sandra Skeenes and his Uncle Blake Smith. 

Caleb was a graduate of Lincoln County High School. He attended Mars Hill College in North Carolina. Caleb loved hanging out with his friends. He was always ready for an adventure with his special cousin BCoop. From kayaking to shooting hoops to skydiving Caleb loved to live life to the fullest. Caleb was always willing to help others and had a beautiful soul. His sneaky smile, Chocolate brown eyes and zeal for life will forever be missed. Caleb leaves behind a legacy of love for his family and friends. He will live on forever in our hearts and will keep his memory alive until we meet again.

Larry Dean Wheeler, 80, of St. Mary’s, GA, formerly of Alum Creek, WV went home Monday, January 27, 2020 at the Senior Care Center in St. Mary’s, GA.

He worked as an over the road truck driver and was a Baptist by faith. He was a charter member and former trustee at Alum Creek Independent Missionary Baptist Church.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Ettus Banks Wheeler.
He is survived by his children: Robert Wheeler, Connie Wheeler, Denita Kayyali (Ammar), Danielle Wheeler ( Rod), Dawn Miller, and Larry Wheeler, Jr.; brother, Roger (Patsy) Wheeler; 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 1, at the Independent Missionary Baptist Church in Alum Creek with Pastors Frank Chapman and Daniel Dent officiating. Burial will follow at Forks of Coal Cemetery in Alum Creek. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Independent Missionary Baptist Church 2309 Childress Road Alum Creek, WV 25003.

Denver Andrew Hughes, Jr., 75, of Sumerco, WV, went home on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

He was a member of the McCorkle Free Will Baptist Church and a Veteran of the U. S. Army. Denver was a former employee of the WV Laborers Union and also a member of the UMWA.  He was always busy outdoors and spending time in his garage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Denver and Hazel M. Hughes.

Denver is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna; daughters, Cindy (Bill) Asbury and Shellee Hughes; grandchildren, Billy and Kaylin Asbury; brothers, Jackie (Rita) Hughes and Arlen (Cheryl) Hughes; and Sharon Clark and Eric Sowards, who are like a daughter and a son.  

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 27, at Curry  Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Isaiah Hatfield and Butch Brogan officiating.  Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery at Sumerco, WV,  with military graveside rites conducted by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768.

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

Patricia Sue Hollis, 65 of Charleston passed away on January 17, 2020 at home.

Patricia was a retired registered nurse and had her second career as an over the road truck driver.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharol and Betty Sampson White.

She is survived by her sons, Jonathan Daniel Strickland and Christopher Don Strickland; grandson, Christopher Dakota Strickland; sister, Sister, Sandra Cheryl Doak and her brother, Terry Michael White.

In keeping with Patricia’s wishes, she is being cremated and there will be no services.

Ralph Edward “Butch” Goff, 71 of Tornado, passed away on January 19, 2020 at Hubbard Hospice House, South Charleston.

Butch was a retired auto body painter and was the former owner/operator of The Willow Club in Charleston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Edward Goff, Sr. and Juanita Tyler Goff; his wives, Patricia Miller Goff and Carol Satterfield Goff; and brother, Carl Goff.

He is survived by his son, Stefan Goff; daughter, Lisa Goff; Brothers, Howard and Gene Goff; sister, Patricia Lemon; grandchildren, Madison, Ryan, Joshua, and Caleb; great grandchildren, Cambrie, Caroline, and Annie.

In keeping with Butch’s wishes, he will be cremated and there will be no services.

George Washington Eskew, Jr., 88, of Emmons, WV, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Hubbard Hospice, South Charleston.  He was preceded in death by his parents, George W. & Martha Jane Eskew, son, Jessie Lee Eskew, sisters, Ruth Bell and Virginia Saunders, brothers, Delmer, Don, and Ken Eskew.

He was employed by and retired from the WV State Dept of Agriculture.  He loved hunting, fishing and cutting grass.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Orpha, daughters, Janet Eskew, Violet Eskew, Marlene (Michael) Graley, Sherry (Chris) Hodges, and son, Gordon (Karen) Eskew.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tricia, Ashley, Michael, George Allen and Alex, four great-grandchildren, Mercedes, Griffin, Titan and Aspyn, brother Paul (Norma) Eskew, and sisters, Janice (David) Whitlock, Betty Hill, and Dora McCormick.

Service will be 1:00pm Thursday, January 23, 2020, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Michael Graley officiating.  Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service.  Burial will follow at Forks of Coal Memorial Park, Alum Creek.

William Roger Barnette, 84, of Ashford, WV, went home Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston.

His request was to be cremated and there will be no services.

Linda Kay Scott, 72, of South Charleston, WV,  went home Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was preceded in death by her mother, Susie Hughes and father, William Shivelier.   

Kay is survived by her son, Dell Conley; sister, Billie Jean Price; grandson, Cole Conley; great granddaughter, Addilyn Monroe; and half-brother, Jimmy Shivelier.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Bishop John Mark Atkinson and Elder David Patton officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Sumerco.

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

    David Scott Clark, 60, son of Johnnie H. Clark and Anna M. Hager, born January 25, 1959, of Alkol, WV, passed peacefully in his sleep on January 11, 2020.

David was a kind and humble man who enjoyed the simple things in life. David was known to be stubborn, which he considered a positive trait until his children inherited it. He had a big heart and would do anything for his family. He enjoyed listening to music in the company of friends, digging for artifacts, collecting antiques and coins, and fishing with his granddaughter. David worked for the Town of Danville for many years.

David is survived by loving family including his children Shannon Clark (Jess Greene) of Wilmington, NC, Natasha (Harold Sowards) of Hamlin, WV, and Lana (Morgan) Cook of Morisville; siblings Janet (Danny) Collins of Alkol and Terry Clark of Alkol; and grandchildren Skilar Cook, Kayden Cook, Journey Sowards, and Wrigley Sowards.

Private Memorial services will be held. For information, please contact the family.

Sgt. John Matthew Tully, 31, of Charleston, WV, went home Sunday, January 12, 2020.

John was a 2007 graduate of George Washington High School.

He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. John served 2 Tours in the U. S. Army in Baghdad, Iraq, with the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team (2HBCT), 1st Infantry Division “The Big Red One”.

He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Eva Mae Harper and Gail Dunlap.

John is survived by his mother and step-father, Lisa and Bill Dunlap; father, Bill Tully; brother, Wes (Taylor) Tully; sisters, Roxanne (Chuck) Clay and Donna Tully; grandfathers, Bo Dunlap and Bernard Dunlap; uncles, Kevin (Stephanie) Dunlap and Derrick (Jessica Hunter) Dunlap; aunts, Rita (Mark) Walls and Arlene (Traci) Dunlap; special cousin, Heather Walls; niece, Addison; and nephews, Cody and Jordan Clay.

Service will be 12:30 p.m. Friday, January 17, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Kyle Huffman officiating. Burial will follow at the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery with military graveside honors.

The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.