Billy G. Newman, 88, of Alkol, WV entered into eternal rest on Monday, April 24, 2017.   He was born November 22, 1928 in Wayne Co., WV to the late Clovis and Della Alley Newman.

He graduated from Buffalo High School at the age of 15.  At the age of 16 he went to work as a deckhand on the river.

Billy served in the U. S. Army for 2 years and returned to the river boats to gradually become Captain.  He retired after 42 years to do what he loves most.   Billy stayed on the farm with his wife of 60 years, Jean (now deceased), where he loved to work in his garden.

He has two daughters, Rita Ann (deceased) and Karen Jean (David) and two sons, Aaron (Julia) and Nathan, seven grandchildren 3 great grandchildren.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Randell Kinder officiating.  Burial will follow at the Clark Family Cemetery in Flat Creek.   The family will receive friends 1 hour prior at the funeral home.

The family would like to sincerely thank all who visited, called and sent dinners to our dad.   We also want to thank Gene and Tammy Pauley for the   care, kindness and loved they showed my dad.   Thanks to all that helped.

Jerry Wayne Messer, Sr., 64, of Julian, WV passed away Friday, April 21, 2017 at Thomas Memorial Hospital surrounded by family.

He was born August 26, 1952 in Madison, WV, son of the late Jesse E. and Allie (VanGundy) Messer. Jerry is also preceded in death by brothers, Jesse Gene and Jackie Dean Messer, and sister, Oma Mae Goode.

Prior to retiring from Kroger of Madison, WV, he worked at Montgomery Wards in Staunton, VA.

Jerry was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; sons, Jeffery W. (Cindy) Messer of Lyndhurst, VA and Jerry W. (Heather) Messer of Julian, WV, stepchildren, Howard Moyers (fiancé Sally) of WV and Sonya Carter of Staunton, VA, brother, Mickie (Belinda) Messer of Staunton, VA; seven grandchildren, Alisha and Casey Taylor, MaKenzie, Kendra, Brooklyn and Miley Moyers, Maci and Remington Messer, many nieces and nephews, his best buddy, Roger Payne and longtime friend, Timmy Linville.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Pastors Stevie Cox and Randall Griggs officiating. Burial will follow at the VanGundy Family Cemetery in Left Fork. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Active Pallbearers are Mickie Messer, Charles Messer, Dusty Harvey, Adam Price, Shawn Price, Jeff Payne and Travis Harvey. Honorary Pallbearers are Roger Payne and the grandchildren.

The family would like to express a special “thank you” to the ICU Staff at Thomas Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care and to his granddaughter, Kendra for helping with his special medical needs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions for the funeral service.

Charles Dexter (Dex) Duncan, also known to many as Charlie, 91, of Alum Creek, passed away at his home on Friday, April 21, 2017 with his loving wife, Helen, and his children by his side.

Dex was born July 31, 1925, the third of five children born to Lawrence W. and Tressa Griffith Duncan at Olcott, a small coal mining community in Kanawha County.  He graduated from Washington District High School and immediately joined the Army Air Corps to serve in World War II.  He was extremely proud of his service to his country as a belly ball turret gunner on a B-24, part of the Liberator Squadron.  He often said that he got that assignment because he was the smallest guy on the crew.  He went on to fly thirty-three combat bombing missions over strategic targets in Poland, Austria, and Germany.  Later, he was an early member of VFW Post No. 4768 in Alum Creek.  He was a faithful and active member of the post, attending meetings until last fall.  The members of the post were some of his best friends.

In 1949, he married Helen Fitzwater, and for over 68 years they were sweethearts and partners in making a home that was focused on their children, family, friends, and community.  Family gatherings and trips with Helen, his children, and grandchildren were his happiest times, and the happiest times for their kids.  After his retirement from a long career with FMC, he and Helen loved to travel.  He loved golf, the beach, working in his yard, and cigars.  He was an intelligent man of few words, honest, principled, and strong-willed.  He valued hard work and education.  His unrelenting will and determination sustained and carried him through the last several years of declining health.  We take comfort that he was able to stay in his home until the end.  Most recently, Hospice Care was an invaluable help to us.  The family is most grateful for Mason Kirk, caretaker and friend to Dad and Mom, who has been dedicated to them.

Dex was preceded in death by his brothers, Darrell, Nile, and Bob, and his sister, Betty Belcher.  He is survived by his wife, Helen, daughters, Diana (Steve) Morris of St. Albans, Drema (Steve) Watts of St. Albans, Jill Novak of Langhorne, Pa., and his son C.D. (Linda) Duncan of Charleston.  Also surviving are grandchildren, Erin (Barkclay) Morris of Lexington, Ky., David (Justin) Morris of Portland Me., Erik Duncan of Charleston, Nicholas (Gina) Watts of Cross Lanes, Christopher (Caitlin) Novak of Colorado Springs, Co., Matthew Novak of Rockville, Md., and Katie Novak of Langhorne, Pa.  Great grandchildren are Liam and Finley Morris-Phelps, Carys, Elliot, and Miles Novak of Colorado Springs, Co., and the expected August arrival of Ellis and Evelyn Watts in Cross Lanes.  He was a great father and best Papaw ever, very proud of his family and their lives.  He loved them and was greatly loved by them.

Services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 25 at Curry Funeral Home at 2097 Childress Road in Alum Creek, WV, with Pastor Frank Chapman.  Entombment will follow at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston, with military graveside honors by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768.  Friends will gather one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768 at 4443 Brounland Rd, Charleston, WV 25309 or Hospice Care at 1606 Kanawha BLVD. W., Charleston, WV 25387

Suzanne Bouldin, 73, of South Charleston, formerly of Cross Lanes, went home to the Lord Thursday, April 20, 2017 at home after a long illness.

She was preceded in death by her parents Briscoe and Margaret Bouldin.

She was a retired district supervisor with the Social Security Administration and a member of the Cross Lanes United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her cousins, C. J. (Shelly) Sammons with whom she has made her home with for the past 10 years, June Lee, Bobbie Duffield, Debbie (Tom) Jankowski, Angie Harold, Charles and Bill Sammons and Chase Brown.

Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Monday, April 24, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Gary Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston.

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

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

Carl David Gilley, 48, his wife, Christine, 42, and children, Grace Margaret,  13, and Jack Nathanael,  10, of China Grove (Rowan County), NC,  died on Thursday, April 13, 2017, in a car crash on I-77 near Mile Marker 22, Camp Creek, WV, that took the lives of the entire family.  The family was heading toward Christine’s parents’ home in Irondale, OH, when the accident occurred.

Jack & Grace loved swimming with the Sailfish Aquatics team in Concord.  Jack was a 4th grader at Bostian Elementary and Grace was a 7th grader at Salisbury Academy.  Their mom, Christine, was a fixture at the CrossFit Vitality training facility, and her husband, David, worked as a senior project manager for the TIAA investment firm.  David was a biology graduate of the University of North Florida.  Christine graduated from Fauquier High, Warrenton, VA, and later earned her degree in business administration and accounting from Mary Washington College in 1996.

A vigil for the family was held at the Concord Church of Christ, Friday, April 14th.  A celebration of the lives of David, Christine, Grace and Jack Gilley will take place 3:00pm,  Friday, April 21st in the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel at Catawba College on West Innes Street, Salisbury, NC.  A reception will follow in the Crystal Lounge on the Catawba campus.  Local arrangements were provided by Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, WV.

Joshua Lee Miles, 35 of Cross Lanes, formerly of Lincoln county,  passed away Wednesday April 13, 2017. Joshua was preceded in death by his mother Daisy Tackett Sowards, also maternal grandparents, Troy C. and Lucy Gay Tackett.

He is also survived by his children; Bryan, Shie – Lyn Rei, Madison and Tristan, brothers Steven Tackett, Duane and Ronald Hicks all of West Virginia and also many aunts, uncles and friends.

He will be missed “but the love we all share! Will remain in our “Hearts”.

Funeral service will be 2:00 Friday April 21, at Curry Funeral Home Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Barker Cemetery Ashford.

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

David Eugene Eskew, Sr., of Alum Creek, passed away Friday, April 14^th 2017 at Riverside Nursing Home in St. Albans.

He was an auto mechanic.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Delmar and Beulah Eskew, and his sister, Deborah Chandler.  He is survived by his three children: Christina Egnor of Stony Point, NC; Sharon Grounds (Zack) of Anniston, Alabama; David (Amanda) Eskew, Jr. of Alum Creek; and 6 beautiful grandchildren, Dustin, Joseph, Mikayla, Katie, Madison and Jason.   He is also survived by three brothers: Eddie, Tommy, and Teddy Eskew; two sisters, Donna Baire and Martha Barker.

A celebration of David’s life will be held at a later date.

Bessie Adkins Clay, 95, of Julian went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Boone Memorial Hospital in Madison, WV.

She was a member of the Danville Church of Christ.

Bessie is preceded in death by husbands, Homer Adkins and Elbert Clay; and granddaughter, Heather Webb.

She is survived by daughters, Della Elkins, Dottie (James) Webb and Doris Williams; grandchildren, Tammy, Jenny & Andrea; great grandchildren, Joshua and Cassidy; and great great granddaughter, Savannah.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2017 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Minister Richard Runyan officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Dan “Wilbur” Brogan, age 66, of Seebert, WV, formerly of Alum Creek, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.  Dan was born July 9, 1950 in Charleston, WV.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Webb & Myrtle Brogan and sister, Linda Brogan.

A long-time Union Carbide employee, Dan retired to Pocahontas County along the Greenbrier River.  Dan never met a stranger and was well-known for his giving nature and helping heart.  He was known for always having a smile and everyone he met was instructed immediately to call him “Uncle Dan” as if they were a part of the family.  No matter where he went, he always knew someone and had a story to tell.  He enjoyed nothing more than hunting, fishing and gardening with his best friend Elwood Whitlock.  He liked to sit by the Greenbrier River in the “Chicken Hut” to relax and visit with the friends and tourists alike.  Dan’s passing has left a void in all who knew and loved him that can never be filled.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Marlington, WV, and was a 1970 graduate of GW High School where he was class president.

Dan is survived by his long-time partner Beverly Eads; son Calvin (Norma) Brogan of South Charleston; daughter, Melissa Chandler of Alum Creek;  and nephews that Dan and his former wife, JoEllen raised from their childhood, Tony (Jessica) Stewart and Justin Stewart; along with the loving children of Beverly, Michelle (Robert) Sharp and Lance Eads.  He is also survived by his brothers, Ezra “Blackie” Brogan and Timmy (Connie) Brogan and his sister, Sue Brogan; five grandchildren, Brittany (Brent) Griffith, Allison (Shaun) Adams, Jeffrey Allen, Logan and Cierra; and three great-grandchildren, Beckett and Brinley Griffith and Allie Stewart, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be 1:00pm Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating.  Friends and family will gather from 11:00am to 1:00pm prior to the service.

A memorial service will also be held in Pocahontas County at a later date.

Jackie Alan Miller, 48, of Sumerco went home to the Lord Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

He was a member of the Boilermakers Union and served in the U. S. Army 82nd Airborne during the Gulf War.

Jackie was preceded in death by his wife, Tamara.

He is survived by his children, Christian, Grace, Colten and Christopher (Ty);  parents, Jackie and Margo Miller; sisters, Laura (Eric) Akers and Teresa (Danny) Hughes; and many other family and friends.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017 at the New Covenant Baptist Church with Pastors David Hicks and Dwight McClure officiating.  Burial will follow at the Miller Family Cemetery  with military graveside rites conducted by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768.   The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family request that contributions be made toward the funeral services.