Delores Jean Graley, 74, of Alum Creek went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Arlene Dingess-Stowers and husband, Carlos Graley.

She is survived by her brother, Danny Stowers (Elana) of South Charleston; children Greg Graley (Judy) of Liberty, Carla Graley Finch (Jeff) of St Albans, and Anthony Graley (Patti) of Charleston; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren that she loved and supported dearly, Mitchell (Ali) Finch, Amanda Jo (E.J.) Massey, Sarah Finch, Beth Graley, Carson and Sloan Graley, Zack and Garrett Reedy, and great grandchildren, Abby, Chloe and Heidi.

Delores graduated from Washington District High School in Alum Creek, WV and Center College (West Virginia Junior College) with a secretarial associate degree. For some portions of her life, she worked as a secretary for several technical (CDI) and banking companies as well as public schools. However, her pride’s work was her family, friends and the community of Alum Creek. While raising her children, she took great pride in opening her home and efforts to others. She was known to be a mother figure to many other children besides her own, which included being a hard-working and dedicated activities/sports mom in support of her children and community.

Her strong belief in family and friendships particularly within the community lead her to be a founding member of the Alum Creek Alliance for Community Involvement, where she was one of three individuals who leveraged their home to purchase the ACA Property on Sand Plant Road. Delores continuously served the ACA as an officer and had recently transitioned over to the Board of Directors. She was also a member of the Alum Creek Church of the Nazarene and the Alum Creek Lions Club.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 18th to be followed directly by a celebration of life service at 3:00 p.m. at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Ruth Anne DeLong officiating.

Entombment with a committal service will be 9:00 a.m. Monday, February 19th, at Graceland Memorial Park Mausoleum, South Charleston, WV.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carlos Graley Foundation, c/o Alum Creek Church of the Nazarene, 1342 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV 25003 or Alum Creek Alliance, PO Box 76, Alum Creek, WV 25003.

James Luther “Milkman” Marker, 79, of Sod, WV went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston.

He retired from South Charleston Stamping Plant.

Luther was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Doris Marker; wife, Bertha Ann; son, Kenny; and grandson, Timmy

He is survived by his children, Teresa (Russel) Breedlove; Melinda Ray and James K. Marker; brothers, Lindell (Sharon) Marker and Butch (Sandra) Marker; four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 17, at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Roe Smith officiating.  Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens in Yawkey. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Curtis Sherman Clay, 82, of Sumerco went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 12, 2018 at Cabell Huntington Hospital. He was surrounded by his family whom he loved very much.

He was saved and became a Christian at the age of 76. He was a member of Cobbs Creek Missionary Baptist Church where he attended faithfully until his health declined.

Curtis was born the eighth of thirteen children on March 3, 1935 to the late Sumner and Mamie Kessinger Clay of Oakridge Drive, Charleston.

Curtis served his country in the U. S. Army for two years. He worked at Kanawha Manufacturing in Charleston and upon retirement, he enjoyed many hours in his workshop creating beautiful cabinets and many other woodcrafts.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by nine sisters and two brothers with one surviving sister, Anna Rollyson.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Phyllis; children, Mary Cummings, Richard (Beverly) Clay, Missy Clay and Susan (Noel) Braley; grandchildren, Tommy, Emily and Andrew; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Annie, Josh and Lucy; and many nieces and nephews.

Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 16th at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastors Clyde Gwin and Robert “Butch” Leadman officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. He will be laid to rest at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens in Yawkey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.

Glenna “Gigi” Allen, 56, of Sod went home to be with the Lord Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Hubbard Hospice West in South Charleston.

She retired from the Rite Aid Warehouse in Nitro and was a 1980 graduate of Duval High School.

Gigi was preceded in death by her father, Josh Junior Allen.

She is survived by her mother, Mary Joan Allen; daughter, Amanda Pauley; granddaughters, Alexis and MacKenzie Pauley; sister, Gail (Curtis) Justice; and brothers, Terry (Dawna) Allen and Perry Ralph Allen.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Isaiah Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Anderson Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

The family would like to express a special thank you to Cori Sutphin, Katie Nottingham, Libby Smith and the staff at Hospice West.

Mark Steven Morris, 64, of Alum Creek went home Thursday, February 8, 2018.

He was a 1971 graduate of Duval High School.

Mark worked as  a heavy equipment operater in the coal mining industry, he was a former member of the Operating Engineers and the UMWA and also served in the Army National Guard.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Eugene P. and Anna Carr Morris.

He is survived by siblings, Eugene P. (JoAnn) Morris, Peggy Ann (Kenneth) Stevens and John (Rhonda) Morris; nieces and nephews, Chris Morris, Vanessa (Mark) Jarrell, Tiffany Morris, Gina “Hunter Storm” Morris, Matthew Morris, Douglas Shane McCormick, Chad (Rachel) McCormick and Brent McCormick; great nephew, Douglas Jamie McCormick.

A graveside service will be 12:00 noon Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Forks of Coal Cemetery Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating.

Carolyn Sue Brogan, 75, of Sod went home to the Lord Friday, February 9, 2018 at Hubbard Hospice House West in South Charleston.

She was an active member of McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church for many years. She was owner of Sue’s Catering and Dairy Delight Restaurant in Alum Creek and also worked as a cook at Midway Elementary School.

Sue is survived by her husband of 56 years, Virgil; sons, Tim (Regina) of Sod and Mark (Jill) of Weston; grandsons, Jacob (Caitlin), Colby and Isaac Brogan; great granddaughter, Emery Brogan; and brothers, David (Wanda), Robert (Libby) and Chuck (Carol) Smith; and sisters, Annette Mitchell, Roberta Smith (Jim) and Dawnetta (Greg) Cook.

Service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at McCorkle Freewill Baptist Church at Sod with Pastor Isaiah Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Lively Cemetery, Sod.

The family will receive friends Monday, February 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek.

Billy Williams, 81, of Alum Creek went home Friday, February 2, 2018 at Hubbard Hospice West in South Charleston.

He retired from the State of West Virginia. He also worked at FMC and AVTEX Chemical where he served as the Business Agent for the Union.

Billy was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; and parents, George & Lillian Brogan Williams; sister, Isbella Mason; and brother, Gary Williams.

He is survived his four children, Victoria (Don) Beightol of Alum Creek, Johnny (Sherry) Williams of Lexington, SC, Lisa (Robert) Abbott of Sod and Jason (Moria) Williams of Alum Creek; grandchildren, April Meadows, Andrew Beightol, Kayla Williams, Katarina Williams, Samuel Abbott, Emma Williams, Elijah Abbott, Natalie Williams and Nathaniel Abbott; sister, Katherine Risk; and brothers: Eugene (Helen) Williams and Jack Williams

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens in Yawkey.

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

Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV has been family owned and operated since 1950.

Charles Hiawatha Snodgrass, Jr., “Butch”, 68 of Yawkey, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 1, 2018 at home after a short illness with his family by his side.

He served in the Vietnam War under the U. S. Army where he was trained to operate a dozer. This became his lifelong trade, working as a dozer operator and/or foreman for various subcontracting companies at John Amos Power Plant.

Butch was a humble man with a quiet nature. His passion was hunting and fishing. He was happiest being outdoors. Butch was a devoted husband, dad and papa, and was highly respected by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles H., Sr. and Ethel Snodgrass; brother and best friend, Harvey Snodgrass; and his beloved granddaughter, Taylor Baldwin.

Butch is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Brenda; children whom he is very proud of April Baldwin of Charleston, Dawn Moss and husband, Rick of St. Albans and Charles Hiawatha, III “Chuck” of Charleston; granddaughters, Abby Moss and Mady Nienke; siblings, Carol Richards of Scott Depot, Fred (Willa) Snodgrass of Yawkey, Betty Jo Boggess of Charleston, Debbie (Frank) Carter of St. Albans and Richard Snodgrass of Charleston; and a host of nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Richard McCallister officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Alum Creek VFW Post 4768. The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service.

Burial will be held at French Cemetery in Charleston at a later date.

Patricia Carol Nicholas Porter, 78, of Huntington, formerly of Charleston, went home Sunday, January 28, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington.

She retired from Union Carbide.

Patricia was preceded in death by her husbands, Kermit V. Nicholas and Bobby Porter; daughter, Karla Lea Nunn; and son, Edward Nicholas.

She is survived by her daughter, Little Star Vanscyoc; half-brother, Bernard Westfall, Jr.; grandchildren, Ricky E. Davis, Jr., Dakota Von Nicholas, Cameron Nunn and Matthew Nunn; great grandchildren, Joshua Eric Davis, Sara Breann Davis and Emily Brea Davis.

Service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens in Yawkey. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Donald Ray Sowards, Sr., 87, of Charleston received his wings at home on Friday, January 26, 2018 while surrounded by family. He was born on December 4, 1930 to the late Beulah Mae Salmons and Holbert Aulden Sowards.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years and the love of his life, Wilma Pauley Sowards; son, Donald “Donnie” Sowards, Jr.; grandson, Zachary Alan Sowards; brother, Rodney A. Sowards; and sisters, Anna Lou Shamblin and Patty Jo Holstein.

Don loved his family and was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle.

He had many interests, he was an oil painter, arrowhead hunter and gun maker. Don was an avid songwriter, singer and musician. He loved bluegrass music and was an innovator, making bluegrass music popular in WV. He assisted countless musicians in writing songs and playing different instruments. He learned to play multiple instruments at an early age, although, the mandolin was his favorite. He could play it like no other. Don formed The Laurel Mountain Boys Bluegrass Band. His son, Mark, played the banjo along with him as the band traveled all over WV, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia in the 70’s, 80’s, and the 90’s. He had a beautiful Tenor voice and sang Lead on multiple albums the band recorded.

Don loved his country and was a proud United States Marine Veteran. Serving during the Korean War, wounded 3 separate times, and achieving 3 Purple Hearts.

He retired from CSX Railroad in 1996 with 30+ years service.

Don leaves behind son, Mark Sowards (Lesa); granddaughter, Kyla Fields (Jeremy); grandson, Donald “D.R.” Sowards, III; great granddaughters, Chloe and Alara Bailey, Heidi Sowards and Audree Sowards; brother, Ronald Sowards; sister, Wilma Hailey; and many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at Curry Funeral Home in Alum Creek with Pastor Al Mendez officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park in South Charleston.

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

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

The Sowards family would like to thank a very special angel, she is the most compassionate and caring nurse we’ve ever met, Kim Miller of Hospice. This angel went above and beyond the call of duty to care for Don and his family.