Esther Eleanor Lovejoy, 85, of Charleston (formerly of Lincoln County) passed away January 10, 2010, at The Ridgemont at Edgewood Summit.

Born October 15, 1924, in Palermo, WV, Lincoln County, to Asa and Versie Lovejoy, Esther was active in her church and community. In the 1970s, she was a seamstress for Mountain Artisans, making quilts and clothing. She worked for and retired from WVU Extension Service. She was a member of the Alum Creek Church of Christ. Before moving, she was active in the Bear Branch and Griffithsville congregations. As a volunteer, she logged countless hours as a 4-H leader, Duval High School volunteer, church volunteer and auxiliary member at Thomas Memorial Hospital and as a volunteer at a nursing home in Hamlin, WV. Her quilting talents provided her the chance to be a demonstrator at the West Virginia Arts and Crafts Fair for several years. Her dedication to family, friends and community earned her the honor of Alum Creek Citizen of the Year in 1997. One of her most prized titles, however, was being named Champion Hog Caller of the Alum Creek Pig Roast.

Before moving to Alum Creek and before her husband, Emmett, passed away, Esther worked the family farm. With the fruits of their labor, her table was full of fresh vegetables during season, and she canned to provide food year round. She was known for her blackberry jelly and apple butter. She and Emmett welcomed everyone to the dinner table and never missed a World Series game on television.

After the death of her husband, Esther met special friend John McLean of Florida. After living a selfless life, she found someone to pamper her. She would winter in Florida, where they golfed, dined out daily and made pots of vegetable soup and gallons of fresh orange juice. However, one of their favorite activities was driving to McDonald’s for fresh coffee and an apple pie.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Emmett R. Lovejoy; her sons Roger R. Lovejoy and Gary Dale Miller; grandson, Joseph Preston Lovejoy; sister, Mildred (Lovejoy) Orris; brother, Cebert Lovejoy; and special friend John McLean.

Survivors include daughter, Mary Ann Green, and husband, Larry, their daughter, Emma, of Charleston; daughter-in-law Pauletta (Pam) A. Lovejoy of Sumerco; grandson, R. Ray Lovejoy II, and wife, Corrie, their daughter, Savanna, of Charleston. She also leaves behind many dear friends, including Carole Holder and Roseanna White, both of Alum Creek; Roseanne Asbury of Bear Branch; and Lisa Graley of Lafayette, LA.  She also will be missed by a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews – all of whom she loved dearly.

Funeral service will be 1 PM Saturday, January 16, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Ministers Charles McKinney and Justin Imel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning two hours before the service. Orchard Hills Cemetery will be her final resting place.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Hospice Care 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston 25312 or to Alum Creek Church of Christ at 2368 Childress Road, Alum Creek, WV 25003. Special thanks are given to Ruthie Craddock and Libby Krueger, personal caregivers; the Ridgemont staff; Hospice nurse Stacy Smith and the Hospice support team; and Dr. Tom Takubo, his partners and staff at Pulmonary Associates of Charleston. Each touched her life and made a difference in its final chapter.

Jane Ann Curry, 42, of Alum Creek, WV went home to be with the Lord surrounded by many of her friends and family on January 10, 2010 after an 8 year battle with breast cancer.

She was a loving mother of 2 wonderful children and worked alongside her husband at Curry Funeral Home. She was a Christian and member of Alum Creek Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and also participated in many different events of the Youth Group. Also, through her sickness she was an avid supporter of the Breast Cancer Survival Walks and gave speeches throughout the Eastern U.S. She was a 1985 graduate of South Charleston High School and held an Associate Degree from WV State University.

She is survived by her loving husband of 20 years, Todd; 2 daughters: Chloe Elizabeth and Malie Jane Curry; Father & step-mother: Albert “Al” & JoAnn Midkiff of Yawkey; Mother & step-father: Wilma & Robert Bradshaw of Sod; Sister: Bronda (Rick) Adkins of St. Petersburg, FL; Brother: Mark (Gail) Midkiff of St. Albans; Father & mother-in-law: Gene and Betty Curry of Alum Creek; and many special nieces; nephews; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who will greatly miss her. 

Service will be 1:00 PM Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Ministers Louie Watts and Justin Imel officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston.  Friends and family may gather from 6 to 9 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309 or HospiceCare. 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25312.  The family would like to thank all the many friends for their loving support.

Buster N. McCormick 83, of South Charleston died Friday, January 8, 2010,  evening at Thomas Memorial Hospital So Charleston, after a short illness.

He was an employee of Charleston Tile and Marble for 20 years and was owner operator of McCormick Tile Co. For over 30 years. He was a member of the Bricklayers, Mason & Plasterers International Union of America for 50 years and was a WW 11 Army Veteran and member of the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768. He was preceded in death by his parents: Kin & Vina McCormick, Brothers, Harold & Tommy McCormick of Zanesville and a son, Steve Loftis of Lincoln County.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shelby Pauley McCormick, Daughter, Vicki & Andy Titcher of So Carolina 3 sons: Rick & Kim McCormick of Alum Creek, Larry & Debbie McCormick of Charleston, Bob & Brenda Mash of Teays Valley; grandchildren: Drew & Ashley Titcher of So Carolina, Cody & Austin McCormick and their mother Shelia of Alum Creek, Larry McCormick Jr. Of Charleston, Michael Loftis of Alum Creek. Great Grandson: Tyler Titcher of So Carolina; Brothers: Mink & Diane McCormick and Delmer & Betty McCormick all of Ohio, Clyde & Elsie McCormick of Woodville; Sister: Betty & Grady Boner of So Charleston.

Buster loved to hunt & fish and will be sadly missed by his family & friends.   

Services will be 1:00 PM Monday, January 11, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Rd., Alum Creek with Rev Charles D. Pennington officiating. Entombment with military graveside rites by the Benny Padilla VFW Post 4768 will be in Graceland Memorial Park Mausoleum at So Charleston. Friends will gather 1 hour prior to the service on Monday.

George B. Elder, 75, of South Charleston died Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Valley Center Health Care Center, South Charleston, WV due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  He was born near Darlington, PA on May 10, 1934 and was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Chalmers Elder; and brother, Ralph Elder.

He is survived by his wife, Decker Elder of South Charleston; 3 Brothers: Nathan Elder of Bradenton, FL; Fred Elder of Webster, NY; and Floyd Elder of Burlington, Ontario, Canada.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

George attended grade school in Darlington, PA and high school in Carrollton, OH. He graduated from Penn State University in 1956 and then joined Union Carbide Corporation, South Charleston, WV. Shortly thereafter, he fulfilled his military obligations by serving two years in the United States Air Force and ended that tour at a radar base in northern Japan. He returned to Union Carbide and was in the corrosion engineering field for his entire career at the Technical Center, South Charleston, and Insitute plants and at Ponce, Puerto Rico. He retired in 1991 and worked part time as a consultant in corrosion engineering for four more years. He was a recognized and dedicated expert in the field of corrosion engineering, and was a fellow in NACE National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and a founding member and fellow of MTI, Materials Technology Institute.

A memorial service will be held at 4PM Thursday, January 14, at Rock Lake Presbyterian Church, 905 Village Drive, South Charleston, WV with Reverend Rick McGuire officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made in George’s name to Rock Lake Presbyterian Church, 905 Village Drive, South Charleston, WV 25309 or to Hospice Care, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., W., Charleston, WV 25312.

Richard A. Holder, 66 of Alum Creek died Tuesday January 5, 2010 at CAMC Memorial Hospital, from complications after surgery.

Richard was born on September 28, 1943 in Charleston, and spent his youth in Ansted. He was the son of Howard Holder (deceased) and Elizabeth Defibaugh. He was also preceded in death by his nephew, Tommy Holder and son, Kelly Holder.  Richard was a retired electrician belonging to IBEW Local Union 466 were he was a member of the pension committee board. After retirement, he became a dedicated volunteer for the American Red Cross and Americorp. He was a member of the Alum Creek Church of Christ.

He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Defibaugh of Ansted, brother Howard Holder of Milford, Ohio, wife Carole Holder of Alum Creek, his eldest son Allen Holder and his wife Kim and their children Samuel and Amanda Holder all of Alum Creek, daughter-in-law Lori Holder, widow of Kelly Holder of Alum Creek and youngest son Craig Holder and his girlfriend Sara McCall of Alum Creek.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 PM Thursday at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road Alum Creek. The funeral service will be held 1:00 PM Friday January 8 at the funeral home with Ministers Kim Matthews and Justin Imel officiating. Burial will follow at the Forks of Coal Memorial Park at Alum Creek.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation to Kelly’s Kids, a nonprofit organization honoring Richard’s deceased son Kelly Holder. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 35 Sod, WV 25564. Service will be 1:00 PM Friday at Curry Funeral Home Alum Creek. Visitation will be 6 to 9 Thursday at the funeral home.

Ernie D. Pauley, 79, of Emmons Road, Alum Creek passed away Monday, January 4, 2010 at Thomas Memorial Hospital after a short illness.  He was a retired laborer and attended Rumble Community Baptist Church. 

He is survived by: Brother: Sidney Pauley of Emmons; 2 Sisters: Loraine Gillispie of Emmons; Tressie Barker of Ridgeview; and Several nieces and nephews. 

Services will be 2:00 pm Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Emmons Church of God with Pastors Richard Harold and Michael Graley officiating. Burial will be in Gillispie Cemetery, Emmons. Family and friends may gather 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Mary Katherine McClure, 87, of South Charleston went to Heaven to join her husband January 1, 2010.  She loved to piece quilts, enjoyed her vetable garden, her cats and dogs, talking to friends on the phone and good food.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Moody & Belva Marker; husband, Lonnie Stewart McClure; and sisters, Eliza Keeling and Virgie McClure.  Katherine is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Edward Junior and Deloris C. McClure; sister: Laura May of Albuquerque, NM; grandchildren: Dwayne E. McClure, Gloria V. Richardson, Olivia E. McClure and her faithful companion, her dog, Big Boy.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Monday, January 4, at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek with Pastor Frank Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at the Lively Cemetery, Sod, WV.  Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service Monday at the funeral home

Ruth N. Gilkeson, 87, of St. Albans died December 28, 2009 at Riverside Nursing Home now Golden Living Center.

There will be no services.

Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek is serving the Gilkeson family.

Vernon Wesley “Wes” Quigley, 37, of Huntington died Saturday, December 26, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center, Huntington, WV.

He was preceded in death by his mother Nickey R. Stapleton

He is survived by his:

Stepfather: Carl Stapleton

Brother: Christopher Stapleton of So. Charleston,

Sisters: Carla Stapleton of  Nitro,

Cynthia Turley Charleston

Nieces and Nephews: Nicholas Stapleton of Lincoln County

Jonathan Meadows of Hernshaw

Benjamin, Tyler and Kristan all of Charleston

A memorial service will be  7:00 PM Thursday February 11, 2010 at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road Alum Creek with Pastor Marvin Welch officiating. Family and Friends will gather one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Matthew H. Cash, 33,  of Poca, born January 18, 1976 passed away on Saturday, December 26^th at CAMC Teays Valley Division after a sudden illness.

He was a beloved son, father and brother and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Nancy Cash and brother, Gregory Allen Cash.

He is survived by his former wife, Melinda D. Cash and their son, Brandon M. Cash both of Cross Lanes.

Also surviving are his father: Homer H. Cash

Brother: Robert A. and wife, Milissa D. Cash

Nieces:   Bethany L. and Haley E. Cash all of Tornado

In addition his girlfriend, Teresa Pate, of Poca survives him along with numerous family & friends.

A Memorial Service will be held 6:00 PM Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek.