Horace Arvil Barton

ALBEMARLE — Horace Arvil Barton, 82, 1402 Northcrest Drive, died Thursday morning (Aug. 3, 2000) at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Born Jan. 10, 1918, in Denton, Texas, Mr. Barton was the son of the late Vic Hughes and Henry Arthur Barton. A graduate of Iowa State University, he had retired as district purchasing agent for Alcoa.

He was a member of Central United Methodist Church and a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Laverne W. Barton; son Bruce Barton, Atlanta; brother Ray Barton, San Antonio, Texas; and a grandson.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hartsell Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ben Wilson officiating.

Robert Wesley Beam

KANNAPOLIS — Robert “Bob” Wesley Beam, 75, 1406 Enochville Road, died Thursday (Aug. 3, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Feb. 19, 1925, in Cabarrus County, Mr. Beam was a son of the late Dewitt Beam and Willie Mae Gill.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he formerly worked at Cannon Mills in Kannapolis and Burlington Mills in Mooresville. He also worked as a security guard for Wackenhut Security and Barton Security.

Mr. Beam was a member of Bethpage United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Allie Ervin Beam; daughter Vicky Beam Holt, Kannapolis; sons Wesley Steven Beam, of the home, and Jeffery Scott Beam, Hillsborough; sister Mazie Crisco, Kannapolis; brother Hansel Beam, Kannapolis; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Randy Foster. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park, China Grove.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, at the funeral home.

Memorials: Bethpage United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 109 Fellowship Ave., Kannapolis, N.C. 28081.

Margie Watkins Collins

RURALHALL — Margie Christine Watkins Collins, 68, Rural Hall, formerly of Salisbury, died Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

Billie Ray Cook

Billie Ray Cook, 69, 1985 Mount Hope Church Road, died Thursday (Aug.3, 2000) at his home.

Born Oct. 17, 1930, in Cabarrus County, he was the son of the late Dora Viola Fur Cook Kiser and the late Henry Pierson Cook. Educated in the Cabarrus County schools, he had retired from China Grove Cotton Mill.

Survivors include his wife, Gracie Marie Swinson Cook; brothers Jerry Wayne Kiser and Dennis Wayne Cook, both of Concord, and Kenneth Lee Kiser of Salisbury; and sisters Mary Cook Whitley, Concord, and Linda Kiser Overcash, Kannapolis.

Services: Gravesice, 11 a.m. Monday, Salisbury National Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Keith Flippin. Military rites by Rowan Veterans Council.

Visitation: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove. The rest of the time the family will be at the home of sister-in-law Patsy Shoe, 2145 Mount Hope Church Road.

Raymond B. Cozzen Jr.

ROCKWELL — Raymond Blanco Cozzen Jr., 79, died Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at Meadows Assisted Living after being in declining health for 18 months and seriously ill for two weeks.

Born April 2, 1921, in Rowan County, Mr. Cozzen was a son of the late Ethel Linder and Raymond Blanco Cozzen. A graduate of Boyden High School, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

He had retired from the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Newport News, Va. , where he served as a shipping clerk supervisor.

His wife, Barbara McVay Cozzen, died Nov. 25, 1987.

Survivors include a niece and two nephews.

Services: There will be no local services or visitation. The body will remain at Lyerly Funeral Home until moved to Carey-Hand-Cox-Parker Funeral Home in Winter Park, Fla. Entombment, Glen Haven Memorial Park Mausoleum, Winter Park, Fla.

Memorials: Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, N.C. 28144.

Myrtle Virginia Martin

COOLEEMEE — Myrtle Virginia Martin, Cooleemee, 87, died Thursday (Aug. 3, 2000) at The Laurels of Salisbury after an extended illness and two weeks of serious illness.

Born May 24, 1913, in Wilkes County, Mrs. Martin was a daughter of the late Steven Obediah and Cora Bumgardner Martin.

Educated in the schools of Wilkes and Davie counties, she worked at Cannon Mills’ Swink Plant in Salisbury until her retirement in 1975. Mrs. Martin was a member of Southside Baptist Church, where she was active in the Ladies Bible Class.

A son, John Paul Spry, died Oct. 10, 1932.

Survivors include daughters Sylvia Burchette, Hamptonville, Lydia Barfield, Granite Quarry, and Bonnie Brown and Naomi Webb, both of Cooleemee; sister Ila Mae Myers, Salisbury; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services: 3 p.m. Sunday, Southside Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Ricky Brown. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30 p.m. Burial, Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Salisbury.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Summersett Funeral Home, Salisbury. At other times, the family will be at the residence of daughter Naomi Webb in Cooleemee.

Marie McDonald

MOORESVILLE — Marie McDonald, 97, formerly of Route 3, died Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at Genesis ElderCare, Mooresville.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis, is in charge.

Mamie Chambers Norman

Mamie Chambers Norman, 65, 370 Manhattan Ave., New York City, died Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at her home. She had been in declining health for 12 years and seriously ill for four months.

Born July 19, 1935, in Rowan County, Mrs. Norman was a daughter of the late Beulah Correll and John Edward Chambers. Educated in the Salisbury schools, she was a graduate of Price High School and also graduated from nursing school in New York.

She was a retired registered nurse.

A daughter, Deborah Kirksey Graham, died in 1989.

Survivors include husband Frank Norman, Bronx, N.Y.; son Michael Kirksey, New York City; daughter Pamela Kirksey Biggers, Salisbury; brother Garland “Mickey” Chambers, Salisbury; sister Flossie C. McEachin, Bronx, N.Y.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home in charge.

Johnnie Reid

Johnnie Reid, 83, 975 Union Church Road, died Thursday (Aug. 3, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home is in charge.

Paul Hugh Rusher

ROCKWELL — Paul Hugh Rusher, 68, Rockwell, died Wednesday (Aug. 2, 2000)at Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte.

Born Oct. 12, 1931, in Rowan County, Mr. Rusher was a son of the late Pauline Lyerly and John McCall. He was also preceded in death by his adoptive parents, Lula Lyerly and Reid Rusher.

Educated in the Rowan County schools, he was a graduate of Granite Quarry High School. He was a former executive officer with the National Park Service at the Carl Sandburg site in Flatrock. He had retired from the U.S. Civil Services Commission.

At the time of his death he was owner and operator of Paul’s Florals and Antiques Shop on Highway 52 North.

Survivors include companion Troy Messer, of the home; son Mark Rusher; brothers Ellis Donald McCall, Cramerton, Dedrick “Deo” McCall and Bill Cox; sisters Lula Kilby, Mouth of Wilson, Va., Catherine Kovich, Janet Yates, Minnie Swayney and Pauline McCall (his twin); and two grandchildren.

Services: Memorial,4 p.m. today, Lyerly Funeral Home, Salisbury. The body will be cremated.

Yesterday's obits