ALBEMARLE — Vernon Henry Bowers, 83, 24572 Endy Road, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at Stanly Memorial Hospital.

Born Sept. 15, 1917, in Stanly County, he was a son of the late William Henry and Gertrude Lowder Bowers. He was a retired truck driver for Central Motor Lines and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of Liberty Hill Primitive Baptist Church.

Survivors include wife Selma Norton Bowers, Albemarle; son Larry Henry Bowers, Norwood; brother Loys P. Bowers, Albemarle; sister Vera Bowers Honeycutt, Albemarle; five grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Hartsell Funeral Home, conducted by Elder Rom Curlee and Elder Larry Austin. Burial, Canton Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight. at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Memorials: Liberty Hill Primitive Baptist Church, 20239, N.C. 23/27 Highway, Oakboro, N.C. 28120.

Betty Roberts Coan

CHINA GROVE — Betty Roberts Coan, 72, 1505 Daughtery Road, died Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Born April 6, 1928, in Rowan County, she was a daughter of the late William “Bill” and Gladys Sechler Roberts. A graduate of Landis High School, she attended Catawba College. She was a paymaster for Collins &Aikman. She was a corporate secretary for CECO Friction Products Inc. and was active in the Gideon Auxiliary and had served in the state cabinet in Gideons International. She was a member of Grace Bible Church.

Survivors include husband Paul B. Coan, China Grove; son Phillip Coan, Charlotte; daughter Cynthia C. Young, China Grove; brother W.J.E. “Bo” Roberts, Landis; sister Kathryn R. Gray, Landis; and six grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Grace Bible Church, conducted by the Rev. Alan Misenheimer. Burial, church cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, Landis.

Memorials:Grace Bible Church, 6725 Highway 152, Rockwell, N.C. 28138 or Gideon Living Memorial Bible Plan, Rowan South Camp, P.O. Box 451, Landis, N.C. 28088.

James Mack Conner

KANNAPOLIS — James Mack Conner, 74, 1374 Rainbow Drive, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord, after many years of declining health and six weeks of serious illness.

Born May 29, 1926, in Marion, Mr. Conner was a son of the late Floyd Washington and Ora Dell Waldroup Conner. He retired in 1983 as a supervisor witih Cannon Mills Co., Plant No. 1 sewing room, where he had worked for 35 years until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis, and was a member of Cannon Memorial Masonic Lodge no. 626, Scottish Rite Bodies of Charlotte, and Oasis Temple Shriner.

Mr. Conner was U.S. Navy veteran, having served during World War II and later in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict with the 82nd Airborne. He was a resident of the area since 1940.

Survivors include wife Mary Lois Goodnight Conner; sons Doug and David Conner, both of Kannapolis; daughter Mary Ann James, Concord; brother Floyd W. Conner Jr., Concord; sisters Dot Tinsley, Rock Hill, S.C., Geraldine Hudson and Buena Richardson, both of Kannapolis; and one granddaughter.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Whitley’s Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Joseph Crawford. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis.

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

Memorials: First Presbyterian Church, 201 Vance St., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Mary Stella Curlee

ALBEMARLE — Mary Stella Burleson Curlee, 84, 1027 Wiscassett, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000)at Mercy Hospital.

Born Dec. 11, 1916, in Stanly County, Mrs. Curlee was a daughter of the late Jape and Iler Huneycutt Burleson. She was a retired floor supervisor for Wiscassett Hosiery Mills and was a Baptist.

Survivors include husband Hoey Cromer Curlee, Albemarle; daughter Delaine Morgan, Albemarle; brothers Aaron Burleson, Burlington, Bobby Burleson, Maryland, Cecil Burleson, Tacoma, Wa., and P.K. Burleson, Burlington; sisters Lois Corbitt, Duncanville, Texas, and Eleanor Pruitt, Spartanburg, S.C.; and two granddaughters.

Services: 4 p.m. Saturday, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Grady Taylor.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence.

Memorials: North Albemarle Baptist Church, 217 Yadkin St., Albemarle, NC 28001.

Doyle Edison Lowder

ALBEMARLE — Doyle Edison Lowder, 78, 221 N. Eight St., died Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2000) at his home.

Born Sept. 12, 1922, in Stanly County, he was a son of the late Cull R. and Victoria Almond Lowder. He was a legal adjuster for State Farm Insurance. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of seven years, serving during World War II in the Pacific Theater and also serving in the Korean War. Mr. Lowder was a graduate of the Endy High School, and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University. He passed the N.C. bar in 1955. Mr. Lowder was also a member of the Round Table Society of the Handy Mart.

Survivors include brother Carroll Lowder, Wingate; sisters Edna L. Cerski, Greensboro, and Hazel Lefler, Albemarle; half-brothers Jack Lowder, Elk Park, and Hal Lowder, Simpsonville, S.C.; half-sister Joyce Lowder, Boone.

Services were held today at Hartsell Funeral Home, with burial at Canton Baptist Church Cemetery, with military rites conducted by S.C. DAV Chapter 12.

Hazel Holder Palmer

Hazel Holder Palmer, 78, of Salisbury, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury.

Born Dec. 19, 1921, in Rowan County, Mrs. Palmer was a daughter of the late Jacob Homer and Rainey Katherine Holder. Educated in Rowan County schools, she was retired from the Rowan County school system. She was a member of Trading Ford Baptist Church and the Elizabeth Seaford Bible Class.

Mrs. Palmer was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Steven Palmer, who died Feb. 9, 1991.

Survivors include daughters Sue Fisher and Mackie Honeycutt, both of Salisbury; two grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Trading Ford Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Mike Motley, pastor. Burial, family plot in church cemetery.

Visitation: 6-7:30 tonight, Lyerly Funeral Home, Salisbury.

Memorials: Trading Ford Baptist Church, 3600 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146; or Nazareth Children’s Home, 855 Crescent Road, Rockwell, NC 28138.

Ruby Lee Parsons

ELLERBE — Ruby Lee Griggs Parsons, 77, 721 Clayton Carriker Road, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at her residence.

Born Nov. 29, 1923, in Pageland, S.C., Mrs. Parsons was a daughter of the late William Preston and Lela Mae Nicholson Griggs. She was a homemaker and a member of Saron Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin “Howard”Parsons.

Survivors include sons Edwin T. Parsons, Gainesville, Fla., and Roger Parsons, Ellerbe; brother Bill Grigg, Salisbury; and two grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Carter Funeral Home, Ellerbe, conducted by the Rev. Richard Stanford. Burial, Ellerbe Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, at the funeral home.

Memorials:Saron Baptist Church, P.O. Box 540, Ellerbe, NC 28338.

Evelyn Roberts Sowers

DAVIDSON — Evelyn Roberts Sowers, 93, 400 Avinger Lane, formerly of Salisbury, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000)at The Pines at Davidson.

Born Jan. 14, 1907, in Asheville, Mrs. Sowers was a daughter of the late Robert Connor and Mary Joyner Roberts. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she studied law with Judge Claude Love in Asheville, passed the North Carolina Bar exam and was a member of the N.C. Bar. She taught in Salisbury city schools and did substitute teaching at Catawba College.

Mrs. Sowers was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, taught Sunday school, and was a former member of the church council. She was a charter member and early president of the Rowan Art Guild, past president of the Rowan Museum and took care of the Rowan Museum garden for 20 years. She was member and past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rowan Public Library, organizer for the Rowan Citizen’s for Better Libraries, and worked as a volunteer hostess of the Old Stone House. She was also a former trustee of Historic Salisbury Foundation.

Mrs. Sowers was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Kluttz Sowers, who died Dec. 20, 1967.

She is survived by two nieces.

Services:None. The body will be cremated.

Visitation:None.

Memorials:Historic Salisbury Foundation, 215 Depot St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or Rowan Museum, Inc. 202 N. Main St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Paul A. Brown, 100

ROCKWELL — The funeral will be Saturday for Paul Alexander Brown, 100, Rockwell, who died Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2000) at Genesis Eldercare, Salisbury.

Born May 20, 1900, in Rowan County, Mr. Brown was a son of the late Martha Jane Bolton and John Addison Brown. He was educated in Rowan County schools and had been a self-employed painter.

He was the oldest member of Grace Lowerstone United Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cora Maie Mesimer Brown, on Feb. 18, 1990, and sons James M. Brown in 1976 and Ralph A. Brown in 1987.

Survivors include son Billy L. Brown, Augusta, Ga.; daughter Ruth B. Hepler, Rockwell; sister Mable Marcello, Mount Pleasant; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Powles Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Charles Sigler. Burial, Brookhill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation: 6-7:30 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Genesis Eldercare Resident Council, 710 Julian Road, Salisbury, NC 28147.

Fred Gordon Jr.

Fred Gordon Jr., 71, Genesis Eldercare, died Thursday (Dec. 14, 2000) at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Rowan Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin K. Morgan

The funeral will be Saturday for Dr. Melvin K. Morgan, 70, Salisbury, who died Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2000) at the North Carolina Lutheran Home, Salisbury.

Born May 9, 1930, in Rowan County, Dr. Morgan was a son of the late Maggie Trexler and Lee Calvin Morgan.

He graduated from Granite Quarry High School in 1948 and Catawba College in 1951. He received a master’s degree from Appalachian State University and his Ph.D. from Duke University.

He retired after 42 years with the Rowan County school system as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent. He was recognized as District 5 Administrator of the Year in 1991-92.

He was a lifelong member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, where he had been treasurer, Sunday school teacher and a member of the church council.

He had been president of the Rockwell Lions Club and was Lion of the Year in 1995-96. In 1999, the club honored him with the Melvin Jones Scholarship Award.

He had also served on the Rowan County Board of Health.

Survivors include wife Betty Morgan Morgan, whom he married Dec. 22, 1950; sons Dr. Ken Morgan, Winston-Salem, and Pat Morgan, Greensboro; and two grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Bill Jeffcoat, pastor.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell.

Memorials: Melvin K. Morgan Endowed Scholarship Fund, Catawba College Development Office, 2300 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144; Rockwell Lions Club, c/o Claude Bost, 1002 Celebration Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144; or Maggie Morgan Memorial Fund, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 9275 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.