Mary Sechler Beaver

CHINA GROVE — The funeral will be Thursday for Carl Deal Beaver, 84, and Mary Kathryn Sechler Beaver, 80, 1315 Patterson St. Mrs. Beaver died Sunday (Nov. 5, 2000)at their farm on Lentz Road and Mr. Beaver died Monday (Nov. 6, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Born Jan. 19, 1916, in Rowan County, Mr. Beaver was a son of the late Henry R. and Corrie Deal Beaver. He was educated in Rowan County schools.

A carpenter, he worked with L.B. Winecoff Co. and David Daugherty Co., prior to retiring as a maintenance superintendent at Linn-Corriher Mill. He was also self-employed as a carpenter.

He was a member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church, where he was a former council member and served on various committees. He was also co-head usher.

His first wife, Margaret McNeely Beaver, preceded him in death.

Survivors include son the Rev. Perry Beaver, Durham, Conn.; brothers Charlie Beaver, Kannapolis, and Bill Beaver, China Grove; sisters Ethel Goodman and Margaret Roberts, both of Landis, Helen Hampton, Bear Poplar, Delsie Karriker, China Grove, and Peggy Karriker, Mooresville; and one grandson.

Mrs. Beaver was born Oct. 23, 1920, in Rowan County. She was a daughter of the late Gaither McCubbins “Mac” and Ida Louetta Pless Sechler. A 1938 graduate of Landis High School, she was a retired beautician.

She was a lifetime member of Mount Zion United Church of Christ, but was an active member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church.

Her first husband, Claude Ellis Patterson, preceded her in death.

Survivors include stepson the Rev. Perry Beaver, Durham, Conn.; brother Harold B. Sechler, China Grove; sister Ruth S. Mock, China Grove; and a stepgrandson.

Services: Joint services, 2 p.m. Thursday, Mount Moriah Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Charles MacMurphy, interim pastor, and the Rev.William Campbell, pastor, Mount Zion United Church of Christ.

Mr. Beaver will be buried at Mount Moriah Lutheran Church cemetery. Mrs. Beaver will be entombed at Carolina Memorial Park.

Visitation: 6-9 tonight, Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove. At other times, the family will be at the home of Mr. Beaver’s brother, Bill Beaver, 294 Water Oak Lane, or at the home of Mrs. Beaver’s sister, Ruth Mock, of 2880 Lentz Road.

Memorials: Mount Moriah Lutheran Church, 750 Mount Moriah Church Road, China Grove, NC 28023; or Mount Zion United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1298, China Grove, NC 28023.

Blanche Marie Carpenter

MOORESVILLE — The funeral will be Thursday for Blanche Marie Carpenter, 82, 962 Rush St., who died Sunday (Nov. 5, 2000)at her home after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 12, 1918, in IredellCounty, Mrs. Carpenter was a daughter of the late George Ebenezer and Gertrude Allison Heaggans.

She was a member of Jones Chapel for 14 years and later returned to her home church, South Iredell AMEZion Church, Troutman. At South Iredell, she was a past president and life member of the usher board and served in various other capacities. She was also a member of the NAACP, Mooresville Turtle Club,Triangle Temple 869 Elks Lodge and Omega Chapter 242, Order of the Eastern Star.

Her husband,Carl Carpenter, and a son, Milton Jones, preceded her in death.

Survivors include children Robert Carpenter, Greensboro, Ervin Carpenter, of the home, and Laura Frances Wilson, Mooresville; sister Lorene Patterson, Statesville; brothers Isadore Heaggans, Troutman, and John Heaggans, Cleveland; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, South Iredell AMEZion Church, Troutman, conducted by the Rev. Benjamin Mays and the Rev. Calvin Miller. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30. Burial, church cemetery.

Clyburn and Bigham Funeral Home, Mooresville, is in charge.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at the church. A musical celebration will start at 7:30 with The Gospel Express, New Life Missionary Baptist Church Choir, the Rev. Luther Gamble, the Rev.Kay Gamble, JerusalemBaptist Church Choir, Johnny R. Caldwell and various other choirs.

Bertie Dancy

KANNAPOLIS — The funeral will be Thursday for Bertie Tysinger Dancy, 96, formerly of Irene Avenue, who died Monday (Nov. 6, 2000)at the home of her son, Rufus B. Dancy Jr., Warner Robbins, Ga.

Born April 27, 1904, in Randolph County, Mrs. Dancy was a daughter of the late Nettie Tysinger. She retired from Cannon Mills Plant 1 winding room and was a member of Memorial Baptist Church.

Her husband, Rufus Bryant Dancy, preceded her in death.

Survivors, in addition to her son, include daughters Dorothy Reynolds, Kannapolis, and Clara Clontz, Churchland; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Lady’s Funeral Home chapel, conducted by the Rev. Steve Davis. Burial, West Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Brandon Scott Goodson

KANNAPOLIS — Brandon Scott Goodson, 2-year-old son of Kendra Goodson, 2607 S. Cannon Blvd., died Sunday (Nov. 5, 2000)at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.

The toddler was born Oct. 20, 1998, in Cabarrus County.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include grandparents Joseph and Dianna Delaney, Salisbury; and foster grandparents the Rev. Wayne and Darlene Watson, Mooresville.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Living Faith Church, Landis, conducted by the Rev. Wayne Watson and the Rev. Mark White. Burial, Sunset Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight, Whitley’s Funeral Home. At other times the family will be at the home on South Cannon Blvd.

Memorials: Living Faith Church, c/o Mike Shumake, 205 Azalea Road, Mooresville, NC 28115.

Shelby M. Hall

LEXINGTON — Shelby Jean Miller Hall, 62, Carillon Retirement Center, Salisbury, formerly of Lexington, died Wednesday (Nov. 8, 2000)at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem.

Davidson Funeral Home is in charge.

James E. Hightower

James E. Hightower, 55, 235 Acorn Oaks Drive, died Wednesday (Nov. 8, 2000)at his home.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home, China Grove, is in charge.

Billy Thomas Kearns

BUFFALO JUNCTION, Va. — Billy Thomas Kearns, 58, a Salisbury, N.C., native, died Monday (Nov. 6, 2000)at Duke Medical Center, Durham.

Mr. Kearns, a son of Frank and Sarah Beaver Kearns, was born Sept. 28, 1942. He received a bachelor of science degree in physics and English from Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C. A veteran, he served in the Army National Guard and in the Vietnam War.

Employed with Burlington Industries as an industrial engineer for 25 years, he later worked as a quality technician at Mayville Metals. He was a member of Buggs Island Fish and Wildlife Club and Arrowhead Gun Club.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include wife Emma Kingree Kearns; son Alec Michael Kearns, Franklinton, N.C.; daughter Tracy Kearns Walker, Buffalo Junction, and Laura Ellen Kearns, Oxford, N.C.; sisters Annie Starnes, Hampton, and Nancy Starnes, Smithfield; brother S.A. Kearns, Hudson, Fla.; stepmother Corina Kearns, Spencer, N.C.; stepbrothers Neal Medinger, South Carolina, Gray Medinger, Clayton, N.C., and Barry Medinger, Salisbury, N.C.; stepsister Sylvia Spivey, Gastonia, N.C.; and two grandchildren.

Services: Memorial, 2 p.m. Thursday, Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home chapel, Clarksville, conducted by the Rev. Randy Holmes.

Visitation: 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.

Memorials: Melanoma Research Foundation, 23704-5 El Toro Road, No. 206, Lake Forrest, CA 92630.

George ‘Gene’ Parsons

The funeral will be Thursday for George Eugene “Gene” Parsons, 67, Salisbury, who died Wednesday (Nov. 1, 2000) at his home.

Born Feb. 12, 1933, in Rowan County, Mr. Parsons was a son of the late Gwyn Lee and Mary Katherine Lipe Parsons. He was a 1951 graduate of Landis High School and received a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina in radio and television, writing and production.

He was a field sales manager with Container Corp. of America and owned Parsons Advertising and Packaging. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

After his retirement he was a volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity retail store. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Survivors include stepdaughter Kimberly Dawn Parsons Smith.

Services: Graveside, 11 a.m. Thursday, National Cemetery, Salisbury, conducted by the Rev. John Tucker, associate pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Visitation: None.

Memorials: Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 3356, Salisbury, NC 28145; or St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Tanner Blake Pierson

Tanner Blake Pierson, infant son of James Elliott and Renee Angelina Novick Pierson, 109 Wellington Drive, died Monday (Nov. 6, 2000)at Forsyth Hospital, Winston-Salem.

The infant was born in Winston-Salem on Nov. 5, 2000.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include paternal grandparents Carol Ann Pierson, Salisbury, and Marvin Brill Pierson, Middletown, Ohio; paternal great-grandmother Agnes Wendt, Middletown, Ohio; maternal grandparents Ray and Sandra Novick, Mooresville; and maternal great-grandparents Angelo and Illa Ciccotti, Wilmington.

Services: 1 p.m. Thursday, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, conducted by Father John Putnam. Burial, City Memorial Park.

Visitation: The family will be at the home on Wellington Drive.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Memorials: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 128 N. Fulton St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Margaret White Rary

CLEVELAND — Margaret Louise White Rary, 79, Old Highway 70, died Monday (Nov. 6, 2000)at Brian Center, Statesville, after a lengthy illness.

Born Sept. 26, 1921, in Iredell County, Mrs. Rary was a daughter of the late James Alvin and Nannie Stradley White. She retired from Fiber Industries and was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church.

Her husband, J.I. Rary, died April 21, 1992, and a daughter Shelia Rary Lindsey, died May 18, 1998.

Survivors include daughters Betty Rary Sloan, Statesville, and Bonnie Rary Alward, Leesburg, Ala.; sisters Evelyn White Davidson and Edith White Miller, both of Statesville, and Alma White Hall, Taylorsville; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Thursday, Bethany Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Herb Kelso. Burial,Cleveland City Cemetery.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Reavis Funeral Home, Statesville. At other times the family will be at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Sloan, 130 Island Park Lane.

Ruth Doby Sickles

BEACHWOOD, N.J. — Ruth Doby Sickles, 77, Beachwood, died from brain cancer on Tuesday (Nov. 7, 2000)at the home of a daughter.

Born in Salisbury, N.C., Mrs. Sickles, a daughter of the late IsaacFilmore and Lula Mae Miller Doby, resided in the Trenton area before moving to Beachwood four years ago.

She retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Trenton after many years. She was a member of Crossroads Baptist Church, Lakehurst, American Legions’ Eagles Women’s Organization of New Jersey and the Forgotten Pets Inc.

Her husband, Sergeant Edward Sickles, died during World War II, while serving with the 82nd Airborne, Glider Division.

Survivors include daughter Ruth M. Marcine, Beachwood; sister Ollie Esposito; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday, Buklad Memorial Home, Hamilton, conducted by the Rev. Ernest Bliss, pastor, Memorial Baptist Church. Burial, Ewing Cemetery, Ewing.

Visitation: 6-9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina, Inc., 515 Watson Ave., Thomasville, NC 27630.

Harvey Nolan Turner

LANDIS — Harvey Nolan Turner, 76, Landis, died Tuesday (Nov. 7, 2000) at NorthEast Medical Center, Concord.

Whitley’s Funeral Home, Kannapolis, is in charge.

James H. Wallace

LEXINGTON — James Hartsell Wallace, 55, Sowers Road, died Tuesday (Nov. 7, 2000)at his home.