CONCORD — Madeline York Blount, 71, 700 Sunderland Road, died at her home Friday (Dec. 17, 1999) after several months of declining health.

Born March 14, 1928, in Hot Springs, Ark., she was a daughter of the late Jesse and Jewel Star York. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include daughters Kathy Smith, Harrisburg, and Teresa Efaw, Mannington, W.Va.; sons Hugh, William and Michael Blount, all of Concord; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, Kannapolis, conducted by Chaplain Butch Branscome. Burial, West Concord Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 tonight, Lady’s Funeral Home, and other times at her home.

Memorials: Hospice of Cabarrus County, P.O. Box 1235, Concord, N.C., 28026-1235, or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 928, Concord, N.C., 28026-0928.

Elaine Penninger Deaton

LINCOLNTON — Elaine Penninger Deaton, 77, 2449 Myra Lane, died Friday (Dec. 17, 1999).

Born Aug. 21, 1922, in Cabarrus County, she was daughter of the late Arthur and Sarah Lowder Penninger. A secretary in the insurance business, Mrs. Deaton was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Burette Deaton.

Survivors include a son, David Deaton, Lincolnton; a brother, Sam Penninger, Concord; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Emmanuel United Church of Christ, conducted by the Rev. Brent Price. Burial, Carolina Memorial Park, Concord.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight, Warlick Funeral Home.

Memorials: Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 329 E. Main St., Lincolnton, N.C. 28092.

Dwight Cletus Hartsell

OAKBORO — Dwight Cletus Hartsell, 55, 16458 Silver Road, died at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 18, 1999) at Carolinas Medical Center.

Born July 9, 1944, in Stanly County, he was the son of Geneva Mae Yow Hartsell and the late William Cletus Hartsell. He worked as a computer engineer for Belks Service Stores. Mr. Hartsell graduated from Oakboro High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in English and French from Pfeiffer College and a master’s degree from Clemson University in English literature.

Services: 4 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home’s Lefler Memorial Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Farrell Shimpock. Burial, Oakboro Cemetery.

Visitation: 2-4 p.m. today, Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle.

James Hurley Laughridge

James Hurley Laughridge, 73, 3865 Statesville Blvd., died Saturday (Dec. 18, 1999) at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. He had been in declining health.

Summersett Funeral Home is in charge.

Jewell D. ‘Bud’ Purvis

MOCKSVILLE — Jewell Denman “Bud” Purvis, 81, Yadkinville Road, died early Saturday morning (Dec. 18, 1999) in Vancor Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., after an extended illness.

Eaton Funeral Service is in charge.

Carl Adam Safrit

Carl Adam Safrit, 85, of Genesis Eldercare of Salisbury died Saturday (Dec. 18, 1999) at the nursing home.

Born April 16, 1914, in Rowan County, he was the son of the late Charles Vastine and Lula Irene Bost Safrit. Educated in Rowan County schools, Mr. Safrit worked in the construction trade for many years before becoming co-manager with his wife of the Yadkin House Apartments from 1980-90.

He belonged to Faith Baptist Church. His wife, Ruby Robertson Safrit, died Dec. 4, and a son, Carl Wayne Safrit, died July 22, 1989.

Survivors include a sister, Sarah Ruth Hodges of Roanoke, Va., four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services: 4 p.m. Monday, Faith Baptist Church, Faith, conducted by the Rev. Charles Brawley, pastor, and the Rev. Gary Bodford, associate pastor. The body will be cremated.

Visitation: It will follow the remembrance service in the church fellowship building.

Memorials: Blanche Robertson White Bible Fund, care of Faith Baptist Church, 107 Church St., Faith, N.C. 28041.

Lyerly Funeral Home is in charge.

Gary Mitchell Torrence

KANNAPOLIS — Gary Mitchell Torrence, 52, 6550 Tuckaseegee Road, died Friday (Dec. 17, 1999) at NorthEast Medical Center.

Born Jan. 16, 1947, in Cabarrus County, he was the son of the late Thomas Mitchell and Louanna Allman Torrence. Mr. Torrence worked for NorthEast Medical Center and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He graduated in 1965 from Odell High School and belonged to Bethpage United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Robin Hilton, Mooresville; a sister, Shirley Tucker, Kannapolis; and two grandchildren.

Services: 2 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Revs. Randy Foster and Joann Hull. Burial, Bethpage United Methodist Church cemetery.

Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Monday, Whitley’s Funeral Home.

Memorials: Bethpage United Methodist Church, 108 Fellowship Ave., Kannapolis, N.C., 28081.