Leon Troy Looney
(Vansant)

  Leon Troy Looney, 71, of Vansant, died Friday, December 8, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy, following a brief illness.
  Born in Ohio, he was the son of the late Dewey E. and Rosa J. Yates Looney. He had been a resident of Buchanan County most of his life and was a member of Vansant Baptist Church. He served in the United States Army, was a retired employee of Consol Energy and was a current employee of Ratliff Farm & Home Supply.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister.
  He is survived by his wife, Genetta Thompson Looney; one daughter, Melanie Looney Hibbitts and husband, Robert B. Hibbitts, of Grundy; one sister, Shirley Matney of Vansant; two brothers, Carl E. Looney of Grundy and Clyde Looney of Springfield, OH; one grandson, Adam Britton Hibbitts of Grundy; several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Sunday, December 10 at Vansant Baptist Church with the Revs. Stan Parris and Jack Mutter officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were Bobby Thompson, Todd Matney, Jessie Cline, David Looney, Mark Looney, Glen Smith, Lyle Mutter, Lonzo Rife, David Thornbury, Randy Vandyke, Mickey Matney, Danny Elswick, Kermit Rowe, Robert Skeens and James Keen.
  Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Clint Sutherland, men of Vansant Baptist Church and employees of Ratliff Farm & Home Supply.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to the Vansant Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 649, Vansant, VA 24656.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Irvon Junior Stumbo
(Vansant)

  Irvon Junior Stumbo, 67, of Vansant, died Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy.
  Born in Smith County, he was the son of the late Richard Stumbo and Bessie Thompson Stumbo.
  In addition to his parents,he was preceded in death by one daughter, Belinda Dale Stumbo.
  He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Cook Stumbo; four sons, Brian Keith Stumbo and wife, Nellie, and Gary Wayne Stumbo, all of Vansant, Allen Ervin Stumbo and wife, Valerie, and  Michael Edward and wife, Mandy, all of Defiance, OH; four sisters, Connie Vandyke of Raven, Janice Hayton and Lorettia Boyd, both of Saltville, and Peggy Sword of Marion; three brothers, Frank Stumbo of Vansant and Ricky and William Stumbo, both of Saltville; six grandchildren, Keith Stumbo, Brittany Stumbo, Shantel Stumbo, Brooke Stumbo, Jada Stumbo and Lindsay Stumbo.
  Services were held Friday, December 8 at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home, Grundy, with the Revs. J.D. Keen, Ancil Childress and Earl Hess officiating. Burial followed in the Lester Cemetery at Vansant.
  Pallbearers were Wayne Owens, Aaron Cook, Clayton Perkins, Jerry Cook, David Meadows, Kyle Meadows, Dave Coleman and Danny Joe Boyd.
  Honorary pallbearers were the third floor nursing staff at Buchanan General Hospital, Dr. Vish and Dr. Mulsu.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lonia Lester
(Big Rock)

  Lonia Church Lester, 84, of Big Rock, died Sunday, December 10, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy.
  Born in Pike County, KY, she was the daughter of the late William McKinley Church and Vernie Estep Church. She was the former owner and operator of the Elsie Lester Store at Big Rock, was of the Christian faith and a homemaker.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elsie Lester; one sister, Olie Lester; and one grandson, Thomas E. Ramey.
  She is survived by three daughters, Verna Ramey and husband, Willard, of Big Rock, Glenis Lester of Grundy and Lelia Lester Lawson and husband, Richard, of Panama City, FL; one step-daughter, Nancy Blankenship of Panama City; one son, Thurman Lester of Nicholasville, KY; five sisters, Glynis Gibson of Davenport, Loretta Johnson of Big Rock, Ida Lester of Delbarton, WV, Mary Ramey of Mouthcard, KY and Shirley Lester of Feds Creek, KY;  four brothers, Charlie Church of Feds Creek, Otis Church of Flint, MI, Roscoe (Ross) Church of Louisville, KY and James Hassell Church of Daytona, FL; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
  Services were held Wednesday, December 13 at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel, Grundy, with Evg. Mike Trent officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Pallbearers were family and friends.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gary Paul Akers
(Slate Creek)

  Gary Paul Akers, 50, of the Slate Creek section of Grundy, died Sunday, December 10, 2006 at his home following an extended illness.
  Born in Buchanan County, he was a son of Joan Massey of North Tazewell and the late Lawson Matney. He was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and attended North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church. He was a retired employee of Race Fork Corporation with 20 years of service as a heavy equipment operator.
  In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Timmy Akers and David Akers; one half-brother, Jerry Paul Matney; brother-in-law, Eddie Cooper; and maternal grandparents, William "Bill" and Janie Akers.
  He is survived by his wife, Sherry Childress Akers; one daughter, Natasha and husband, J.R. Justus of Meadowview; three sisters, Karen and husband, Bill Carter, of Grundy, Tammy and husband, Chuck Tupper of Athens, WV and Brenda Kane of Gretchen, OR; one half-sister, Nadine Rife of Florida; one brother, Jimmy and wife, Stephania Akers of Tazewell; one half-brother, Roger Matney, of Hurley; several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held Wednesday, December 13 at North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church of Wolford with Elders James Stacy, Bill McCoy, Danny Cooper Justus, Danny McCoy and Josh Jr. Justus officiating. Burial followed in the Akers Family Cemetery on Straight Fork near Hurley.
  Active pallbearers were Donnie Childress, James Edward Foster, Robbie Stiltner, J.R. Justus, Steward Justus, Josh Childress, Jimmy Keith Akers, Chuck Tupper and Bill Carter.
  Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Mario Stefanini, Dr. Y. In Park, Dr. J.P. Sutherland, Jr., Dr. Knapp and Radiology staff of Clinch Valley Medical Center, third floor nursing staff of Clinch Valley Medical Center, nursing staff of Buchanan General Hospital and Home Health, Special Care Hospice nurses, Liz Justus and Laura Elkins, Sharon Vandyke and Bonita Ratliff.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church Building Fund, HC 61, Box 21, Grundy, VA 24614.
  Grundy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Dollie Mary Yates
(Grundy)

  Dollie Mary Keen Yates, 86, of Grundy, died Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at Buchanan General Hospital, Grundy.
  Born in West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Bill Keen and Elizabeth Matney Keen. She was a life-long resident of Buchanan County and a member of Vansant Church of Christ.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hassell Waldon Yates; two daughters, Barbara Lynn Yates and Becky Sue Melvin; one brother, Junior Keen; and one sister, Nancy Grizzle.
  She is survived by one son, Billy G. Yates, and wife, Barbara, of Kingsport, TN;  one son-in-law, Marvin Melvin, and wife, Patsy,of Bluff City, TN; one brother, Lee Keen, and wife, Mary Ann of Grundy; four grandchildren, Jonathan Yates and Jeremy Yates, both of Kingsport and Kevin Melvin and Mary Elizabeth Melvin, both of Bluff City, TN.
  Services were held Thursday, November 7 at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy with Evg. Mike Rife officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were family and friends.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to Mountain Mission School, 1 Hurley Street, Grundy, VA 24614.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Verlie Bowling
(Vansant)

  Verlie Duty Bowling, 94, of Vansant, died Thursday December 7, 2006 at her home.
  Born in Johnson County, KY, she was the daughter of the late Russell Duty and Bessie Musick Duty. She was a homemaker and member of Deel Church of Christ.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Curtis Bowling; two sisters;  five brothers; and one daughter, Billie Shortridge.
  She is survived by one daughter, Judy Blankenship. of Vansant; one sister, Ruth King of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Barbara Flannary, Michael Shortridge, and Jenesia Jackson;  four great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren.
  Services were held Sunday, December 10 at Deel Church of Christ with Evg. Fred Osborne and Elder Bob Yates officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
  Active pallbearers were grandchildren.
  Honorary pallbearers were members of Deel Church of Christ.
  Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mack Baer Hay
(Haysi, VA)

  Mack Baer Hay, 71, of Haysi, died at his home Thursday, December 7, 2006.
  Born near Splashdam, he was the son of the late Willard and Willie Arrington Hay. He later moved to Backbone Ridge during his infancy and resided there until early adulthood. He attended Turner Elementary School and graduated from Haysi High School in 1951. He taught school at both Turner and Bear Ridge Elementary schools shortly after graduating high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on September 6, 1955, retiring August 1, 1977, following  23 years of service. He served tours of Japan, Greenland and Thailand as well as at several bases in the United States. Following retirement from the Air Force, he worked for 20 years as head custodian at Clinchco Elementary School.
  He is survived by his wife, Lorena Bartley Hay; one son, Kerry Scott (Norma Mullins) Hay; one daughter, April Dawn (David) Owens; three sisters, Theta (John) Artrip, Janice (Bill) Patton, Terry Gortney; and brother, Kerry "Fonne" (Sula Fields) Hays;  two grandchildren, Taylor Hay and Justin Hay.
  In accordance with his wishes, no formal funeral service was held. Family members and friends gathered December 9 at Haysi Funeral Home for a celebration of his life.
  Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Virginia, P.O. Box 349, Norton, VA 24273.
  Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Flora Mae Smith
(Smyrna, TN)

  Flora Mae Smith, 89, of Smyrna, TN, died Saturday, December 9, 2006 at home.
  A native of Hurley, she was the daughter of the late J.W. and Laura Pressley Baldwin.  She was a member of Mt. Tabor Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Edwin Smith; sons, Robert D. Smith and Thomas Michael Smith.
  She is survived by sons, Bill (Glenda) Smith and Ronnie (Amy) Smith and daughter-in-law, Donna Smith, all of Murfreesboro, TN; grandchildren, Tonya Lloyd, Jeffery M. Smith and Janet Michelle Parker; and five great-grandchildren.
  Services were held Tuesday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Lyon Walkup officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
  Pallbearers were Jeff Smith, Donny Parker, David Smith, Ben Lloyd, Johnny Smith and Jim Worley.
  Woodfin Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.