Ocie Barton
(Vansant)

    Ocie Barton, 87, of the Hurricane Creek section of Vansant, died Friday, May 4, 2012 at her home.
    Born September 22, 1924 in Buchanan County, she was a daughter of the late Henry Harman and Naomi Price Ball. A lifelong resident of the area, she was a member of Bee Pentecostal Church of God. She was a homemaker and was a sewing enthusiast and gardener.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Toy Barton; one infant daughter, Velva Mae Barton; three brothers, Roy Ball, Harmon Ball and Everett Ball; five sisters, Margie Stiltner, Martha Foster, Edna Whitt, Maudie Rose and Ollie Dales; and one son-in-law, Donald Ratliff.
    She is survived by four daughters, Lillie Tiller and husband, Harold, and Sherry Deel and husband, Linton, both of Vansant, Fayrene Ratliff of Davenport and Gnett Honaker and husband, James, of Lebanon; four sons, Ellis Barton and friend, Teresa Thorpe of Bealton, Clinton Barton and wife, Kay and Denton Barton and wife, Diane, both of Vansant and Clayton Barton and wife, Wanda, of Murphy; two sisters, Ann Cook of Salem and Naomi Baldwin of Rupert, WV; two brothers, William Ball and James Lee Ball, both of Council; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews; and special friend, Katie.
    Funeral services were conducted Monday in Honaker with the Rev. Giles Ball officiating. Interment followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens, Lebanon.
    Pallbearers were Eric Barton, Craig Barton, Zachary Barton, Shawn Deel, Wesley Barton and Matthew Barton.
    Honorary pallbearers were great-grandsons, Lester "Leck" Ray and men of Bee Pentecostal Church of God.

Brian Lee Ward
(Grundy)

    Brian Lee Ward, 38, of Grundy, died Friday, May 4, 2012 at his home.
    Born September 7, 1973, in Tazewell, he was the son of Lloyd Ward, Jr. of Grundy and Wilma Rife Ward Stacy, and step-father, Wilburn Stacy, of Hurley. He was a former Medicaid taxi driver. He was an avid fan of the Virginia Tech Hokies and was a computer enthusiast and a collector of Coca Cola memorabilia. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church.
     In addition to his parents, he is survived by one brother, Timothy Paul Ward and wife, Donna, of Grundy; two nieces, Sarah and Jessica Ward; one nephew, Mark Smith; one great-niece, Ollie Ruth Ward; special aunts, Nancy Beasley, of Mavisdale, Pauline Smith and Ann Osborne, both of Grundy, Shirley Justus of Vansant and JoAnn Ward of Belfast; special uncles, Paul Rife of Pilgrim Knob, Ralph Rife of Grundy and Milton Ward of Belfast; special cousin, Regina Ann Ward of Grundy, whom he loved as a sister and additional special cousins.
     Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, May 8 at Virginia Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy with the Rev. Paul Rife and Larry Ratliff officiating. Burial followed in the Brown Cemetery on Hale Creek Road, Pilgrim Knob.
     Pallbearers were Travis Rife, Curtis Osborne, Paul Whitehead, Chris Rife, Dennis Vandyke, Billy Brown, Keevin Hurley, Gerald Ward, Michael Osborne, Ronnie Rife, John Justus, Bill Crigger, Mark Smith and Jory Rife.
     Honorary pallbearers were Glen Smith, Paul Rife, Ralph Rife, Milton Ward, Edd Osborne, Lacy Justus and Charlie Beasley.
     Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Irene Childress
(Grundy)

    Irene Dotson Childress, 89, of Grundy, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Buchanan General Hospital following an extended illness.
    Born in McVeigh, KY, she was the daughter of the late Mose and Vada Smith Dotson. She was a resident of Buchanan County most of her life and a member of Crossview Church of Christ. She was a retired bookkeeper, was a past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus Childress, in 1983; and one son, Rufus Childress, Jr.
    She is survived by two sons, Frank and wife, Christine Childress, of Grundy and John Wayne and wife, Yvonne Childress, of Abingdon; one daughter-in-law, Linda Childress, of Grundy; one granddaughter, Heather Boyd; four grandsons, Randy, Johnny Ray, Anthony and Chad Childress; 10 great-grandchildren; special friend, Angie Owens; several nieces and nephews.
    Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, May 9 at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evg. Hobert Kennedy officiating. Burial followed in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill.
    Active pallbearers were members of Crossview Church of Christ.
    Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com
    Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, was in charge of arrangements.

Frank Arlin Justus
(Hurley)

     Frank Arlin Justus, 77, of Hurley, died Friday, May 4, 2012 at his home.
     Born September 21, 1934 in Buchanan County, he was the son of the late Jim and Goldie Smith Justus. He was a retired coal miner.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Justus; four brothers, Alfred, Paul, Bobby and Ermil Justus; and two sisters, Pauline Shalagle and Elsie Brown.
     He is survived by one son, Danny C. Justus and wife, Karen, of Hurley; three grandchildren, Daniel C. Justus, Joshua R.C. Justus and J. Heath Justus; four brothers, Mack, Freddy and Roger Justus, all of Hurley and Elbert Justus of Belfast; six sisters, Gloria Blankenship of Hurley, Patsy Cook of Richlands, Carolyn Stoots of Abingdon, Linda Farmer of Tampa, FL, Mary Paul of Jenison, MI and Nancy Baker of Taylorsville, IL.
      Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, May 8 at North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church at Wolford with Elders of North Springs Old Regular Baptist Church and Elders David Lester, Danny Hurley and Danny McCoy officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock.
     Pallbearers were family and friends.
     Virginia Funeral Home of Grundy was in charge of arrangements.

Luther G. Watson
(Bristol, VA)

     Luther Grover Watson, 92, of Bristol, VA, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at his home.
     Born in Yukon, WV, he was a son of the late Mitchell and Loretta Davis Watson. He was a retired miner, a retired business owner and member of Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church since 1987.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Compton Watson; one son, Donald Watson; and a sister, Thelma W. Burress.
     He is survived by his wife, Olive R. Watson; one daughter, Rose Marie (Ronald) Sheldon, of Texas; a step-daughter, Pauline (Arton) Charles of Bristol; a step-son, Elder Roger (Helen) Rose of Haysi; five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
     Funeral services were conducted May 9 at Haysi Funeral Home with Elders Joel Turner, Bobby Mayhorn and J.C. Hager officiating. Burial followed in Ketron Memorial Gardens, Lebanon.
     Pallbearers were Arton Charles, Keith Woods, Kent Woods, Rick Watson, Todd Watson and Donald Viers.
     Honorary pallbearers were Jearl Sutherland, Walden Deel, Bucky Duty and Hardaway Sauls.
     Online condolences may be sent to www.haysifuneral.com
     Haysi Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

  Tommy Arthur Yates
(Bristol, VA)

     Tommy Arthur Yates, 68, of Bristol, VA, died Thursday, May 3, 2012 at his home.
     Born February 4, 1944 in Grundy, he was a son of the late Arthur and Edith Faye Yates. He grew up in Grundy and lived in Bristol for the past 40 years. He received a bachelors degree from Concord College in Athens, WV and had retired as an accountant with Glaxo-Smith Kline and was very active in the local Little Leagues and the Bristol Evening Lions Club. He was an active member of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church were he was currently serving as chairman of the deacon board.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Victoria Yates, and by his first wife, Veronica Wolfe Yates.
     He is survived by his wife, Joyce P. Yates; one son, S. Dean Yates and wife, Angie; grandchildren, Hunter Yates, Harley Yates and Kendel Yates; special brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" Wolfe; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
     Funeral services were conducted Monday, May 7 at Euclid Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Robert Jones officiating. The committal service and interment was conducted Tuesday at Mountain View Cemetery.
     Memorial tributes may be made to the current renovation fund at Euclid Avenue Baptist Church, 900 Euclid Avenue, Bristol, VA 24201.
     Online condolences may be registered at www.weaverfuneralhome.net
     Weaver Funeral Home and Cremation Services was in charge of arrangements.

Blanche Shortridge
(Lowell, AR)

     Blanche Hooker Shortridge, 82, of Lowell, AR, formerly of Tazewell and Buchanan County, died Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, AR.
     Born October 3, 1929 in McDowell County, WV, she was the daughter of the late Ballard P. and Nina Grace Cyphers Hooker. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was an avid family woman and was of the Christian faith.
     In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Alfred Payne, Jr.; her second husband, Cecil Shortridge; one son, Dennis Shortridge; one grandson, Christopher Charles; and one great-granddaughter, Shea Hamm.
     She is survived by three daughters, Connie Hayes and companion, Ron Charles, of Grundy, Karen Moore of Lowell and Bonnie Vanover and husband, Stan, of North Tazewell; one son, James Shortridge and wife, Janice, of Vansant; 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
     Funeral services will be conducted Friday, May 11 at 11 a.m. at Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy with Evg. Mike Rife and Pastor Darrell Ray officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 10 after 6 p.m. with evening services at 7 p.m. at the funeral home chapel.
     Active pallbearers will be grandsons.
     Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. John Sexton and 3 East nursing staff at Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville, AR.
     Online condolences may be viewed at www.shortridgeramey.com
     Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of arrangements.

James Arthur Thomas
(Lebanon, VA)

     James Arthur Thomas, 73, of Lebanon, died Monday, May 7, 2012 at his home.
     Born December 30, 1938 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late William R. and Mary Lou Stiltner Thomas. He had formerly been employed as a coal miner for 35 years and was an avid gardener and "Good Old Days" enthusiast.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one infant son, William Russell Thomas; six brothers, Burt, Charlie, Adam, Junior, Bascom and Brady; and six sisters, Ada, Helen, Lacey, Shirley, Lorabee and Agnes.
     He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Willa Thomas; two sons, Gary W. Thomas and Janie, of Lebanon and SPFC Joshua Morgan Thomas and Beth of Fort Lewis, McChord, WA; two daughters, Christina L. Wallis and Charles Jr. of Abingdon, Ann M. Thomas and Charles S. of Lebanon; eight grandchildren, Justin Lee Thomas, Megan Thomas and Gabrielle Thomas, all of Hillsville, Kayla Garner of Damascus, Maxwell Thomas, Abigail Thomas, Lucas Thomas and Becky Thomas, all of Lebanon; four great-grandchildren; four brothers, Jerry W. Thomas and Minnie, of Vansant, Richard T. Thomas and Belva of Honaker, Harmon W. Thomas and Lorraine of Elkhorn City, KY and Basil E. Thomas and Martha of Rosedale; one sister, Birchie M. Boyd and husband, Jim, of Vansant; three step-brothers, Jerry N. Thomas and wife, Lovana and Charles S. Thomas and Ann, all of Lebanon, Daryl D. Thomas and wife, Marsha, of McHenry, IL; one step-sister, Sonja Valentin, of Cleveland, VA; several nieces and nephews.
     Funeral services will be conducted today (Thursday) at 11:30 a.m. in the Owens-Thomas Cemetery, Russell Fork.
     Pallbearers will be Lucas Thomas, Harvey Thomas, Brandon Thomas, Bobby Thomas, Ricky Boyd, Joseph Yocom and Danny Adams.