Kevin Ray Stamey
Oct 16, 2026
Kevin Ray Stamey, 58, of Morganton, passed away on Friday October 16, 2026, at Grace Heights Nursing Center after a brief illness.
Mr. Stamey was born on March 30, 1968, in Burke County, the son of the late Jimmy Ray and Edna Lail Stamey. He was employed as an auto parts salesman and a long-haul truck driver, a job he truly...
Doris Jean Smart Suttles
Oct 14, 2026
Doris Jean Smart Suttles, 89, of Morganton, went to her Heavenly Home on Wednesday October 14, 2026, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Suttles was born on August 13, 1937, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rev. John Henry and Ethel Dora Powell Smart. She was a faithful and active member of Pleasant Hill...
Virginia Kathleen "Kathy" Reeves
Oct 14, 2026
Virginia Kathleen “Kathy” Reeves, born June 18, 1951, was a devoted wife, the best mother on earth, a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, and a godly woman whose faith was at the center of her life. Anyone who knew Kathy would agree that she was an extraordinary mother whose love for her family was beyond measure.
Kathy had a very close relationship...
Deanna Jo Moses Norville
Oct 14, 2026
Deanna Jo Moses Norville, 85, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at Amorem Hospice following a period of declining health.
Deanna was born July 30, 1941, in Cleveland County to the late Robert Moses and Leona Wortman Greene. She worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse until retiring from Broughton and found great joy in helping others. Her...
Wanda Lee Morris Midkiff Smith
Oct 13, 2026
Rev. Wanda Lee Morris Midkiff Smith, 97, of Rutherford College, went home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at AMOREM surrounded by the love of her family.
Wanda was born September 20, 1929, in Nicholas County, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Robert and Eva Coleman Morris. Her father was a coal miner, and she grew...
Janice Nichols Puckett
Oct 13, 2026
Janice Nichols Puckett, 80, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday October 13, 2026, at Carolina Caring Hospice, after a period of declining health.
Janice was born November 25, 1945 in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rev. Reyno and Geneva Berry Nichols. She retired as an accounts payable clerk with Kontane Wood Pallett Manufacturing Co. Janice was an active member...
Mary Ann Evans
Oct 12, 2026
Mary Ann Evans, 65, of Hickory, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026 at Catawba Valley Medical Center, following a period of declining health.
Mary was born July 12, 1961, in Catawba County, to the late Charles Ross Evans and Joyce Pittman Evans. She was a member of Henry River Baptist Church and worked as a seamstress. For twenty-five years, Mary...
Joan Bollinger Johnson
Oct 12, 2026
Bessie Joan Bollinger Johnson, 81, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026 at The Greens at Viewmont, following a period of declining health.
Joan was born February 15, 1945 in Catawba County to the late A.C. Bollinger and Vivian Brendle Bollinger. She was a member of First Baptist Church Icard and retired from Burke County Public Library. Joan...
Jeanette Beryl Smith Pedersen
Oct 10, 2026
Jeanette Beryl Pedersen of Rutherford College passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2026. She was born in London, England on January 21, 1935.
She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, her identical twin sister, Joyce, her brother-in-law, and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years.
She was a strong and determined woman who...
John Clarke Baker
Oct 9, 2026
John Clarke Baker, 58, of Valdese, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 12, 2026 following a period of declining health.
John was born May 1, 1968 in Burke County, a son of John and Judy Clarke Baker. He loved animals and had a special bond with his dog Arlene. He had a talent for art and had...
Charles Allen Chapman
Oct 4, 2026
Charles Allen Chapman, 64, of Rutherford College, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 4, 2026 following a brief illness.
Allen was born March 5, 1962, in Burke County, a son of Carolyn Young Chapman and the late Ulysses Grant Chapman. He was a proud craftsman who devoted thirty-five years of his working life to Sherrill’s Furniture before...
Martha Stewart Wright
Oct 4, 2026
Martha Stewart Wright, 76, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at Taylor Home Care following a period of declining health.
Martha was born October 25, 1949 in Mitchell County, a daughter of the late George and Rose Butner Stewart. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to her family.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in...
Ernest "Cuz" Hughes
Oct 2, 2026
Ernest “Cuz” Hughes Jr., 77, of Morganton, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026 at UNC Blue Ridge following a period of declining health.
Ernest was born August 30, 1949 in Mitchell County to the late Ernest Hughes Sr. and Mildred Gouge Hughes. He served with the NC Department of Correction for 30 years, retiring as a Captain from Foothills Correctional...
Hester Connelly Cooke
Oct 2, 2026
Hester Connelly Cooke, 92, of Morganton, NC, transitioned from her life on earth on Friday, October, 2, 2026.
Hester was born on April 23, 1934, in Morganton, NC to Elliott and Myrtle Connelly. After graduating from Olive Hill High School in 1959, Hester moved to Plainfield, NJ, where she continued her education in business at the Plainfield Adult School, MTI Business...
Wilma Cline Boggia
Oct 2, 2026
Wilma Raye Cline Boggia, 95, of Valdese, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Shaire Center, following a period of declining health.
Wilma was born November 13, 1930 in Burke County to the late Cecil Cline and Clara Moody Cline. She was a member of First Baptist Church Valdese and retired from West Point Stevens, where she worked for more...
Barnard Lee Smith
Sep 28, 2026
Barnard Lee Smith, 74, of Rutherford College, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 28, 2026 following a period of declining health.
Barnard was born March 4, 1952 in Burke County, a son of the late Harold Eugene and Rosemary Shirley Barnes Smith. He taught Social Studies at both Morganton Junior High and Freedom High School for many...
Paul Kelly Settlemyre
Sep 28, 2026
Mr. Paul Kelly Settlemyre, 82, of Mount Airy, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Mountain Valley Hospice, following a brief period of illness.
Paul was born on May 29, 1944, in Catawba County to the late Clyde D. Settlemyre and Maggie Branton Settlemyre. He was a retired police officer serving over 10 years locally for Hickory P.D. In his...
Timothy Alan McBee Sr.
Sep 28, 2026
Timothy Alan McBee, 61, of Lenoir, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2026 at his residence following a period of declining health.
Tim was born January 13, 1965 in Caldwell County to the late Bobby Jack McBee and Wilma Hall McBee. He worked in the sawmills until he was unable to work and enjoyed customizing his salt water fish tanks, fast...
Kathy Colleen Watson
Sep 27, 2026
Kathy Colleen Watson 72, born September 28, 1953, died peacefully on September 27, 2026 at her home surrounded by her loved ones, after a period of declining health.
She was the daughter of the late Jewel Thomas Watson and Marion Leonard Watson. Kathy had many enjoyments and hobbies from being a collector of many trinkets, glassware, and dolls; to attending motorcycle...
Foster William "Bill" Morgan
Sep 24, 2026
Foster William “Bill” Morgan, 79, of Morganton, passed away on September 24, 2026, after a hard five-year battle with Alzheimers. To family and friends, he was known simply as “Pugs”.
He was born on December 9, 1946, to Foster Morgan, Sr. and Evelyn McGalliard Morgan. Bill grew up in Valdese, where he attended Valdese High School. He was a natural athlete,...
