Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Edith Franklin Cooper
Oct 1, 2025
Edith Franklin Cooper, 83, of Valdese, passed away peacefully on Wednesday October 1, 2025, at College Pines Nursing Center following a period of declining health.
Edith was born on July 12, 1942, in Burke County, to the late Herman and Osera Murray Franklin. She was a registered nurse for many years serving her community in the healthcare field and was a...
Jeffrey Lee McGalliard
Sep 30, 2025
Jeffrey Lee McGalliard, 63, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday September 30, 2025 at Amorem of Hudson, after a period of declining health.
Jeffrey was born September 27, 1962 in Burke County, a son of the late Elgie McGallliard, Jr and LaVonda Griffin McGalliard. He was employed in the textile manufacturing industry as a weaver.
In addition to his parents, he was...
Margie Ann Pritchard
Sep 28, 2025
Mrs. Margie Ann Pritchard, 75, of Valdese, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday September 28, 2025, after ten years of declining health and a brief stay at Grace Hospital.
Mrs. Pritchard was born December 31, 1949, in Buke County, a daughter of the late Mack and Ann Roper Chapman. Margie loved her family very much and was...
Baerbel Klingler
Sep 28, 2025
Baerbel Klingler (Leinemann), age 84, of Hickory, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, surrounded by love.
Born on September 23, 1941, in Lehrte, Germany, to Adele Jordan and Wilhelm Leinemann, she is preceded in death by her two brothers, Manfred and Wilhelm, and is survived by her two sisters, Christa Risser (Daniel) and Marianne Umlauf. Baerbel carried the...
Cleotes "Buddy" Carswell
Sep 27, 2025
Mr. Cleotes “Buddy” Carswell, 68, of Morganton, went home to be with his Lord & Savior, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Amorem Hospice, following a period of declining health.
Buddy was born on May 22, 1957, in Burke County to Odes Sanford Carswell and the late Mable Patton Carswell. He was member of Grace Baptist Church in Morganton, and was...
Darrell Gene Hudson
Sep 27, 2025
Darrell Gene Hudson, 53, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 27, 2025 following a brief illness.
Darrell was born November 23, 1971 in Catawba County, a son of Lester Hudson and Patsy Yount Smith. He was a devoted father and loving child. Darrell was sweet and even tempered with a great sense of humor. He was always very thoughtful...
Matthew A. Navas
Sep 26, 2025
Matthew A Navas, 25, of Columbus, GA passed away September 26, 2025.Matthew was born January 11, 2000 in Ft. Riley, Kansas. He was the son of Scott and Michelle Thompson & Joe and Joann Navas. He was preceded in death by his Maternal grandfather, Danny Hart and nephew Michael Alex Hart.Survivors include his maternal grandmother, Linda Hart, an uncle, Michael...
Robin Smith Abernethy
Sep 26, 2025
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Robin Abernethy a devoted mother, loving grandmother, beloved sister, and cherished friend. Born on April 16, 1960, Robin lived a life centered around her family, always offering love, support, and a warm heart to those around her.
Robin was the proud mother of four children: Misty Abernethy, Katie Hernandez, Kristina Hernandez, and Tyler...
Jeremy Ozias Carswell
Sep 25, 2025
Jeremy Ozias Carswell, 49, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, following an accident on September 12th from which he never recovered
Jeremy was born on December 6, 1975 in Mobile, Alabama, a son of Rolanda Hildebrand Carswell and the late Lawrence Ray Carswell. He was a free-spirit who loved to...
Christopher Alan Townsend
Sep 22, 2025
Christopher Alan Townsend, 44, of Arden, NC, passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025.
Chris was born June 17, 1981 in Burke County to Timothy Townsend and Patty Bowlin. He is a graduate of Nashville Auto-Diesel College (NADC) and worked at Curtis Hi Tech Auto Service Center and managed operations. Chris loved life, and when he loved, he loved BIG, showing...
Banie Noel
Sep 22, 2025
Banie Sue Noel, 79, passed away on Monday September 22, 2025, at UNC Blueridge, Morganton, after a period of declining health.
Mrs. Noel was born June 23, 1946 in Davie W.VA, a daughter of the late Winford Herman and Emily Fruia Thomas.
Sue was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed being an active member of the Rock Church in Morganton,...
Rondal Ervin Williams
Sep 22, 2025
Mr. Rondal Ervin (Ron) Williams, 82, of Drexel, went to his Heavenly Reward on Monday September 22, 2025, just two days before his birthday, at Amorem, Hudson, after a period of declining health.
Mr. Williams was born September 24, 1942, in Burke County a son of the late Lewis and Elizabeth Hern Williams. Ron was a faithful and active member of...
George Wayne Stamey
Sep 22, 2025
George Wayne Stamey, 79, of Valdese, NC, entered his heavenly home on 9/22/2025, surrounded by the love of his family. Born September 28, 1945, he was the son of the late William Conley Stamey and Conis Young Stamey.
Wayne’s greatest joy in life was knowing and serving his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A faithful servant, he devoted his life to...
William Joe Causby
Sep 20, 2025
William Joe Causby, 61, of Lenoir passed away on Saturday September 20, 2025 at Lenoir Health Care Rehab.
Joe was born December 8, 1963, in Burke County, a son of the late David and Noami Kiser Causby. He was a graduate of Freedom High School and a former employee of Burke Mills, Inc. working in color textiles. Joe loved life, enjoyed...
Vickie Darlene Sain Beard
Sep 20, 2025
Vickie Darlene Sain Beard, 69, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Catawba Valley Medical Center; under hospice care, following a long battle with cancer.
Vickie was born February 10, 1956 in Catawba County to the late Virgil Sain and Irene Yoder Sain. Vickie was a member of Liberty Baptist Church and loved God and her church family....
Robin Neil Varney
Sep 19, 2025
Robin Neil Varney, age 63, was received into the arms of the Lord as he passed peacefully in his sleep in Valdese, North Carolina. Born in West Virginia to the late Alonzo and Alberta Sias Varney. Robin was the youngest of seventeen siblings and spent the last five years of his life in retirement, cherishing every moment with his loved...
Dennis Ray Berry Jr.
Sep 18, 2025
Dennis Ray Berry Jr., 50, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at his home, following his battle with cancer.
Dennis was born March 22, 1975 in Burke County to Dora McGee Costner and the late Dennis Ray Berry Sr. He loved to work on cars, drag car racing, and playing cornhole.
In addition to his mother, he is survived...
Mikeal Stacy Lingle
Sep 17, 2025
Mikeal Stacy Lingle, 55, of Lenoir, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Frye Regional Medical Center following a period of declining health.
Mikeal was born on January 6, 1970, in Burke County, a son of Gene Stacy Lingle and the late Georgia Aileen Hatley. He loved to hunt and fish. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye, and...
Lawrence Randolph Graves
Sep 13, 2025
Lawrence Randolph “Randy” Graves, 76, of Morganton, passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Carolina Rehab following a period of declining health.
Randy was born April 10, 1949 in Cherokee County, a son of the late John Lawson and Nora McTaggart Graves. He and his wife spent many days together watching the adventures of Andy Griffith and the citizens of...
James Richard Lowman
Sep 13, 2025
Mr. James Richard Lowman, 76, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 13, 2025 after an extended illness.
Richard was born on January 23, 1949 in Burke County, the son of the late James and Mary Lowman of Cherryville, formerly of Valdese. He was employed as a quality control manager for Kimbel Glass for many years. Richard was a loving...
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