Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

William Michael Huffman

William Michael Huffman

Jul 14, 2025

Mr. William” Michael” Huffman, 52, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Huffman was born July 28, 1972, in Burke County, a son of Larry and Ruby Mull Huffman. He was employed as a dye-house operator with Seiren and a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. William...

Ronald Glen Dickens Jr.

Ronald Glen Dickens Jr.

Jul 14, 2025

Ronald Glen "Bubby" Dickens Jr., 59, of Valdese passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at his residence, following a period of declining health

Bubby was born October 5, 1965, in Mullens, West Virginia, to the late Ronald Glen Dickens Sr. and Geraldine Mae (McKinney) Rose-Dickens. He worked as a butcher and in his spare time, loved to hunt, fish and...

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger

Jul 10, 2025

Dawn Marie Dressler Ruediger, 50, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at UNC Healthcare, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Ruediger was born November 4, 1974, in Las Vegas, NV, a daughter of Carol Bradley Dressler and the late Patrick Dressler. Dawn was a loving wife, mother and homemaker and enjoyed helping her husband with their construction...

Donald Ray Hammett

Donald Ray Hammett

Jul 10, 2025

Mr. Donald Ray Hammett, 92, of Hickory, passed away on Thursday July 10, 2025, at Amorem, Burke Hospice, after a period of declining health.

Mr. Hammett was born December 22, 1932, in Gaffney, S.C., a son of the late Charles Nesbitt and Addie Childers Hammett. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Hickory and retired from the financial industry...

Dana Michaels Chapman

Dana Michaels Chapman

Jul 9, 2025

Mrs. Dana Michaels Chapman, 75, of Hickory, passed away on Wednesday July 9, 2025, at Frye Regional Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Chapman was born August 26, 1949, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Glenn and Lorene Reep Michaels. She retired as a Medical Lab Tech. with the American Red Cross. Dana was a faithful...

Deborah Ann Huffman

Deborah Ann Huffman

Jul 4, 2025

Deborah Ann Huffman, 72, of Hickory, NC, passed away at home on Friday, July 4, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Deborah was born on March 11, 1953, in Catawba County, NC, a daughter of the late Glenn and Shirley Huffman.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in passing by two brothers, DJ Sine and Glenn Ray Huffman.

Her sister,...

Mabel Elizabeth Wooten Dale

Mabel Elizabeth Wooten Dale

Jul 4, 2025

Mabel Elizabeth Wooten Dale, 94, of Morganton, passed away peacefully at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Mabel was born January 18, 1931, in Caldwell County, a daughter of the late Loyd Richard and Margaret Catherine Swanson Wooten. She was full of love and respect for others. Many were struck by the kindness and grace she displayed...

John Tilden Brittain

John Tilden Brittain

Jul 4, 2025

John Tilden Brittain, 82, of Connelly Springs, NC passed away on July 4, 2025, after a happy and productive life. John was born on December 18, 1942, to the late Bruce Edward Brittain and Thelma Hildebrand Brittain of Burke County. He married the love of his life, Marilyn Hildebrand Brittain in 1961 and moved to Boone working and attending AppState...

Avie "Susie" Elkins Pendergrass

Avie "Susie" Elkins Pendergrass

Jul 3, 2025

Mrs. Avie “Susie” Elkins Pendergrass, 91, of Morganton, passed away on Thursday July 3, 2025, at Autum Care, Drexel, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Pendergrass was born August 14, 1933, in Yancey County, a daughter of the late Creed and Amanda Hutchins Elkins. She was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church and retired as a seamstress from Drexel...

James Gary Timmons

James Gary Timmons

Jul 2, 2025

Mr. James Gary Timmons, 63, of George Hildebrand, passed away on Wednesday July 2, 2025, at his residence after a period of declining health.

Mr. Timmons was born, May 10, 1962, in Sumter, S.C., a son of the late Jimmy and Linda Cunningham Timmons. He was a former employ of HK Research of Hickory as a lab technician. James was a...

Gale Rhoney Oaks

Gale Rhoney Oaks

Jul 2, 2025

Gale Dean Rhoney Oaks, 75, of Valdese, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at UNC Blue Ridge following a brief illness.

Gale was born May 9, 1950 in Burke County, to the late Neal “June” Rhoney and Clara Gantt Rhoney. She was a retired registered nurse and was a member of Abees Grove Baptist Church. Gale loved different crafts, flowers,...

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer

Jul 1, 2025

Mary Ellen Monroe Spicer, 80, of Valdese, passed away at home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 following a period of declining health.

Mary was born May 31, 1945 in Burke County, a daughter of the late John Clifton and Eula Buchanan Monroe. She loved crafts, and she won many awards for her excellent crocheted pieces. In her spare time, she could...

Margaret Ann Johnson Berry

Margaret Ann Johnson Berry

Jun 30, 2025

God sent an angel on June 30, 2025, to bring home His faithful servant, Mrs. Margaret Ann Berry, 91, of 1655 Berrytown Street, Valdese. Born on Jan. 21, 1934, to the late Mr. Vono Johnson and Mrs. Margaret Myrtle Fullwood Johnson. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a lifelong member of Mt....

Reba Berry

Reba Berry

Jun 29, 2025

Mrs. Reba Berry, 71, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday June 29, 2025, at Mission Hospital, Asheville, after a period of declining health.

Reba Berry was born August 4, 1953, in Burke County, a daughter of the late Rev. G.C. and Lillie Richard Wray. Reba was a faithful member of High Peak Baptist Church for many years, serving as the church...

Lessie Burleson Shell-Detter

Lessie Burleson Shell-Detter

Jun 29, 2025

Mrs. Lessie Mae Shell-Detter, 92, of Valdese, passed away on Sunday June 29, 2025, at Carolina Caring, after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Detter was born July 22, 1932, in Avery County, a daughter of the late Coy and Margie Pauline Winters Burleson. Lessie was a member of the East Valdese Baptist Church and was active in the Over the...

John Peter Rostan, III

John Peter Rostan, III

Jun 28, 2025

John Peter Rostan, III, 81, of Valdese, NC passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at his residence after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

John was born on December 15, 1943 to the late John Peter Rostan, Jr. and Naomi Bounous Rostan in Valdese. He graduated from Davidson College in 1966 and received his MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1968. While...

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw

Jun 28, 2025

Dana Michelle Combs Bradshaw, 48, of Hickory, passed away on Saturday June 28, 2025 at her residence.

Dana was born March 22, 1977 in Catawba County to Sheila Crowder Ward and the late David Lyn Combs. She enjoyed working as a behavior specialist at Catawba Rosenwald Education Center and was an avid Carolina Tarheel and Dallas Cowboy fan. Dana loved to...

Makenzi D'Shae Hare

Makenzi D'Shae Hare

Jun 28, 2025

Makenzi D’shae Hare, 31, of Hildebran, went to be with the Lord on Saturday June 28, 2025.

Makenzi was born November 22, 1993 in Burke County, a daughter of Frankie and Jan Weaver Hare.

“Kenzi” was very smart and could fix anything electronic. She loved her dog “Zyn” who was like a child to her and her boyfriend, Matt Ayotte.

She was preceded...

David Charles Baker

David Charles Baker

Jun 27, 2025

David Charles Baker, 73, of Morganton, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, June 27, 2025.

David was born October 31, 1951 in Warsaw, New York to the late Raymond Baker and Arlene Wallace Baker. He worked as a physician’s assistant and was an excellent, multi-talented musician. David was a loving, giving, and caring man to all of his family...

Janice Rudisill Scarborough

Janice Rudisill Scarborough

Jun 21, 2025

Mrs. Janice Rudisill Scarborough, 84, of Granite Falls, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Hickory Falls Health & Rehab Nursing Center, following a period of declining health.

Janice was born on June 7, 1941, in Catawba County, to the late Guy Rudisill and Ester Huffman Rudisill. She was an active member over the years of The Eastern Star, The...

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