OBITUARIES

Dec 30, 2016

Charles William Simmons, 78, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016 at Envoy in Staunton.  He was born June 22, 1938 in Highland County a son of the late Charles Pinkney and Mary Eva (Moats) Simmons.

Mr. Simmons was a self-employed building contractor and had once worked at the VEPCO Pump Storage Project in Bath County.  Charles William...

Dec 26, 2016

Brooke Jewell Harper, 18, of Monterey, passed away Monday, December 26, 2016 as the result of an automobile accident.  Brooke was born November 10, 1998 in Harrisonburg a daughter of Terry Lee Harper and Christy Joy (Gum) Harper, both of Monterey.

A Princess of the 2016 Maple Court and senior at Highland High School, Brooke had plans...

Dec 14, 2016

Sidney “June” Gilmore Lowry, Jr., 92, of the Mill Gap Community in Highland County, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at The Springs Nursing Center.   He was born November 7, 1924 in Mill Gap a son of the late Sidney Gilmore and Mary Kisiah (Page) Lowry.

Mr. Lowry was employed by the United States Postal Service and...

Dec 7, 2016

Robert “Bob” E. Cook, age 88, widower of Phyllis Virginia (Bowers) Cook of West River, MD, passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.  He was born March 15, 1928 in Circleville, WV, a son of the late Marshall Harry and Leona (Nelson) Cook.

Mr. Cook was a graduate of Circleville High School,...

Dec 3, 2016

Myrtle Frances Bussard, 85, of Bacova passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Highland House in Clifton Forge.  She was born March 29, 1931 in Mustoe a daughter of the late Orvie Mustoe and Carrie Myrtle (Carpenter) Doyle.

Mrs. Bussard was a member of Valley Bethel Church of the Brethren.  For over 20 years, she was a...

Nov 26, 2016

Eldon Eckard, age 89, of Sugar Grove, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2016 surrounded by loving family at the home of his great-granddaughter.

Born November 19, 1927, in Sugar Grove, WV, he was the youngest son of the late Noah Webster and Malinda Louella (Simmons) Eckard.

A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Eckard honorably served during...

Nov 20, 2016

Bonnie Aileen (Kelley) Bodkin, 62, of Sugar Grove, WV passed away Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Grant Memorial Hospital.  She was born August 18, 1954 in Baltimore a daughter of Patricia Roberts (Yeatman) Kelley of Baltimore and the late Gabriel Clark Kelley.

Mrs. Bodkin was raised in the Catholic Church.  A self-employed hairdresser, she enjoyed the outdoors,...

Nov 20, 2016

Curtis “Bub” Wayne Rexrode, 59, of Monterey passed away Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Augusta Health.  He was born July 19, 1957 in Monterey a son of the late James Randolph and Edith “Dee” Jane (Swearengin) Rexrode.

Bub was a self-employed painter, who never met a stranger.  He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and sharing his bounty...

Nov 16, 2016

Ramon Meade Milburn, Jr., of Henrico departed this life on November 16, 2016 at the age of 79. Ramon was a son of the late Ramon and Mary Milburn.

Ramon enlisted in the Navy in 1957 and served upon the USS San Marcos. He received an honorable discharge in 1963 and went to work for...

Nov 14, 2016

Bryan Douglas Hatcher, 22, of Churchville passed away Monday, November 14, 2016 at University of Virginia Medical Center.  He was born March 25, 1994 in Charlottesville.

Bryan was employed at a paving company.   He enjoyed cooking, animated movies, going to concerts with his friends, and caving with his brother.

Survivors include his father, Scotty D....

Nov 13, 2016

Anna Lee McCray, 89, of Monterey and formerly of Head Waters passed away Sunday, November 13, 2016 at Avante at Harrisonburg.  She was born February 2, 1927 in Doe Hill a daughter of the late William Ernest and Vernie Catherine (Armstrong) Botkin.

Mrs. McCray served as postmaster at Head Waters Post Office for 20 years.  She was...

Nov 6, 2016

Hunter Weldon Gutshall, 92, of Verona and formerly of Chesterfield County and Perry, FL., passed away Sunday, November 6, 2016.  He was born February 22, 1924 in Highland County to the late John and Hazel (Woods) Gutshall.

Hunter was a World War II veteran.  He entered the U.S. Army in March of 1943, and served in the...

Oct 28, 2016

Tamela “Tam” Lou (Botkin) Simmons, 54, of Doe Hill passed away Friday, October 28, 2016 at the home of her daughter, Michelle.  She was born May 7, 1962 a daughter of the late George “Jack” Addison and Charlotte Virginia (Rexrode) Botkin.

Mrs. Simmons most recently worked as a devoted babysitter and caregiver for the elderly.  Tam was...

Oct 20, 2016

Howard “Buddy” Brown Cronk, Jr., 66, of Burnsville passed away Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Augusta Health.  He was born December 2, 1949 in Clifton Forge a son of the late Howard Brown and Mary Alene (Powers) Cronk.

Buddy was a firefighter, who retired after 20 plus years of service with the Fairfax County Fire Department.  An...

Sep 19, 2016

William Nicholas "Nicho" Beverage, Jr., 58, of Richmond passed away Monday, September 19, 2016, after battling dementia for several years. Born on August 12, 1958, in Staunton, Virginia, he was the son of the late Jayne and Nick Beverage of Monterey.

Mr. Beverage was raised in Newport News and spent the summers of his youth in Monterey....

Sep 18, 2016

Hallie (Hiner) Harris, age 86, of Richmond and formerly Mechanicsville, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Mrs. Harris was born March 10, 1930, in Highland County, VA, a daughter of the late Forest and Mary Susan (Waggy) Hiner.

Mrs. Harris was a member of Mechanicsville Advent Christian Church and former member...

Sep 12, 2016

Wyomia Joe Brown, 79, of Hot Springs, passed away Monday, September 12, 2016 at her home.  She was born December 19, 1936 in Paris, KY a daughter of the late Justice Carl and Margaret Beatrice (Morrison) Baker.

Mrs. Brown was a bookkeeper by trade and she loved to knit and crochet.

Surviving family members include...

Aug 31, 2016

Olivia “Libby” Lee Hammer, 69, of Monterey, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at The Springs Nursing Center.  She was born March 26, 1947 in Harrisonburg, beloved daughter of the late Carl Eugene and Betty Estelle (Warner) Hammer.

Libby was a member of Monterey United Methodist Church and Highland County Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.  A lifelong...