Theresa Jean Gaskin, 60 of Willis, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023. She is preceded in death by her son, Jason Couch; father, Ralph E. Lee; mother, Nancy E. Farrantino; and sister, Margaret Blue.
She is survived by her son, Mark Lee; sister, Cynthia Lee; brother & sister-in-law, Kenneth & Tina Lee; nephews, Stokes, Dakota, and Dillon Seegers and Robert Blue; niece, Rebecca Woodson; and cousins, Karen Simsick and Lisa Wall.
A private family memorial service will be held.
Steven Allen Eanes, 66 of Check, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 23, 2023. He was born on August 26, 1956 in Brunswick, Maine. His family moved to Check, Virginia where he went to Check Elementary and later graduated from Floyd County High School. He became an auto body technician at Hart’s in Salem where he worked for many years before having to retire due to medical illness.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Chiyoi Homma Eanes; and his brother, Carl Michael Eanes.
He leaves behind his sisters & brothers-in-law, Marie & Arthur Spence and Susan & Steve Delozier; brother, Dale Eanes; nieces, Michelle England (Keith), Melissa Cox (Greg), Meghan Moles (Kent); nephew, Matthew Eanes; and nine great-nephews and great-nieces.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 30, 2023 in the Wilson Cemetery with Pastor Greg Cox officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Stevie’s name to a local charity of your choice.
Faye Reed Weeks, 81 of Willis, made her transition from this life to her Heavenly Home on Friday, July 21, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Faye was born on September 1, 1941 to the late Wilbert Haven & Ila Smith Reed. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Weeks.
Faye was a very devoted mother, grandma, and sister. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved her church family and really missed her friends at Beaver Creek Baptist Church after she became ill. Faye will be especially remembered for the love she showed to everyone.
Left to cherish her memory is her son & daughter-in-law, Brian & Lisa Weeks; grandson, Zachary Weeks (Kayla); granddaughter, Jessica Weeks (Brian); great-grandchildren, Adaleigh & Oaklyn Weeks; sisters & brothers-in-law, Louise Reed, Oleda Phillips, Fern & Mike Belcher, Joan & Dale Quesenberry, and Vicki & Alex Bond; brothers & sisters-in-law, Dale Reed, Bennett & Judy Reed, and Calvin & Brenda Reed; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Shannon Hicks and Pastor Roy Turpin officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
Margaret Ann Huff Mende, 70 of Floyd, passed away peacefully at her home after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on Saturday, July 15, 2023. She was born on January 6, 1953 to Oakley Lindsey Huff and Rheba Virley Harman Huff in Floyd, Virginia.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by six siblings; as well as many extended family members.
She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Stephen Chichester Mende; daughter, Sarah Mende (Eric VanBuren); cherished granddaughter whom she loved more than life itself, Alice Mende VanBuren; five brothers; one sister; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her special niece Tina Mitchell.
In her retirement, Margaret loved being in nature. She enjoyed tending to her many flower gardens and her vegetable garden. She was very active and walked for miles every day. On her walks, she would find various items such as unique stumps, rocks, and moss to add to her flower gardens. She would make glass sculptures that also adorned her gardens and others she would give to friends. She regularly volunteered at Angels in the Attic where her outgoing and friendly demeanor made her many good friends. Before retiring, she worked for her sister Cornelia Agee at her beauty shop. She worked as a Pattern Maker at the local Donkenney Factory, Fabric Cutters for 21 years. When the factory closed, she worked as a housekeeper at Skyline Nursing Home and the Hotel Floyd until retirement.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the Word of Truth Baptist Church, 1040 Fairview Church Road SW, Floyd, VA with Pastor Warren Bumgarner officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Garret Allen “Gary” Murphy, 67 of Floyd, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2023. He is preceded in death by his father, Calvin Murphy; and brother, Dr. Robin A. Murphy.
He is survived by many who will miss him dearly including his mother, Verna (Worden); brothers, Calvin “Todd” Murphy (Starla) and Bryan Murphy; sister, Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy; nieces, Marisa Martinez (Robert Lamendola), Jeneane Carter (Alan McVeigh), Kara Murphy (Pedro Padilla) and Kachina Johnson (Houston); nephews, Jaylon Carter, Kirshan Murphy and Kanin Murphy (Rahel); great-nieces, Jasmine and Ayra; great-nephew, D’joser; and a host of cousins and good friends.
He was a lover of martial arts, a boxer & an avid gamer. He was most proud of his family and their successes.
A private family memorial service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to
Science of Spirituality19384 Smoots Rd, Bowling Green, VA 22427.
Celia Jane Talbert Howard passed away at her home in Floyd, Virginia surrounded by her loving family on July 3, 2023 at the age of 88. She contracted COVID while recovering at the local nursing home from a fractured pelvis due to a fall in May. Following unsuccessful treatment for COVID at a local hospital she came home on hospice.
While her given name was Celia, her family and friends always knew her as Betty. She had many adventures in life, but most important to her was Brown, her soulmate of 58 years, and her family. Coming from a small town in West Virginia, the life of an Air Force officer’s wife was a big change, as was living in Germany, Las Vegas, and various bases throughout Southeast USA. This is when Betty learned the art of entertaining, as that was an essential aspect of military life for her.
After her husband’s retirement from an Air Force career as a fighter pilot, they initially lived in Myrtle Beach, SC. Their next adventure was moving to the mountains of Floyd, VA, and building a house on the family property that she helped design and decorate. Betty was proud to be a homemaker and enjoyed hosting celebrations with family and friends, including her sisters wedding. Her home and grounds were even featured several times in newspapers. She was surprised by, and always appreciated all the positive comments she received at the open house events associated with these publications.
Betty joined the Presbyterian Church of Floyd in 1975 and regularly attended services until her health made it too difficult. In spite of her mobility issues, she continued her communion with God and was always interested in long discussions on the subject with her family and friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Brown Grattan Howard III; son Brown Grattan Howard IV; parents, Okey and Nora Talbert; sisters, Louise Pane, Flora Davis, Onalee Talbert; and brothers, Jimmy, Johny, Okey and Donald Talbert. She is survived by her son Michael Howard and wife Kristina; daughter-in-law Susan Howard; grandchildren, David Howard and wife Kristen, Jason Howard and wife Kirsty; great-grandchild Hannah Howard; sisters, Hazel Thacker and husband Herbert, and Lorene Cloninger; brothers, Delbert Talbert and wife Dortha, and Wallace Talbert; and many dear nieces, nephews and friends.
There will be a graveside service at Jacksonville Cemetery, 120 Parkway Ln S, Floyd, VA 24091, at 2 pm on August 19, 2023 with Rev. Robert McLavey officiating. The family will receive friends at the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church of Floyd following the service.
Betty desired that any remembrances be directed to the Presbyterian Church of Floyd (www.pcfloyd.org), 169 Newtown Road, Floyd, VA 24091; or, a tree can be planted in remembrance of Betty (see instructions for the Sympathy Store following The Roanoke Times/Legacy obituary).
Maberry Funeral Home served the Howard family in this time of great sorrow with excellent care.
Brian David Buck, 60 of Willis, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. He is preceded in death by his beloved, Jean Gladding; and his parents, Harold & Teresa Buck.
Brian loved to ride motorcycles and travel with Jean, spending winters in the Keys. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, farming, and animals, especially his dog, Simon.
He is survived by his siblings, Terry Buck, Dianne Saunders, and Thomas Buck; numerous nieces and nephews; Jean’s daughter, Susanne Gladding (Greg Vaughn); Jean’s granddaughter, Gina Gladding; and his dog, Simon.
A private interment was held at Topeco Cemetery.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to
Carilion Hospice as well as all of the wonderful caregivers who made Brian’s
final days at home possible.
Janice Ann Quesenberry, 71 of Willis, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2023 at Hillsville Health and Rehabilitation. Janice was born in Floyd County, Virginia to the late Norman and Imogene Akers Quesenberry.
Survivors include her siblings, Larrene Q. Bowman of Willis, Bennie Quesenberry (Margie) of Hillsville, and Danny Quesenberry (Gail) of Pulaski; aunt, Reva Akers Martin of Christiansburg; nephew, Jeff Phillips (Norris) of Chapel Hill, NC; and nieces, Angela Brown (Herb) of Fleetwood, NC, Amy Q. Nester (Dustin) of Hillsville, and Sharon Q. McDougal (Richard) of Pulaski.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2023 in the Mitchell Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church in Dugspur with Pastor Nathan Phillips officiating. Interment will follow in the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Carmen
Vasquez, Megan Gates, and the staff at Hillsville Health and Rehabilitation for
their loving care of Janice.
Eugene “Gene” Kelley Phillips, Jr. 72 of Copper Hill, passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2023. He is preceded in death by his son, Paul A. Phillips; parents, Eugene Kelley, Sr. & Margie Phillips; and siblings, Paul A. Phillips, Thomas L. Phillips, Roger K. Phillips, and Virginia Phillips Conner.
He is survived by his son & daughter-in-law, Kelley, III & K.J. Phillips; daughter, Annie Phillips; grandchildren, Kayla Reed (Dwight), Nathan Phillips (Adella), Luke Phillips, Leila Smith, and Bryce Smith; great-grandchildren, Lance Reed, Josephine Reed, and Carter Reed; brothers & sister-in-law, Walter E. Phillips and Joe & Darlene Phillips; caring partner of many years, Linda Phillips; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Stanley Hawkins officiating. Interment will follow in the Duncans Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at the funeral home.
