Milfred Leo Slusher

Milfred Leo Slusher, 79, of Floyd, Va., passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 30, 2018 after a lengthy illness. Milfred had been a resident of Skyline Nursing Home for the past year.

He was born on May 23, 1939 to the late Clarence L. Slusher and Cathleen Pratt Slusher.

Milfred was preceded in death by his sister, Shirleen Slusher; brother, Dexter Slusher; and nephew Brannon Scott Slusher.

He is survived by his sons, Darrell Slusher (Jodie) and David Slusher (Joan) of Floyd, Va.; daughter Donna Slusher Poff, also of Floyd, VA.; grandchildren, Autumn (Jeremy) Wade, Taylor Slusher, Austin Poff, Brooke Slusher, Elisabeth Slusher, and Kaitlin Slusher; great-grandchildren, Alice Happ, Amelia Wade, and Alexis Wade; sisters, Ruby Sutphin (Richard), Mary Wade (Dale), Linda Harris (Maurice), and Imogene Cox; brothers, Arthur, Charles , and Dale Slusher.

Milfred was a veteran in the United States army and was stationed in Germany.  He worked for Doris Turman’s Tire Shop and worked for Radford Pipe Shop for 32 years. He also worked for the Blue Ridge Park Service. He was a Ginseng hunter and loved to fish, play horseshoes, and loved to ride around in his truck.

He was a very loving father and grandfather.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11 AM in Jacksonville Cemetery in Floyd, Va., with United States Military Honors and with Pastor Roy Turpin officiating.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff from Skyline Nursing Home and Good Samaritan Hospice for their care of Milfred.

Susie Belle Albert Vest

Susie Belle Albert Vest, 92, of Floyd passed away on September 12. Originally from McCoy, Virginia, Susie Belle came to Floyd in 1948 when she married Floyd native, David Vest. Together they founded Floyd Automotive Supply, which they operated from 1961 until 1988.

Susie Belle was preceded in death by her husband, Allen David Vest, Jr.; son-in-law, Fred Thayer; parents, Van Hope and Harmon Albert; and four siblings and their spouses, Curtis and Nola Albert; Wayne and Frances Albert and their son, Stephen Albert; Francis, Martha and Zana Albert; John Pauley, and Nedra Croy; brother-in-law and wife, B.W. and Virginia Vest and their son, Joey Vest.

She is survived by her daughter Yvonne Vest Thayer of Christiansburg; son Allen David Vest III and daughter-in-law Ellen Vest of Floyd; granddaughter Dr. Marcee Vest Berry and her husband Garrett Berry of Richmond; great-granddaughter Ollie Belle Berry of Richmond; sister, Mary Nell Pauley of McCoy and brother-in-law Don Croy of Blacksburg; seven nieces and nephews and their spouses, including Peggy Ann Vest Mentel of Roanoke.

The family would like to thank the staff at Skyline Nursing and Rehab Center for their care of Susie Belle over the four last years. They also acknowledge the important services of the Good Samaritan Hospice staff that supported her family.

A funeral service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Floyd on Friday, September 14, at 11:00 a.m. with burial at the family grounds in Harvestwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held at Maberry Funeral Home on Thursday, September 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For those who want to honor her memory, donations may be made for education and music programs at the Presbyterian Church of Floyd, P.O. Box 164, Floyd, VA 24091. 

Constance Auburn Vest

Constance Auburn Vest, 25 of Copper Hill, passed away September 7, 2018.  She was preceded in death by her uncle, Douglas Delano Neighbors, Jr.

She is survived by her mother, Greta N. Cail (Larry); father, Jimmy Vest; children, Douglas James Vest and Aiden Lyane Hajek; brother, Billy Jack Neighbors; paternal grandparents, James and Katie Vest; maternal grandparents, Loretta Gibson and Doug Neighbors; aunts and uncles, Jesse and Sherri Neighbors, Greg Neighbors.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Betsy Bell

Betsy Bell, 50, passed unexpectedly the morning of Thursday, September 6, 2018, at her home in Riner, Va. Betsy was a loving soul who enjoyed creating hand-made greeting cards, jewelry, and Christmas ornaments. She also loved spending time with her family, her friends and especially her pets, Sophie and Erica. Betsy loved traveling, and never more so than during her career opening stores around the country for Liz Claiborne before settling in Riner, where she worked at Riverbend Nursery for a time. Betsy is daughter of the late Sue Haga Townsend and the late Gerald Wayne Bell. Her brother, Brian Christopher Bell, also preceded her in death. She is survived by her step-father, Lt. Col. Kenneth Wayne Townsend; her brother, Barry Duane Bell and his wife Kathryn Shields; nieces Alexandra Bell and Gillian Shields-Bell; nephew Alden Shields-Bell; uncle George Haga and his wife Linda; aunt Shawn Turman and her husband Gray. Arrangements for a memorial service in Betsy's honor are forthcoming. 

Doris Junior Hylton

Doris Junior Hylton, 84 of Willis, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 4, 2018.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Allie Minnie McAlexander Hylton, his children, William Levi Hylton, Rena McAlexander, two infant son’s , an infant daughter; great grandchildren, Journey Sage Hylton and Shane Alexander Vaughan; four brothers; four sisters.

He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann Hylton; sister, Kathleen Mabery; grandchildren, Angela Hylton, Ashley John Hylton, Cynthia Dawn McAlexander, Rebecca  McAlexander, April Vaughan; 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 7, 2018 at Maberry Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Dalton officiating with interment to follow in the Alderman Cemetery.  Family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., prior to the service.

Gary Clifton Hylton

Gary Clifton Hylton, 65 of Floyd, suddenly left his earthly home on August 31, 2018.  He then entered his heavenly home.  He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Loretta Bishop Hylton.

He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cynthia “Cindy” Bishop Hylton;  He is deeply missed by his daughter Ariel Bethell and son-in-law, Chris; He was known  as “PopPop” to his grandson, Silas Bethell.  They had many pretend adventures like “Bear hunting”; Also left to cherish his memory are his sister, Roseanna Peters and Donald; mother-in-law, Chloe Bishop; step-mother, Laura Hylton,; niece, Stacie Smith; nephew, Sean Peters; great-niece, Katie Webb.

Gary had recently retired from Volvo.  He had many good friends there.  He also worked for Yokohama and Hubbell Lighting.  He will especially be missed by his longtime friend, Steve Hodges.  They also had many adventures together.  He attended Grace Baptist Church.  He grew up in Willis VA, and had returned to Floyd to retire.  He enjoyed sitting on his front porch sharing his dreams with his wife and special dog “Ricky”.

Gary was a loving husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother, uncle, grandfather, friend and above all a “Man of God”.

Funeral service will be held at Noon, Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Maberry Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Lackey officiating.  Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Christiansburg.  Family will receive friends from 10:00 am to Noon prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Floyd County Rescue Squad, PO Box 257, Floyd, VA 24091.