Obituaries


in the choir. In addition to her par- ents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Franklin, in 1959; brothers, Carlie Rice in 1984, Har- vey Rice in 2000; and sister, Rachel Rice Gosselin in 1972. Mrs. Franklin is survived by her


brother, Arnold W. Rice and wife Betty of King; sister, Mary Ruth Rice Higgins and husband Harold of Landis; and several nieces and nephews. Her graveside service was held


at 11 am on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in West Memorial Park with the Rev. Troy Rogers officiating. Flowers were welcome. Those


Jeff Peek Weaverville - Jeff Peek, 88, died


Jan. 31, 2011. Mr. Peek was a retired Lieuten-


ant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, having served during the Vietnam War and served in the Strategic Air Command as it was put on high alert during the Cuban Missile Cri- sis. He attended Mars Hill College for two years and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Hattie Ebbs Peek, sisters, Louise Simpson, Evelyn Peek Coates and Hattie Peek Webb and a brother, Will West Peek. Jeff is survived by his wife of 61


years, Willie Mae Sampson Peek; daughter, Robin Kaye Peek and son, Cauley Jefferson Peek, Jr. and wife, Marilyn; grandchildren, Kris- tina Kate Starr and Fredrick Michael Peek; and a sister, Ruth Peek. Services were held at noon on


Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, in the West- ern Carolina State Veterans Ceme- tery, in Black Mountain with Military Rites conducted by the Mars Hill VFW Post #5483. The family received friends from


5 pm - 7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, at Madison Funeral Home. madisonfh.com


Rose Rice Franklin Landis - Rose Rice Franklin,


age 93, of Landis and Weaverville passed away Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, at Big Elm Nursing Center. Mrs. Franklin was born May 1,


1917, in Madison County to the late Charlie B. and Cora Chandler Rice. She attended Beech Glen schools and after graduation worked for the Garden Shop and A and P. She was a volunteer at the Asheville VA Medical Center and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and sang


desiring to make a memorial contri- bution are encouraged to consider their favorite charity. West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon


Ave., Weaverville, was in charge of arrangements. westfamilyfuneralservices.com


Richard Roger Arends Weaverville - Richard Roger Ar-


ends, 75 of 78 Weaver Blvd. went home to be with the Lord Feb. 2, 2011, after a short illness. A cel- ebration of life will be held at a later date. Blue Ridge Funeral Service, Mars


Hill is assisting the family. Online condolences may be e-


mailed to the family at blueridgefu- neralservice.org.


Jessie Walton Crowder Weaverville - Jessie Walton


Crowder, age 68, of 16 Ivy Park Drive, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. Mrs. Crowder was born Oct. 3,


1942, in Buncombe County where she had lived all of her life. Her greatest joy was her church and her family. She was a member of Carson Chapel Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late J. Marvin and Robbie Wilson Walton. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her hus- band, Carlos Crowder who died in 2008; two infant sons; beloved granddaughter, Jessica Crowder; and sisters, Marlene Buckner and Jeanie Walton. Surviving are her sons, Chris


Crowder and wife Teresa, Pastor Mark Crowder and wife Jennie, and Pastor David Crowder and wife Beth Ann; sisters, Nancy Hol- lifield and Roberta Padgett; broth- er, Buddy Walton and wife Vicki; grandchildren, Joshua, Benjamin, Sarah, Heather, Christopher, Zach- ary, Bethany, and John. Her funeral service was held at 11 am on Monday Feb. 7, 2011, in


the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with the Rev. Dale Banks and the Rev. Kenneth Crane officiating. Burial was in West Memorial Park. The family received friends from


4 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, at the funeral home. At other times the family was at


the residence. Flowers were acceptable and ap-


preciated. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encour- aged to consider Carson Chapel Baptist Church, c/o Michael Dilling- ham, 30 Houston Rd., Barnardsville, NC 28709. westfamilyfuneralservices.com


Madge Elkins Chambers Weaverville - Madge Elkins


Chambers, age 86 of 1 Beechwood Knoll died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the home of her brother, Edd El- kins. Mrs. Chambers was born Nov.


11, 1924, in Yancey County and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of her life. She was formerly employed at Bon Marche Dept. Store and retired from Beacon Manufacturing Co. Madge was a Sunday school teacher at Hazel Green Missionary Baptist Church of which she was a member and at- tended for most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Garrett Lee and Azelia Wallace Elkins. Also pre- ceding her in death was her sister, Edith Cole. Surviving are her brother, Edd


Elkins and wife Peggy of Weaver- ville; 10 nieces and nephews; sev- eral great nieces and nephews and many friends. Her funeral service was held at


2:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville with the Rev. Mark A. Elkins officiating. Burial was in West Memorial Park. The family received friends from


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1 pm to 2 pm prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. At other times the family was at


the home of Edd and Peggy Elkins, 99 Silverwood Farm Road, Weaver- ville. westfamilyfuneralservices.com


James Henry Willis Maiden/Marshall - James Henry


Willis, 65 of 5545 Buck’s Garage Road, Maiden, passed away Sun- day, Feb. 6, 2011. He was the son of the late Henry and Virgie Robinson Willis. He was also proceeded in death by a brother, Billy, and sisters Marie, Violet and Louise. Surviving is his wife, Evelyn Collins


Willis; daughters, Wendy Laughter of Marshall, Candy Willis of Alexan- der, Cindy Roberts of Weaverville, Jennifer Bell of Maiden, Beth Green and Ronda Collins of Granite Falls, Michelle Kirby of Lenoir and a spe- cial adopted daughter, Teresa Bak- er of Morganton; 14 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; brothers, Burdette Willis of Asheville and Ju- nior Willis of Marshall, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at


11 am on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service, Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Albert Roberts will be of- ficiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends from 6 pm - 8 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service, Mars Hill, NC. At other times the family will be


at the home of Junior Willis, 1912 Old Hwy 20, Marshall, NC 28753. 683-9674. In lieu of flowers, memorials may


be made to Blue Ridge Funeral Service, PO Box 27, Mars Hill, NC 28754, to assist the family with fu- neral expenses. Online condolences may be e-


mailed to the family at blueridgefu- neralservice.org.


Carolyn M. Hagan Mars Hill - Carolyn M Hagan, 78,


of 447 Walker Branch Road, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. She was a daughter of the late James Garfield and Mary Broyles Ford. She was also preceded by several brothers and a sister. Surviving are her husband Wil-


ford “Bud” Hagan, whom they would have been married 60 years in May; daughters, Carol Hagan


and Diane Hagan Moore; sons, Dwight, Samuel and Michael Hagan and Kenneth Chandler; two sisters, Wanda Raines and Margie Howard; brother, Mack Ford; 18 grandchil- dren and 12 great grandchildren. The funeral service was held at


2 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, in Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. The Rev. Bob Hagan and the Rev. Greg Metcalf officiated. Burial followed in the Chandler Cemetery. The family received friends from 6 pm - 8 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at the fu- neral home. Online condolences may be e-


mailed to the family at blueridgefu- neralservice.org.


Betty Marie Marler Marshall - Betty Marie Marler, of


70 Laurel Branch Road, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. She was born in Pittsburgh on April 25, 1945, to the late Raymond and Helen Kuntz Gibson. She was the sister of the late Roy Gibson. Betty was a member of Barnards- ville Freewill Baptist Church. Surviving are her loving husband,


the Rev. Bud Marler; daughters, Di- ane Webb and husband Dean, Cin- dy Rhew and husband Jeff, Helen Raines and husband Johnny and Karen Robinson and husband Jeff; grandchildren, Krystal Worley and husband Jason, Hannah, Collin, Luke and Hunter Robinson, Natalie, Jacklyn and Jesse Rhew, Allison and Heidi Raines. The funeral service was held


at 11 am Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, in Robbie Capps Memorial Cha- pel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. The Rev. Jimmy Dean Hensley and the Rev. Mark Bullman officiated. Burial followed in Piney Grove Bap- tist Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Dean Webb, Jeff Rhew, Johnny Raines, Jeff Robin- son, Jason Worley and Collin Rob- inson. The family received friends from 6 pm - 8 pm on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family re-


quests memorials be made to: Hos- pice of Madison County, PO Box 69, Marshall, NC 28753. The family would like to say a


special thank you to Dr. Marianna Daly for her love and care during Betty’s illness. Online condolences may be e-


mailed to the family at blueridgefu- neralservice.org.


www.weavervilletribune.com


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