Obituaries

Dec 22, 2024

DATELINE: YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Frances Nellene Thornburg

Frances Nellene Thornburg, 98, of Yadkinville, NC, passed away on December 22, 2024 at Yadkin Nursing Center in Yadkinville, NC. She was born December 8, 1926 in Cleveland County, NC, daughter of the late Grier Franklin and Cora Mae Dixon Sipes and was preceded in death by her beloved husband,...

Dec 21, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Gina Marie Young

Gina M. Young, 58, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2024, after a courageous five-year battle with multiple myeloma cancer. Born on July 18, 1966, in Burlington, VT, Gina was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend whose love, strength, and determination inspired...

Dec 17, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA James Barnwell Surber

James Barnwell Surber, 89, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on December 17, 2024 at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby, NC. Born September 14, 1935 in Gaston County, NC, he was the son of the late William and Myra Harbin Surber and was also  preceded in death by his...

Dec 15, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Karen Frankenberger Van Buren

Karen Frankenberger Van Buren, 65, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on December 15, 2024 at Atrium Cabarrus in Concord, NC. Born March 27, 1959 in Rochester, NY, she was the daughter of the late Charles J. and Agnes C. Burke Frankenberger. Karen attended St. Michael Catholic Church...

Dec 10, 2024

DATELINE: KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Mildred "Millie" Austine Rayfield

Mildred Austine Rayfield, 76, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on December 10, 2024 at Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, NC. She was born November 18, 1948 in Cleveland County, NC, daughter of the late John Henry and Austine Chambers Moore and was preceded in death by...

Dec 9, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Ricky Lynn Welch

Ricky Lynn Welch, 62, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on December 09, 2024 at Wendover Hospice House in Shelby, NC. He was born March 27, 1962 in Cleveland County, NC, son of the late Don and Bobbie Bennett Welch and was preceded in death by his brother, Don...

Dec 7, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Lawrence Douglas Houser

Lawrence Douglas Houser, 81, of Shelby, North Carolina, entered into his eternal rest on December 7, 2024 at Wendover Hospice House in Shelby. Born June 14, 1943 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Johnny Houser and Aileen Ramsey Wilson and was also preceded...

Dec 6, 2024

DATELINE:  GROVER, NORTH CAROLINA Diane Chapman Vess

Diane Chapman Vess, 77, of Grover, North Carolina, passed away on December 6, 2024 at Atrium Health Pineville in Charlotte. Born November 30, 1947 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Ruby Lee Chapman and was also preceded in death by her daughter, Amanda Curtis,...

Dec 4, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Winona Echols Bridges

Our Savior brought Winona Echols Bridges home on December 3, 2024. Winona, 88, of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, was born March 14, 1936 in Jackson County, Georgia, daughter of the late Vernon and Mabel Tucker Vickery and was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Seabron Marvin...

Dec 1, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA William "Bill" Stewart

William "Bill" Henry Stewart, 75, of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, passed away on December 1, 2024 at Testa Family Hospice House in Kings Mountain. Born February 17, 1949 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Francis Palmer and Tracy M. Stewart Sr. Bill served...

Nov 30, 2024

DATELINE: BESSEMER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA Ronnie "Romie" Lee Philbeck

Ronnie Lee Philbeck , 84, of Bessemer City, NC, passed away on November 30, 2024 at Peak Resources Gastonia in Gastonia, NC. He was born October 7, 1940 in Cleveland County, NC, son of the late John Lee and Kathleen Irene Spurling Philbeck and was preceded in death...

Nov 30, 2024

DATELINE: GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA Raymond Keith Gore

Raymond Keith Gore, 76, of Gastonia, NC, passed away on November 30, 2024 at Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, NC. He was born July 2, 1948 in Cleveland County, NC, son of the late Harley Raymond Gore and Mary Wells Wood and was preceded in death by a daughter,...

Nov 28, 2024

DATELINE:  LAWNDALE, NORTH CAROLINA Joyce Ann Ratley

Joyce Ann Ratley, 76, of Lawndale, NC, passed away on November 28, 2024 at Wendover Hospice House in Shelby, NC. Born June 17, 1948 in Cleveland Co., NC, She was the Daughter of the late Otis Winslow Greene and Ruth Blanton Greene and was preceded in death by brother, Dean...

Nov 25, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA

Olive Marie Oesch Olive Marie Oesch went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, the 25th of November, 2024, surrounded by her family at the Wendover Hospice House in Shelby, NC. The daughter of the late Maude Louise Walden Krisher and the late Ralph Edward Krisher, Olive was...

Nov 25, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Billie Mabry Tedder

Billie Mabry Tedder, 86, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on November 25, 2024 at White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain, NC. She was born August 25, 1938 in Cleveland County, NC, the only child of the late Hoyle and Eloise Payne Mabry and was preceded in death by...

Nov 21, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Regina "Gina" Keough Hutto

Regina "Gina" Keough Hutto, 63, of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, passed away on November 21, 2024 at her home, Born August 25, 1961 in Andrews, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Michael Harley Keough and Amanda Shope and was also preceded in death by two...

Nov 19, 2024

JOHN MARCUS CONNOR, JR.

-John Marcus Connor,   John was born on November 14, 1945 in Kinston, NC, the son of John Marcus Connor and Emma Amanda Gower Connor.  John grew up in Atlantic, NC and later moved to Biscoe, NC.  He attended East Montgomery High School graduating in 1964.  As a Morehead scholar nominee, he attended the...

Nov 15, 2024

DATELINE: SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA James "Jim" A. Upton James (Jim) A. Upton, 82, of Shelby, NC, went home to be with his heavenly Father on Wednesday, November 15, 2024. Born on August 3, 1942, he was the son of the late Viola Johnson and James Theodore Upton. Jim retired from Hoechst Celanese as a human resource supervisor after a...

Nov 13, 2024

DATELINE: PINEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA George Nathan Lovelace, Jr. (91), known by many as “Jake”, passed away at home on November 13, 2024. He was born on May 25, 1933 in Cleveland County, NC to the late George (Nathan) Lovelace, Sr. and his wife, Sarah Patterson Lovelace. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved...

Nov 13, 2024

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA Michael Steven Smith

Michael Steven Smith, 78, slipped quietly away from his earthly home in Kings Mountain, North Carolina and transitioned to his heavenly home on November 13, 2024. Michael was born in Kings Mountain on August 18, 1946, and spent most of his life involved in many activities in town. He...