Area Obituaries

Douglas Lee Rider, 72, of the Bethlehem Community, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at his residence. Douglas was born July 22, 1946, in Buffalo, New York, the son of the late Edward Rider and Evelyn Chase Rider. He was a US Marine veteran. Douglas was the owner and operator of Rider Towing and…

Nita Pyatt Wagoner, 97, of Taylorsville, passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community in Winston-Salem. She was born September 30, 1921, in McDowell County, the daughter of the late John Sam Pyatt and Etta Holland Pyatt. Mrs. Wagoner graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory and taught in the…

Lawrence Stephen “Steve” Kelsoe, 62, of Taylorsville, passed away at his residence on July 3, 2019. He was born to the late Kermit Kelsoe and Joyce Barnes Hodge. Steve served in the U.S. Army from 1977 until 1980 and was last stationed at Fort Richard, Alaska. He worked in the shipping department in the furniture…

Henrietta C. Howell, 82, of West Jay Drive, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 in Iredell Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was born on August 28, 1936, in Alexander County, to the late Eliza Watts Moser and late Harold M. Moser. She joined Macedonia at an early age, but at the…

Elaine Carolyn Smith, 75, passed away on July 2, 2019 at Carolina Caring of Catawba County after a short period of illness. Elaine was born to the late Cloyde and Jewell Smith. She was a member at Antioch Baptist Church. Those left to cherish the memories of Elaine include a son, Jeff, and a daughter,…

Bernerd Eugene Watts, 56, of Taylorsville, passed away on July 2, 2019 at his residence after a period of declining health. Bernerd was born on August 2, 1962 to Jimmie and Linda Barnes Watts. He was a member at Lebanon Baptist Church, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and singing. Those left to cherish the memories of…

Myrna Crouch Sherrill, 81, of Millersville Road, Taylorsville, departed this life on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Gordon Hospice House. Myrna was born September 24, 1937, in Alexander County, at the family home in the Drumstand Community. She was the fourth and youngest child of the late Parks M. Crouch and Laura E. Drum Crouch.…

James Lynule Rogers, 55, of Taylorsville, passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at his residence. Born November 1, 1963, in Surry County, he was the son of the late Bobby Rogers and Betty Pruitt Rogers Miller of Taylorsville. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a nephew, Michael Seth Marsh. In…

Mary Ann Crouch, 63, of Taylorsville, passed away on June 24, 2019 at her residence after a period of declining health. Mary was born to Jerry Lee Hefner and Katherine Louise Trimm Hendrix. She was a member at The Purpose Church in Taylorsville, was considered artistic, loved to paint, loved her church, loved her “woman’s…