Area Obituaries

Mary Alice Wike Childers, 91, of Taylorsville, passed away on Monday, December 3, 2018, at Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born April 22, 1927, in Alexander County, daughter of the late Wilson Roby and Sadie Allen Wike. Alice was a lifelong member at East Taylorsville Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school…

Clint Morton, 49, of Duck Hollow Lane, Taylorsville, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 3, 2018, in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Mr. Morton was born May 5, 1969, in Iredell County, the son of Hubert Clinton Morton, II and Penny Isenhour Moore. He had an Associate’s Degree from Catawba Valley Technical College in Automation Robotics Technology and…

Gerald Blane Sopher, 64, passed away on Monday, December 3, 2018 at Carolina Caring in Newton. Mr. Sopher was born October 20, 1954, in Venango County, Pennsylvania, the son of Dessie Marie Fix Sopher of Taylorsville and the late Jack Blaine Sopher. He was a US Air Force veteran, and a US Navy Gun Systems…

Rachel Flostina Wagner, 92, of Alexander County, died Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Lenoir Health Care Center. She was born on April 27, 1926 to the late Theodore Wagner and Lelia Teague Wagner. Rachel received a B.S. degree in education from Lenoir Rhyne College and a Master’s degree from Appalachian State University. She retired after…

Linda H. Rogers, 71, of Hwy 16 North, Taylorsville, passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville. Mrs. Rogers was born December 16, 1946, in Catawba County, the daughter of the late Earl Hand and Blonnie Cline Hand. She was a homemaker and of the Christian faith. She kept the home…

Martha Louise Bennett, 71, of Taylorsville, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Born April 30, 1947 to Maura Martha Vonicia Johnson, she was a graduate of Happy Plains High School, Class of 1965. She was retired from Tyson Foods, Wilkesboro, and was a life long member of Zion…

Gerald D. Fox, 70, of Goldenrod Drive, Taylorsville, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at his residence. Mr. Fox was born July 30, 1948, in Catawba County, the son of the late Paul Fox and Dorothy Williams Fox. He worked as a self-employed heavy machine operator and was of the Christian faith. He…

Texie Millsaps Branton, 100, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018 at her residence. Mrs. Branton was born February 10, 1918, in Alexander County, the daughter of the late Edward A. Millsaps and Pearlie Elizabeth Parker Millsaps. She was a homemaker and a charter member of Fairview Baptist Church. She was always a dedicated, faithful…

Mary Helen Barnes Steele, 83, of Hickory, passed away November 26, 2018 at her residence. Born December 25, 1934, in Stony Point, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Mary Stikeleather Barnes. Helen and her siblings, were raised and graduates of the Barium Springs Presbyterian Orphanage, where she excelled in basketball. She…

Earl Wayne Sweet, 72, of Little Rock Road, Taylorsville, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018 at Gateway Rehabilitation in Lenoir. Mr. Sweet was born May 15, 1946, in Alexander County, the son of the late William Lloyd Sweet and Minnie Starnes Sweet. He was a painter by trade and a faithful member of Millersville…