Mary Lee Isaacs Davidson, 75, died on Oct. 3, 2009, in a Royal Oak, MI hospital. She had lived in Royal Oak for about 50 years, having lived in Madison Heights several years before that.

She was born in the Cove Creek Township of Watauga County on May 3, 1934, a daughter of Lawson Lee Isaacs and Delia Alice Williams Isaacs. Her paternal grandparents were Noah Isaacs and Callie Stout Isaacs. Her maternal grandparents were Arthur Claud Williams and Dessie Eller Williams.

In addition to her parents and grandparents, Mary Lee was pre-deceased by both her first husband and father of her children, Charles Byars; and second husband, Jesse Davidson. Two daughters pre-deceased Mary Lee. Her only brother, Robert Lawson Isaacs passed away on May 28, 2009.

Survivors include daughter, Debbie Anderson and husband, Louell, and children and adopted granddaughter, Tracy Davidson and her children.

Mary Lee's two surviving sisters are Jeanne Isaacs of Smyrna, Ga. and Judy Witten of Painstville, Ky. Several nephews, nieces, and cousins survive. Surviving paternal aunts are Edith Arnold of Mountain City, Tenn., Ruth Parks of Roanoke, Va., and Delrae McGuire and Blanche Rominger of Vilas.

Her two surviving maternal aunts are Helen W.K. Orr and husband, Ralph, of Gun Lake, MI, and Shirley W. Potter and husband, James, of Piney Flats, Tenn.

Ferndale Free Methodist Church and William Sullivan and Son Funeral Directors of Royal Oak served the family. Rev. Scott Gentry, Sr. officiated. Final resting place is White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, MI.

As is befitting of a rogue gentleman captain, Michael John Mullarkey passed away on St. Crispin's Day, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at the age of 4,257, after a valiant joust with invading forces.

Michael spent the greater part of his adult life battling demons and showing others how to conquer theirs. As a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, poet, historian, model ship builder, and Greatest Story Teller of the Mississippi, Michael was a romantic soul who made this world a more colorful and palatable place for the hopeful and misunderstood. Michael also protected and defended in the U.S. Army for 14 years.

Michael began his life in, California, moved to Hawaii, Wisconsin, and completed his adventure in the mountains of North Carolina.

He is survived by his spouse, muse and lifelong cohort in adventure, Judy Ferris. Also, his mother, Joyce; brothers Sean (Rosemary), Kevin (Leslie), and Patrick; sisters, Mary (Alan) Brown, Kathleen (Daniel) Lamasney, and a daughter, Michelle (Andy) Wendling.

He is preceded in death by his father, Robert; and a sister Margie.

Michael touched many souls in this world, and allowed many to touch his. Special tip of the hat to Jacinta, Steve, Hillary, and Chris.

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;

It yearns me not if men my garments wear;

Such outward things dwell not in my desires.

But if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive.

Celebration of Life Services for Michael Mullarkey will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Boone, N.C.

Fare thee well, Brave Soul

Donations may be made to Michael's memorial fund, care of Austin & Barnes Funeral Home, 194 Queen Street, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Online condolences may be sent at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Rosa Jane Presnell, 85, of 211 Wiley Harmon Road, Banner Elk, died Monday morning, Nov. 3, 2009, at Watauga Medical Center.

She was born July 11, 1924 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Roby and Buna Hicks.

Mrs. Presnell was a homemaker and a member of Beech Valley Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Jay Presnell and wife, Reta, of Banner Elk, and Dennis Presnell and wife, Sandy, of Boone; four grandsons, Chris Presnell and wife, Amanda, and Jason Presnell and wife, Candace, all of Banner Elk, and Sean Presnell, and Lance Presnell, both of Boone; one granddaughter, Sherry Chavez of Newbern, N.C.; one great-grandson, Christopher Presnell of Banner Elk; and two great-granddaughters, Lindsay Presnell and Maddison Presnell, both of Banner Elk. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Nelson Presnell; one great-grandson, Angel David Chavez; seven brothers, Leander, Floyd, Captain, Linzy, Gordon, Dewey, and Stanley Hicks; and two sisters, Hattie Presnell and Darcy Hicks.

Services were conducted Thursday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2009, at 2:00 o'clock, at Beech Valley Baptist Church. Officiating were the Rev. Bill Warren, the Rev. Quincy Norris, and the Rev. Josh Hamby. Burial followed in Beech Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the Presnell family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Olivia "Lib" Walker Story, 85, of Union Grove Road, Lenoir, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at Valdese General Hospital.

She was born Sept. 28, 1924 in Caldwell County, to the late Clarence and Esther Blankenship Walker.

Mrs. Story was retired from the United States Postal Service after 37 years and was a member of Central Advent Christian Church.

Survivors include two sons, Mickey Story and wife, Anne, of Newton and Barry Story and wife, Susan, of Granite Falls; one daughter, Ms. Pat Robbins of Lenoir; and one brother, Ray Walker of Boone.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Marion Story; one sister, Sybil Walker Shaw; and one brother, Willard Walker.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Ed Neal and the Rev. Marshall Tidwell. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., one hour prior to the service, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645 or to Central Advent Christian Church, 104 Willow Street, Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Sudia Grimes Mathes, 88, of Norwood Hollow Road, Banner Elk, and a former resident of Boone, died Saturday morning, Oct. 31, 2009, at Life Care Center.  
Born Dec. 13, 1920 in Avery County, she was a daughter of the late Harrison and Rosie Belle Whittington Grimes.
Mrs. Mathes was a faithful member of the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church and was a homemaker.  
Surviving are: one son, James Keyes of Boone; two sisters, Annie Mae Means of Audubon, Pa., and Billie Jean Boots of Atlantic City, N.J.; two stepsons, Hubert Mathes of Maiden and Robert Mathes of Raleigh; and seven grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild.  
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Mathes; one son, Harold Keyes; four sisters, Gladys Warren, Bertha Gentry, Alberta Parker and Rosa Lee Grimes; and four brothers, the Rev. Clinton Grimes, Gus, Dallas and Buster Grimes.
Services will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.  Officiating will be Pastor Reggie Hunt and the Rev. Morris Hatton. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. At other times, friends may call at the residence, 360 Junaluska Road, Boone.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boone Mennonite Brethren Church, in care of Tonia Coles, 336 Junaluska Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.  
Online condolences may be sent to the Mathes family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Mathes family.

Ms. Lindy Sue Watson, 58, of Wildcat Road, Deep Gap, died Thursday evening, Oct. 29, 2009, at Life Care Center in Banner Elk.  
Born Dec. 16, 1950 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of the late Levi Ira and Ruby Fern Watson. Lindy was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Paran Baptist Church
Surviving are her brothers and sisters, Barbara Stewart and husband, Bill, of Deep Gap, Wayne Watson and wife, Nellie, of Lenoir, Claude Watson and wife, Betty, of Patterson, Ruth Widener and husband, the Rev. Clarence Widener, of Lenoir, Janice Miller and husband, Stanley, of Deep Gap,  Roy Watson and wife, Faye, of Fleetwood, Joyce Scarberry and husband, Larry, of Granite Falls, David Watson of Deep Gap and Marty Watson and wife, Christine, of Deep Gap; a special nephew, James Watson and wife, Becky, of Arizona; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.  
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by Bud Auton Jr.
Services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 4  at Mt. Paran Baptist Church. Officiating were the Rev. Rick Cornejo, the Rev. Andy Watson and the Rev. David Testerman.  Burial   followed in the church cemetery.  
Online condolences may be sent to the Watson family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.  
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Watson family.

Mrs. Lucie Block de Ruyter, 85, of Blowing Rock and a former resident of Joe Shoemaker Road, Vilas, died Saturday evening, Sept. 26, 2009, at Blowing Rock Hospital.
Surviving are five children, Maryke Schooler of Indiana, Ellen Forbes of New York, Lydia de Ruyter of Seattle, Wash., Paul de Ruyter of Massachusetts and Nancy Crowell of Boone; and 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William de Ruyter.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hope Christian Fellowship Church on State Farm Road with Harvey Bauman officiating.
Online condolences may be sent to the de Ruyter family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the de Ruyter family.

Zeola Hughes Perkins, 86, of the Buladean, N.C. community, passed away Oct. 29, 2009 at the Glenbridge Health and Rehab in Boone.
She was a native of Mitchell County, N.C., and was the daughter of the late David and Hannah Garland Hughes. She was a homemaker and enjoyed making afghans for her family and friends.
She was a member of St. Paul Freewill Baptist Church and was a member of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include:  son, J.C. Perkins and wife, Erma, of King, N.C.; a daughter, Doris Storie and her husband, Marvin K., of Boone; grandchildren, Joey Perkins, Regina Gordon, Tonya Barlow, Sheila  Storie and Claudia Cook; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Lucas, Garrett, Aaron, Taylor, Korbel and Carson; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Perkins, who passed away in 2000, two sisters and seven brothers.
A celebration of life was held, Sunday, Nov. 1,  at 7 p.m. in St. Paul Freewill Baptist Church. Roger Laws and Scott Jenkins officiated.  Interment was Monday, Nov. 2,  at 11 a.m. in the Hughes Cemetery, located on Blevins Branch Road.
Memorials may be made to:  Hospice of Mitchell County, P.O. Box 38, Spruce Pine, N.C. 28777, Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, N.C. 28607, or Gideons International, Mitchell County Camp, P.O. Box 611, Spruce Pine, N.C. 28777.
Henline-Hughes is assisting the Perkins family.

Michael Raymond Lein, 45, of Clover Church Road, Granite Falls, passed away Oct. 20, 2009 at his residence.
He was born May 19, 1964 in Ogden, Utah, to Raymond P. Lein of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Mariam M. Hardy of Conway, Ark., and was raised in the Fort Pierce area of Florida.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his loving partner of eight years, James W. Miller Jr. of the home; a sister, Michelle Housley of Conway, Ark.; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins in New York, Florida and Tennessee; one uncle, William Moseley of Edinburgh, Scotland; and his partner, James Miller of the home.
He was a graduate of Merritt Island High School and attended Webster College and Ramussen College.
While living in Blowing Rock, he was president of MRL Design Group, his interior design firm.
A cowboy and horseman, he was a loving person, who was loved by all who met him. He was the sole caring, loving caregiver for James' mother, Mary, the last three years of her life. He loved his mini-schnauzers, that he called his babies, and his horse Scout.
Services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 2  p.m. at Bass-Smith Granite Chapel with the Rev. Jack McConnell officiating. The family will receive friends at Bass-Smith Granite prior to the service from 1 to 2  p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Burial will follow in the Sunset Hills Cemetery.
Bass-Smith Granite is serving the family of Michael Raymond Lein.

Mr. Glenn Ford, 87, of 560 Pine Branch Road, Boone, died Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, 2009, at his home.
Mr. Ford was born May 10, 1922 in Watauga County, a son of the late  Filmore and Martha Blanche Coffey Ford. He was a retired salesman and supervisor for Coca Cola Bottling Company, and a member of Laurel Springs Baptist Church.
Glenn served in the United States Army during World War II.
Mr. Ford is survived by his wife, Brooke Stanbery Ford of the home; two daughters, Rebecca Barkley and husband, H.E, of Columbia, S.C., and Marian Ford of Hickory; one son, Mark Ford and wife, Gail, of Boone; one sister, Mary Belle Hampton of Lenoir; two granddaughters, Erin Ford Patterson and husband, John, of Boone, and Meredith Barkley Murphy and husband, Andy, of Columbia; one grandson, Michael Barkley of Columbia; and one great-granddaughter, Lauren Patterson of Boone.
He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters,  Pansy Jackson, Ellen Harrison and Sadie Church, and six brothers, Stewart, Ralph, Frank, Ingle, Blaine and Farthing Ford.
Services were conducted, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. at Laurel Springs Baptist
Church. Officiating were the Rev. Brent Bolick and Dr. Matt Brown.
Burial followed in Laurel Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Laurel Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, or to the Laurel Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 7504 U.S. Highway 421 South, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Online condolences may be sent to the Ford family at
www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Judge Dixie Louese Herlong Chastain, a Miami pioneer, passed away peacefully on Oct. 25, 2009 at the age of 100.
Judge Chastain was born May 15, 1909 in Manistee, Alab., and was preceded in death by her parents, James and Edith Herlong; her sister, Edith Herlong Jacobs; and her beloved husband of 55 years, Reginald Bryan Chastain.  
Judge Chastain is survived by her children, Reginald Bryan Chastain, Jr. (Joann) of Blowing Rock, Richard Herlong Chastain (Linda) of Birmingham, Ala., and Dixie Chastain Lemons of Miami.  
She is also survived by grandchildren Deborah Chastain, Jodie Copeland, Laura Jones (Bill), Heather Stubblefield (Mark), Robert Lemons (Sharon), and Richard Lemons (Lori).
"Grammy" was a loving source of inspiration and nurture to her great-grandchildren Hannah Copeland, Ella Copeland, Amanda Jones Robinson, Emily Jones, Jack Stubblefield, Laura Lemons, Robert Lemons III, C.J. Lemons, Steven Lemons, Richard Lemons II, Victoria Lemons and Jonathan Lemons.
Judge Chastain moved to Princeton, Fla., as a child and later to Miami. She graduated from the original Miami Senior High School at the age of 16, and after a year at Stetson University in Deland, she enrolled at the newly opened University of Miami, where she received her law degree magna cum laude in 1930.  
Dixie Chastain was the first woman graduate from the University of Miami Law School. In June 1930, she was the youngest woman to be admitted to the Florida Bar Association and was also admitted to the United States District Courts that year.  
Later, Janet Reno, attorney general of the United States, said in a speech that Dixie Chastain's example motivated her to study the law and pursue her career as a lawyer.  Judge Chastain's whole life was a shining example to all women that you can accomplish any goal you wish if you will only persevere.
Judge Chastain was a member of the Miami Woman's Club, Miami Pioneers, Everglades Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star, Soroptimists, Dade County and American Bar associations, World Peace through Law, the Young Democratic Club of Dade County, and many other professional and service organizations.  She was also a deacon at Central Baptist Church, where she was a member for more than 50 years.
She and her husband, Reginald "Reggie" Chastain, loved to travel and took numerous trips to Europe, South America and Asia, including one trip around the world.  When they were not traveling, Judge Chastain and her husband spent summers at their home in the mountains of North Carolina.  
After her retirement, she traveled extensively in the United States and Canada with her children.  
Well into her 90s, she enjoyed welcoming family and friends to her mountain home and participating in family and church functions at the First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock.
Judge Chastain was appointed to the bench in the late 1950s and served as a juvenile court judge until her retirement in 1979 at age 70.  She continued to serve as a supernumerary judge until her final retirement in 1995. In 1977, the "Dixie Herlong Chastain Juvenile Court Building" was named by the Dade County Commission in her honor.
In Judge Chastain's later years, she received recognition as one of "Florida's First 150 Women Lawyers," the "Woman of Impact" award, the world "Who's Who of Women" and many other similar awards.
While she was accomplishing all of this with grace and quiet dignity, her lasting legacy will be what she taught her grandchildren and great-grandchildren by example. She always had time to listen, suggest, support and unconditionally love each of them. They learned from her the importance of family, education, pride in doing your best and that life was too interesting to ever be bored.
Judge Dixie Chastain was a truly remarkable woman who will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
The celebration of her life will be Nov. 9 at 2 p.m., with Dr. Marshall Edwards, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock, officiating. Private burial will follow the service.  
The family requests in place of flowers that donations be made to Florida Baptist Children's Homes, (reference) Safe Families Program, 7748 SW 95th Terrace, Miami, FL 33156 in Judge Chastain's honor.

Mrs. Hazel Ashley of Mountain City, Tenn., passed away on Oct. 30, 2009 at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation of Boone.

Mrs. Ashley was born Sept. 19, 1924 in Watauga County to the late George and Lona Hollars Eggers.

In addition to her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Ashley, a well-known local business man and community leader; two sisters,  Rosa Goodson and Bina Townsend; and four brothers,  Frank Eggers, Bob Eggers, Carol Eggers and Eugene Eggers.

Hazel and J.D. were the proprietors and owners of Boone Trail Dairy Bar, which was a landmark business of Johnson County for more than 50 years. Mrs. Ashley continued to operate and serve her customers alongside of her faithful employees until her health declined while at work in 2007.  Following her illness, the Dairy Bar was closed and has been truly missed by everyone.

She was a member of Roan Creek Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Ashley is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Marian Ashley of Boone; three sisters,  Ruth Cook and husband, Doc, of Boone, Lucy Warren of Sawmills, N.C., and Joan Aldridge of Jacksboro, Tenn.; three brothers,  Tom Eggers of Sawmills, N.C., Charlie Eggers and wife, Martha, of Boone  and Gurney Eggers and wife, Elaine, of Lake City, Tenn.; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many special friends, including her co-workers at the Boone Trail Dairy Bar.

The service was held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2,  from the Mountain City Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ed Warren  officiating.

Graveside service and interment followed at the Ashley-Jennings Cemetery, located on Forge Road.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.mountaincityfuneralhome.com.

The family of Hazel Ashley has entrusted her services to Mountain City Funeral Home, 224 S. Church St., Mountain City, Tenn.