Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park

Arthur "Roy" Curphey, Jr., age 80, passed away on November 26, 2024. He was born on February 21, 1944 in Dade City, Fl to the late Arthur Roy Curphey, Sr. and Lillian Victoria Wimberly. Roy graduated in the class of 1963 from Palm Beach High. He then continued his education earning a bachelor's degree from St. Leo University in Tampa, FL. He was a Machinist at Pratt Whitney in West Palm Beach until joining the Air Force in 1964. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park. A committal service with full military honors will immediately follow at Gaston Memorial Park. To view the full obituary...

Bernice Weaver Navey, age 93, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2024. She was born on April 9, 1931 in Cleveland Co, NC. A visitation will be held from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Stanley, 409 Old Mt. Holly Road, Stanley, NC 28164 with the Celebration of Life Service beginning at 1:00 pm. A committal service will follow at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery. Please visit www.carothersfuneralhomestanley.com to view the full obituary and leave online condolences for the family.

Sammy Ray Oxendine, 80, of Cramerton, NC, died November 8, 2024, at home surrounded by his family. Sammy was born on April 7, 1944, in Asheville, NC, the son of the late Sam and Tilda Oxendine. He accepted Christ at the age of 8, and was Spirit filled at Youth Camp at the age of 11. After graduating from Holbrook High School in Lowell, NC, he received a BA in English from Belmont Abbey College; an MA in English from Appalachian State University; and an Ed.D in Curriculum from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sammy taught English and served as assistant principal at Holbrook High School from 1966-69. He served as Program Director and Assistant Superintendent at the Church...

Michelle Kester Pittillo, born August 2, 1971, in Shelby, NC, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on September 22, 2024, at Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, NC, at the age of 53. Michelle was predeceased by her beloved grandparents, John and Sedahlia Kester of Shelby, NC, and Whit and Kathleen Williams of Chesapeake, VA. She is survived by her loving daughter Bethany Diegelman Self, granddaughter Eisley Kester Self, grandson Jake Lucas Self, her devoted parents Jim and Becky Kester, her sister Kristen Kester, her brother Adam Kester and his partner Javier Santana, and her life partner Jeff Meeks. A dedicated and compassionate registered nurse, Michelle worked for...

Frank J. Barbara was born April 4, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York and he passed away peacefully, in his sleep, in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 15, 2024 in Stanley, North Carolina. Frank worked for the DOT of New York State for 35 years. He proudly served his country in The United States Army during the Korean War. Frank was an avid golfer and hunter. He loved being out in the woods. Frank especially loved dancing with his dear wife, Ann. Frank was also active in the communities where he lived. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, The Elks Club, The Italian American Club, where he was a past President. He also held membership at local golf courses in Watertown, NY and...

Edward Paul Bowers, 73, of Charlotte, NC passed away on Tuesday September 10, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC. Edward was born in Louisiana on the Air Force base and grew up around the country, including several years in Glasgow, Montana. He returned to his parents hometown in Elizabethton, TN where he graduated from Elizabethton High School. He did his undergraduate education at East Tennessee State University in 1972, where he graduated cum laude, and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. Professionally, Edward was a Certified Public Accountant, served as a Lions International Lion of the Year 1979-1980, North Carolina Jaycees and was State President's Award of Excellence while serving as Treasurer for...

Edward Paul Bowers, 73, of Charlotte, NC passed away on Tuesday September 10, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC. Edward was born in Louisiana on the Air Force base and grew up around the country, including several years in Glasgow, Montana. He returned to his parents hometown in Elizabethton, TN where he graduated from Elizabethton High School. He did his undergraduate education at East Tennessee State University in 1972, where he graduated cum laude, and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. Professionally, Edward was a Certified Public Accountant, served as a Lions International Lion of the Year 1979-1980, North Carolina Jaycees and was State President's Award of Excellence while serving as Treasurer for...

Donald Wayne Hancock, 89, of Candler, NC passed away peacefully on May 14, 2024. Donald was born on January 7, 1935 in Durham, NC to the late Rev. John W. Hancock and Lillie Mae Rigsbee Hancock. Don was preceded in death by his loving wife, Nona Sutton Hancock. He passed on what would be their 70th wedding anniversary. Nona was from West Virginia and on a family vacation to North Carolina, they stopped at Hancock's General Store in Durham, NC. Don was working that day and saw Nona when they pulled up. He went out, pumped their gas, and never looked back. One could say that golf was Don's third child. Many events were planned around his golf games, but one thing that was not, was his...

John Edward Chesser, Sr., passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 9, 2024 at his home in Davidson, N.C. He was with his wife, Rose, of 65 years. He was 92 years old. Born in Columbia, S.C. on December 2, 1931, John (his family and friends called him "Johnny") was the youngest of seven children. After the death of his father when he was 7, his family relocated to Lancaster, S.C. He graduated from Lancaster High in 1950 and went on to graduate from Belmont Abbey College in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Cold War, and when he returned, he married his sweetheart, Rose Hammond. John and Rose had four children in Lancaster, and John pursued a career in sales....

Patricia Ruth Cunnup Patterson, 81, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, died Wednesday evening, September 27, 2023, at CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Patterson was born August 18, 1942 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the youngest daughter of the late Clyde McElwain Cunnup and Ruby Lee Plyer Cunnup. She married Woodrow W. Patterson, Jr., on June 14, 1963. He survives. She was a 1960 graduate of Fort Mill High School and retired from Saurer in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2001. Mrs. Patterson was a woman of God and understood her responsibility to introduce her family to Jesus and prayed diligently for their relationship in Him to grow and flourish. She was affectionately known as Nanny to...

Linda Darnell Bush Insley, 77, of Gastonia, NC transcended to her heavenly home on September 4, 2023, surrounded by her loving family following a long and fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. Linda was born to the late John Isaac and Ruth Moore Bush in Augusta, GA. One of five children, Linda always had a thirst for knowledge and loved school as well as basketball and cheerleading. She later received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her greatest joy, however, was her five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Linda was known for her kind, loving, and welcoming nature. She genuinely loved people and was a...

Linda Darnell Bush Insley, 77, of Gastonia, NC transcended to her heavenly home on September 4, 2023, surrounded by her loving family following a long and fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. Please visit www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com to view the full obituary and to leave condolences for the Insley Family.

Shirley McFarland Hurst, 79 born in Durham, NC 1943, passed away on July 26, 2023 at Courtland Terrace in Gastonia, NC. She graduated from Durham High School in 1961 and declined education at Duke University in favor of getting married and being a mother. She eventually worked for and retired from Human Resources at Wake County Govt. Shirley was an avid reader and had a passion for writing. She enjoyed playing word games, especially scrabble. Shirley loved listening to music throughout her life and played piano when younger. She could talk hours on the phone and never had trouble being liked. She was a devoted mother to two children, Tish Halle (Steve) of Rockville, MD and Dr. Brad...

Robert "Bob" George Carlson, 85, of Alexis, NC passed away peacefully on Friday May 12, 2023. Bob was born August 9, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin to the late Lydia (Kessler) and Axel H. Carlson. Bob lived an active life and enjoyed working. Bob was a supervisor at Valmet, a Paper Machine Manufacturing Facility, and in his later years worked as a maintainer at Hillcrest Garden Cemetery in Mount Holly, North Carolina - retiring at the age of 79. Bob loved to work with his hands. He enjoyed carpentry and making all types of wood crafts. Bob was a dedicated gardener who was happy to give away fruits and vegetables. He also liked to hunt, fish, and go elk watching. Bob affected many lives...

Mary Lynn (Ollis) Garland, 82, of Stanley, NC passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Mary was a long time resident of Stanley, but she was born in Mitchell County, NC and she never felt far from her Mountain roots. Mary graduated from Bowman High School in 1959 where she was an all-county basketball player and proudly wore the number 35. Mary loved the outdoors and she enjoyed hiking and exploring new trails with her husband, LH. Mary also enjoyed quilting and crocheting and she spent many hours making each of her children a beautiful quilt to enjoy and cherish her memory. Her family, friends and neighbors will all miss her dearly. Mary is the daughter of the late...

John "Jack" Harve Moore, 82, of Cramerton, NC passed away Friday, February 17th 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Elzie and Marie Moore, an infant sister, and a brother Oll Daniel Moore. John was born in Cocke County, TN, but spent most of his life in North Carolina. He was a believer in the Christian faith, endowed with three gifts from God; music, singing, and dreams. Musically, Jack had the ability to perform with a variety of instruments, such as the guitar, piano, mandolin, fiddle, and many others. After his long-term career in textiles, he later retired from Lowes and Hampton Inn. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Clevenger Moore, and two sons, Abraham...

John "Jack" Harve Moore, 82, of Cramerton, NC passed away Friday, February 17th 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Elzie and Marie Moore, an infant sister, and a brother Oll Daniel Moore. John was born in Cocke County, TN, but spent most of his life in North Carolina. He was a believer in the Christian faith, endowed with three gifts from God; music, singing, and dreams. Musically, Jack had the ability to perform with a variety of instruments, such as the guitar, piano, mandolin, fiddle, and many others. After his long-term career in textiles, he later retired from Lowes and Hampton Inn. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Clevenger Moore, and two sons, Abraham...