BASS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME

Marie Gorupic 03/07/1948 - 05/09/2023 Marie Hunsucker Gorupic entered her eternal home with her Heavenly Father on May 9,th 2023. Born March 7th, 1948, in Conover, NC to Dorothy Hunsucker Sanders and Robert Lee Hunsucker, Marie lived her life in the Hickory area. She made a living as a cosmetologist and beauty salon owner. Marie had a way of not only making people feel beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too. As a child, Marie was a mischievous yet loving little girl and as she grew her fun loving yet compassionate ways gained her countless friends. If there ever was a life of the party, it was Marie! She always kept her friends and family laughing hysterically with her dinner...

KATHRYN "KATHY" ANN BALDWIN, 74, of Maiden, NC, passed away of natural causes on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 5:03 pm EST at the Hickory Village Memory Care Facility with her son, Richard, by her side. She was a former resident of Princeton, WV. She is survived by her son, Lt Col Richard Wayne Baldwin, USAF, 55, and his wife, Kimberly Ann Baldwin, 55, both of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. BIOGRAPHY: Kathy was born on July 7, 1948, in Monroe, NC. She spent her youth in the Monroe area until her graduation in 1966 from Sun Valley High School. Following graduation, she moved to the Maiden, NC area and later gave birth to her son, Richard, in 1967. In 1974, she moved to the west coast and lived...

KATHRYN "KATHY" ANN BALDWIN, 74, of Maiden, NC, passed away of natural causes on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 5:03 pm EST at the Hickory Village Memory Care Facility with her son, Richard, by her side. She was a former resident of Princeton, WV. She is survived by her son, Lt Col Richard Wayne Baldwin, USAF, 55, and his wife, Kimberly Ann Baldwin, 55, both of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. BIOGRAPHY: Kathy was born on July 7, 1948, in Monroe, NC. She spent her youth in the Monroe area until her graduation in 1966 from Sun Valley High School. Following graduation, she moved to the Maiden, NC area and later gave birth to her son, Richard, in 1967. In 1974, she moved to the west coast and lived in the...

John was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 18, 1946. He was a graduate of Tulsa Memorial High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1968. He went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1972. He completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Virginia. In 1976, he partnered with Dr. James Hodges, Dr. Lee Young and Dr. William Thompson, founding Hickory Family Practice Associates. Soon after starting his practice, he met and married the love of his life, Jane Sementilli Earl. They were married January 6, 1979. Dr. Earl was a beloved physician for 40 years and cared for his patients...

Dr.John Keith Earl, MD, of Hickory passed away peacefully at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. He was lovingly surrounded by his family. John was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 18, 1946. He was a graduate of Tulsa Memorial High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1968. He went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1972. He completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Virginia. In 1976, he partnered with Dr. James Hodges, Dr. Lee Young and Dr. William Thompson, founding Hickory Family Practice Associates. Soon after starting his practice, he met...

Ellen Boykin Lane Haggar, 69, died September 13 after a period of declining health. The daughter of the late Robert P. Lane and Ellen Bell Lane, she was born in North Hampton, MA, and grew up in Rock Hill, SC. After graduating from UNC at Greensboro, she received a master's degree in English from the University of South Carolina and did further graduate work there and at Duke University where she also taught freshman English classes. After teaching for several years at the College of Charleston, she married Sam Haggar and they moved to Pikesville, MD. Upon his death, she returned to Rock Hill where she worked at Comporium and cared for her mother. In 2019 she moved to...

Forrest Andrew Ferrell, 84, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Born August 26, 1938 in Greensboro North Carolina he was the son of the late Henry Clifton Ferrell and Louise Williams Ferrell. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Henry Clifton Ferrell, Jr. of Greenville N.C. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Becky Hailey Ferrell, daughters Hailey Lail (Scott), Sarah Temple (Jack) and Leslie Forrest Ferrell; grandchildren Graham Banks Lail, Ferrell Moore Lail, Jack Edward Temple and Sierra Louise Temple; brother Malcolm Rea Ferrell (Alexey) of Greensboro, Helen Morton (Richard) of Greensboro, Anne Quillen (Bill) of...

Hazel Belcher Sprinkle, 91, of Granite Falls, NC, departed for her heavenly home on Sunday, May 8, 2022 surrounded by loved ones. She was born September 10, 1930 in Tazewell, VA. She was a former resident of Chesapeake, VA and Madison Heights, VA. She was the daughter of the late John Belcher and Savanna Harvey Belcher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond McKinley Sprinkle Sr.; infant son, Jerry Allen Sprinkle; brother, Warren Frank Belcher; and sisters: Virginia Frances Bond, Evelyn Marie, Bernice Elizabeth, Wanda Lois, Lee Moore, Malva Patricia, and Karen Beatrice. She is survived by her children: Raymond M. (Charlene) Sprinkle Jr. of Landrum, SC, James (Vivian)...

Hazel Belcher Sprinkle, 91, of Granite Falls, NC, departed for her heavenly home on Sunday, May 8, 2022 surrounded by loved ones. She was born September 10, 1930 in Tazewell, VA. She was a former resident of Chesapeake, VA and Madison Heights, VA. She was the daughter of the late John Belcher and Savanna Harvey Belcher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond McKinley Sprinkle Sr.; infant son, Jerry Allen Sprinkle; brother, Warren Frank Belcher; and sisters: Virginia Frances Bond, Evelyn Marie, Bernice Elizabeth, Wanda Lois, Lee Moore, Malva Patricia, and Karen Beatrice. She is survived by her children: Raymond M. (Charlene) Sprinkle Jr., James (Vivian) Sprinkle,...

Hazel Belcher Sprinkle, 91, of Granite Falls, NC, departed for her heavenly home on Sunday, May 8, 2022 surrounded by loved ones. She was born September 10, 1930 in Tazewell, VA. She was a former resident of Chesapeake, VA and Madison Heights, VA. She was the daughter of the late John Belcher and Savanna Harvey Belcher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond McKinley Sprinkle Sr.; infant son, Jerry Allen Sprinkle; brother, Warren Frank Belcher; and sisters: Virginia Frances Bond, Evelyn Marie, Bernice Elizabeth, Wanda Lois, Lee Moore, Malva Patricia, and Karen Beatrice. She is survived by her children: Raymond M. (Charlene) Sprinkle Jr. of Landrum, SC, James (Vivian)...

Rubye Connelly "Connie" Horne, 93, of Hickory, North Carolina, and formerly of Macon, Georgia, passed away on March 22, 2022, at Abernathy Laurels. Connie, as she was known to her family and friends, was born on April 27, 1928, in Monticello, Georgia. Connie was a loving mother, grandmother, teacher, and active church member. Connie attended Oxford College of Emory University. She began her teaching career in Kennesaw, Georgia. She retired as the assistant media specialist at Appling Middle School in Macon. Her lifelong passion was collecting, buying and selling antiques. For many years she had an antique business in Macon, Objects of Affection. Connie moved to Hickory eight years...

Jacqueline "Jackie" Ann (Sterkel) Smith, 74, of Conover, NC, went home to be with Jesus on February 20, 2022. Jackie was born on May 15th, 1947 to Jake and Ruby Sterkel, in Denver, CO. She graduated from Loveland High, in Loveland, CO. She was highly experienced in accounting and bookkeeping; and ultimately started her own company, MayDay Services Inc.; a Medical Insurance claim firm. Jackie always dreamed of being a mother and adopted 3 boys. She dedicated her life to being a wonderful mother. She excelled at encouraging family and friends. She was the optimistic voice that supported them through the many passions and difficulties of their lives. She found great joy in trying to...

Known for her sense of humor and love of birds, Gloria Ann (DesVeaux) Griffin died December 30, 2021. She was born in Waterville, Maine on February 9, 1940, to parents Joseph and Imogene (Dyer) DesVeaux. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers James and Thom DesVeaux, and many beloved friends. Gloria inherited a love of birds from her father and blossomed into a lifelong bird lover, rescuer, and enthusiast. In retirement, she worked with the Delta County (CO) Humane Society and was known in many circles as "the bird lady." Gloria is survived by son and daughter-in-law Shane and Robyn Griffin; their sons Tyler and Isaac Griffin; son and daughter-in-law Cody and Debbie...

Richard J. (Dick) Sundberg died November 1, 2021, in Hickory, NC, after a period of declining health. A resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, since 1964, he had relocated to North Carolina in May 2021 to be close to daughter Jennifer Sundberg Deal and her family. Born January 6, 1938, at Sioux Rapids Hospital, Sioux Rapids, Iowa, to Ernest and Rosa (Christensen) Sundberg, Dick grew up on a farm near Linn Grove, Iowa, the eldest of four surviving children. He attended Linn Grove Consolidated School from kindergarten until graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1955, earning letters and honors in sports and journalism. Dick received his BS degree in Chemistry, with highest...

Mrs. Dolores Marie York Winkler, 86, of Hickory, died October 21, 2021, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage. Dolores was born in Durham, NC on November 17, 1934, to the late Sallie Belle York and Lindley Milton Allred. She grew up on a farm in Ramseur, NC. A 1953 graduate of Ramseur High School, Dolores enjoyed home economics and playing forward during basketball games. Dolores worked in the office at Century Furniture and in distribution at Gilbert Hose. She also worked for a Lenoir family as a private caregiver at a nursing home in Hickory. But her greatest joy came from caring for her family and the many years she spent as a homemaker. In addition to her parents, Dolores was...

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert Franklin (Frank) Freeman, Jr. announces his passing at the age of 89 on Sunday, October 17, 2021, at his home in Hickory, NC with his two daughters by his side. Frank was born to Elizabeth Manning Freeman and Robert Franklin Freeman, Sr. on November 9, 1931, on a farm where the Charlotte airport now sits. Frankie, as he was called back then, was a Boy Scout and raised chickens to sell the eggs along with other farming duties. He attended Berryhill High School, graduating with 18 others in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November of 1951 and was a communication specialist during the Korean Conflict for 2 years. The Navy "deposited"...

Joseph Morton Mallison, 85, of Hickory, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Born August 11, 1936 in Rocky Mount, NC, Joe grew up in Spring Hope and on the Coast of NC and was the son of the late Earl M. Mallison and Beatrice Robinson Mallison. Joe was a veteran of the United States Army and a proud member of the Presbyterian church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Joseph "Joey" Mallison, and the mother of his children, Beth Mallison Patton. Joe attended Wake Forest College and graduated from Ringling School of Art and Design, where he discovered his gift and passion for furniture design. He moved...

Charles Hunt Shuford was born to William Burder Shuford and Virginia Jones Shuford in Charlotte, NC, on November 21, 1935. He was raised in Hickory, and attended the Hickory Public Schools and Woodberry Forest Preparatory School in Orange, Virginia. At Woodberry, he excelled in Track and Field, and also played football. He was President of his class during his junior year. He returned to Hickory and completed his high school education at Hickory High School class of 1954. Upon graduation from high school, Charlie attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, where he received a BS degree in Textiles (manufacturing and management). While at N.C. State, he was a member of the Beta...

Nancy Henley Meres, 65, of Hickory, NC, passed away peacefully on Monday June 28th 2021 in her home with her family. She is survived by her loving husband Norman Meres of 33 years and sons Grant and Gibbs Meres. Born June 18th 1956 in Chattanooga, TN, Nancy is preceded in death by her parents Evelyn Bates Henley and Charles Gibbs Henley, of Charlotte, NC and her brother, Charles. Nancy spent most of her childhood in Trumbull, CT and moved back to Charlotte, NC during high school. Summers were spent in Dalton, GA with the Bates side of the family and her cousin Susan. After college, she remained in Hickory. She stayed in contact with her many friends in both Connecticut and North...

John Leonard Robson passed from this world on May 25, 2021. He was 86 years old. John was born March 23, 1935 to Homer Louis Robson and Margaret Edith (Daly) Robson in Niagara Falls, NY. His childhood home was on the U.S. bank of the Niagara River. (He liked to point out that he was one of the few children who got to go to another country to play). John and his brother, Art, came to know intimately the pre-flood-control, wild river in the area around their home. Combined with their many (and occasionally death-defying) antics, it is fair to say they were the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn of the lower Niagara River. In later life, John took pleasure in researching the history of...