Margaret Bess

PAGELAND, S.C. — Margaret Oleen Bess, 56, died Thursday (Nov. 19, 2009).

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Gordon Funeral Service of Monroe, with burial in the Mount Pisgah Baptist Church cemetery.

Born Sept. 16, 1953, in Union County, she was a daughter of the late George and Eldis Plyler Arant.

Survivors include her husband, Lee Bess; one stepson, Brandon Bess of North Wilkesboro; one daughter, Brandy Rogers Jordan of Pageland; two stepdaughters, Ashley Johnson of Purlear, Terri Wilson of Virginia Beach, Va.; six brothers, Billy Ray Arant, Robert Arant, Wayne Arant, all of Pageland, Junior Arant of Jefferson, S.C., Roger Arant, David Arant, both of Marshville; one sister, Frances Rorie of Monroe; and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina, 5950 Fairview Road, Suite 550, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Online condolences may be left at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

Donald Byrum

MONROE — Mr. Donald Gene Byrum, age 68 passed away Wednesday November 18, 2009, at his home.

He was born January 19, 1947, in Union County, N.C., the son of the late Mr. Grover Lee Byrum and the late Mrs. Annie Mae Keziah Byrum. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers: Richard A. Byrum and Johnny Byrum.

Mr. Byrum is survived by one daughter, Lisa Mortensen of Charlotte, N.C.; one son, Donald Byrum Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; three sisters, Annie Nesbit of Monroe, N.C., Betty Jane McClain and Frances McCully, both of York, S.C.; one brother: Robert W. Byrum of Fort Mill, S.C.; five grandchildren: Steven, Stephanie, Stacey, Christopher and Tracey; also special friend: Myckle Griffin.

The family will receive friends and relatives for visitation Saturday November 21, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe.

Funeral services for Mr. Byrum will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday November 21, 2009, in the McEwen Colonial Chapel conducted by the Rev. Cecil Buchannon, with burial to follow in the Monroe City Cemetery.

The family would like to thank special caregivers: Drew and Judy Buchannon.

McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe is serving the family of Mr. Byrum.

PAID OBITUARY

Dewey Fagio

MONROE — Dewey Lee Fagio, 85, died Wednesday (Nov. 18, 2009).

Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today at Lakeland Memorial Park.

Born Feb. 13, 1924, in Welch, W.Va., he was a son of the late George and Lilia Williams Fagio. He was an Army veteran and was retired from Harris Teeter.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma Justice Fagio; one son, Jeffrey Fagio of Salem, Va.; five daughters, Shelia Small of Bluefield, W.Va., Charlotte Scott of Kimball, W.Va., Shirley Key, Shelley Sober, both of Salem, Angela Sims of Kershaw, S.C.; two sisters, Tekora Hunley of Bluefield, W.Va., Daisy Coulon of Georgetown, S.C.; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will follow the service.

Memorials may be made to the Union County Humane Society, P.O. Box 101, Monroe, NC 28111.

Gordon Funeral Service is in charge. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

Boyd ‘Teak’ Furr

MONROE — Boyd Wilson “Teak” Furr, 59, died Tuesday (Nov. 17, 2009) at home.

Funeral will be 10 a.m. today at Unionville Baptist Church, with burial with military rites in the Lucy Helms Cemetery.

Born May 6, 1950, he was a son of the late Webb Lee and Zillie Clontz Furr. He was an Army veteran and was a brick mason with Deese & Furr Masonry.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy Furr of the home; one son, Mark Furr; two daughters, Brandy Robinson, Beth Furr; four brothers, Buren Furr, Coy Furr, Frank Furr, Bid Furr; two sisters, Delorce Tomberlin, Doris Teague; and two grandchildren.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is in charge. Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com.

Louise Perry

CHARLOTTE — Louise C. Perry died Monday (Nov. 16, 2009).

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Elizabeth Baptist Church.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

A.E. Grier and Sons Funeral Ceremony of Choice is in charge.

Robin Rorie

WINGATE — Robin Simpson Rorie, 44, died Tuesday (Nov. 17, 2009) at Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe.

Funeral will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Back to Bethel Church in Monroe, with burial in the Philadelphia Baptist Church cemetery in Marshville.

Born Feb. 2, 1965, in Union County, she was a daughter of the late Wade and Madie Robinson Simpson.

Survivors include her husband, Rodney Rorie of Wingate; four sons, Darrell Moore, DeMario Moore, both of Cheraw, S.C., Tavis Moore, Rodney Rorie Jr., both of Wingate; five brothers, Charles Simpson, Anthony Simpson, Wade Simpson, all of Wingate, Willie Simpson of Indian Trail, Jack Simpson of Charlotte; two sisters, Crystal Simpson, Terry Simpson, both of Monroe.

Public viewing will be from noon to 7 p.m. today at Grier Funeral Service of Monroe.

J.W. Rushing

MONROE — Mr. Judge (J.W.) Rushing, age 79, passed away Thursday at Lawyers Glen in Charlotte, N.C.

He was born February 9, 1930, in Union County, N.C., the son of the late Mr. James Ellis Rushing and the late Mrs. Lillian Rossie Simpson Rushing. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one sister: Mildred Kirkland; one brother: James Rushing.

Mr. Rushing was a five year veteran of the United States Navy having served in the Korean War. He was retired from the Monroe Police Department as a commander with twenty-eight years of service. Mr. Rushing was active with Midget League Football, Babe Ruth Baseball, and directed the Umpire Association.

Mr. Rushing is survived by his wife, Jolene Little Rushing of the home; three sons, Rusty Rushing and wife Kathy, Myron Rushing and wife Cathy, and Danny Rushing and wife Cheryl, all of Monroe, N.C.; three brothers, Leroy Rushing of Indian Trail, N.C., Arlie Rushing and Hoyt Rushing, both of Monroe, N.C.; three sisters: Mrs. Mitchell Calendar of Baton Rouge, La., Mrs. Verla Kepple of Monroe, N.C., Mrs. Mary Roughton of Winter Haven, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Dion, Brian, Angie, Kevin, Jason, Jeremy, Jesse, Josh; eleven great-grandchildren: Thomas, Lauren, Cam, Lindsey, Savannah, Isabella, Jolie, Marlie, Madison, Nick, Allyson.

The family will receive friends and relatives for visitation Saturday November 21, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe.

Funeral services for Mr. Rushing will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday November 21, 2009, in the McEwen Colonial Chapel with burial to follow in Lakeland Memorial Park.

Special thanks to John and Ryan Elliot and the wonderful staff of Lawyers Glen.

McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe is serving the family of Mr. Rushing.

PAID OBITUARY

Ray Simpson

HARRISBURG — Mr. Ray Wilson Simpson, 89, passed away Sunday, November 15 at Carolinas Northeast Medical Center. He was born February 13, 1920, in Monroe, N.C. Ray was the middle child of five children and the oldest son of the late Z.K. and Arrie Simpson. He was a World War II veteran, a career farmer, and a member of New Hope Baptist Church.

Ray was a resident of Carillon Assisted Living in Harrisburg, N.C. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Elma Greene Simpson, in October of 2005. Ray will be fondly remembered by his three sons, Bill and his wife Dese of Lewisville, N.C., Roger and his wife Karen of Denver, N.C., and Robert and his wife Linda of Atlanta, Ga.; four grandchildren — Jennifer Chamley, Megan Eagle, Schell Simpson and Marty Simpson; and four great-grandchildren — Madison and Christopher Chamley, and Rowan and Willow Simpson.

Ray Simpson is also survived by his older sister, Myrtle, and his younger brother, Leroy. Two siblings, Kate and Earl, preceded him in death. He also leaves behind many friends at Carillon, who gave him comfort and friendship.

The family will receive friends and relatives for visitation Sunday November 22, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 22, at the McEwen Funeral Home Colonial Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Tommy Butler, with interment to follow in Lakeland Memorial Park.

McEwen Funeral and Cremation Service of Monroe is serving the family of Mr. Simpson.

PAID OBITUARY