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Juanita Lynch Chriscoe

Juanita Lynch Chriscoe went to be with her Lord and savior on Aug. 12, 2021, in Clemmons. She was born on April 12, 1945, to Grady and Elsie Lynch in Yadkin County.

Chriscoe worked at many convenience stores around the area. She loved being around people. With all her experience, she bought and ran Reid’s Convenience Store for many years before her retirement.

She was the oldest member of Bethel Baptist Church where she was a devoted member for most of her life. Chriscoe loved Jesus and it showed to everyone who met her. She was generous and loving. Chriscoe never questioned if she should help a family member in need, she just always did. She cared for many of the elder members of her family as well as dedicating herself to her handicapped son, Tommy, until his passing. In her spare time, Chriscoe could be found in her garden. She truly had a green thumb. Everything she planted thrived.

In addition to her parents, Chriscoe was preceded in death by her first husband, Reid E. Phelps; son, Tommy Phelps; and brother, Tom Lynch. She leaves behind her husband of 18 years, George Chriscoe; daughter, Regina Storey; grandchildren, Logan Storey (Gracey) and Jenna Storey; siblings, Florence Collins, Jerry Lynch, Colen Lynch, and James Lynch; companion and guard dog, Buddy; and many nieces, nephews and other loved ones.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 15, at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, 4111 Friedberg Church Road, with Pastor Mark Harper officiating.

Richard Howard Creed Jr.

Mr. Richard Howard Creed Jr., 91, of Clemmons, died peacefully on Sept. 6, 2021, at Clemmons Village 2 Assisted Living Facility. He was born June 17, 1930, in Clay, Michigan, to Richard H. Creed Sr., and Gussie W. (Creed) Thompson. He retired from Frank L. Blum Construction Co. after many years of dedicated service. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jean C. Hartman; brother, “Sonny” Creed; and brothers-in-law, Brantley “Bub” Hartman Jr., and Gene P. Walker Sr. Surviving is his sister, Dewilla C. Walker; a niece and five nephews. Affectionately known as “Brother” to them all and to many of their friends as well, he will be missed.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Forsyth Memorial Park, 3771 Yadkinville Road, Winston-Salem.

The family asks that memorials be made to the deserving charity of your choice. A special thank you to the entire staff at Clemmons Village 2 for the love and attention you gave Creed during the final years of his life.

Todd Eckhoff

Todd Eckhoff, of Clemmons, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Aug. 11, 2021, after a short time of declining health.

Eckhoff was born on May 30, 1965. His friendly demeanor, care, wisecracking wisdom, and sense of humor has been a joy and comfort to all those who knew him. He was a generous and kind soul who loved his family, the outdoors, and mentoring and supporting all in need.

Eckhoff graduated from Camden Military Academy with honors. After graduating, he went on to begin his career as an electrician. He was very passionate about his work, and it showed in every job he did. Leading him to own and operate his own business, HCB Electric.

Eckhoff leaves behind his sons, Chase Eckhoff (Taylor), Blake Eckhoff (Katrina), and Hunter Eckhoff; grandchildren, Silas Eckhoff and Aubrey Coulbourn; mother, Mary Ellen; father, Jim Eckhoff (Roxanne); sisters, Jennifer and Jean; girlfriend, Becky Coney; and many other loved ones.

Honoring Eckhoff’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Robert Emmet Hottel

Robert Emmet Hottel Sr., 78, a faithful and loving husband and father, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. He was born Dec. 15, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, to the late Harry Lee and Anna Marie Brazil Hottel. Preceding him in death was a sister, Anna Jane Cunningham and two brothers, Harry Lee Hottel Jr. and John Richard Hottel.  Surviving is his wife of 60 years, Hazel Slagle Hottel; daughter, Anna Marie Barnette (Greg); three sons, Robert Emmet Hottel Jr. (Cindy), Christian Kirk Hottel (Dennis), and Jonathan Lee Hottel; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Hottel served the community by helping with donations to A Storehouse for Jesus in Davie County. He worked 20 years at Pfizer in the Indianapolis and Winston-Salem areas. He was a faithful member of Rock Hill Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to A Storehouse for Jesus.

Gretchen Mars Howerton

Gretchen Mars Howerton, 89, embarked upon her next great adventure on Aug. 31, 2021. She was born in 1932, and growing up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, she developed her business acumen and fashion sense working at Mars Brothers — her parents’ clothing store. Always an adventurer, upon completion of her undergraduate studies at Millsaps College and Stephens College she moved to New York. There she earned a graduate degree in physical therapy from Columbia University. She met her soon to be husband, Jim Howerton (deceased 2013), while working as a physical therapist at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The young couple settled initially in Columbia, N.C., and started a family. They shared a love for spending time with friends, family and dining out. Howerton was always a trendsetter, both in fashion and in her approach to life. As a friend remarked, she was never without a smile, always with perfect makeup and dressed to the nines — whatever the occasion. Her family is deeply grateful for the example she set as a working woman running a solo medical practice. Before the Women’s Movement brought attention to issues of equality at work and at home, Howerton made her way through the world by expecting, and if necessary, demanding she be treated as an equal. She also taught her children what to look for in a life partner. She helped give her children the confidence to aspire to many goals and the support to achieve them. Upon retirement in 2010, she relocated to Advance with her husband to be near her son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Pamela Howerton, grandchildren Zoe Howerton, Gwyneth Howerton, Amanda Herring, Jennifer Coppola, grandsons-in-law Marcus Herring, Roman Coppola, and her great-grandchildren Keats Herring, Pascale Coppola, Marcello Coppola and Alessandro Coppola. During these years Howerton enjoyed immersion into a large extended family. Late in life she got to indulge her wandering spirit with globe-trotting adventures with her daughter and son-in-law Todd and Tim; whale watching in Alaska, exploring the Sea of Cortez, stepping back in time in the Galápagos Islands, rounding Cape Horn on an epic adventure from the Chilean Fjords to Staten Island, Argentina and getting up close and personal with elephants and rhinos during a once in a lifetime journey through South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Howerton embraced these cultures and experiences with zeal. The ‘sundowners’ at the end of the day’s adventure were always some of her favorite moments. As her friends from Botswana would say “Pula” (cheers) “Tsamaya sentle” (goodbye and go well). She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A private family graveside service will be held at Four Oaks Farm on Sept. 11, 2021. Hayworth-Miller Funeral Homes in Advance is serving the family. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Davie Community Foundation, 107 N. Salisbury St., Mocksville, NC 27028.

Tonia Darga Keeton

Mrs. Tonia Darga Keeton, 44, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Davie Medical Center.

Keeton is survived by her husband, Brian Keeton; son, Zackary Keeton; mother, Joann Wood; father, Benedict Darga; sister, Joanie Darga; brothers, Frank Darga and Ben Chouinard; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Per her wishes, no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Mary Lee Gentry McMeans

Ms. Mary Lee Gentry McMeans, 95, of Advance, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. She was born in Forsyth County to the late Hillery Lee Gentry and Sarah Dobbins Gentry on Feb. 18, 1926. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to many. McMeans was a long-time member of Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church. She loved working outside when her health allowed, working on puzzles, word search and playing Skip-Bo with family. McMeans enjoyed quilting with her mom and became quite the quilt master. She also liked watching her favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, on TV. She was full of spunk and loved everyone, and she will greatly be missed. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by sisters, Wilma Amos and Hilda Ward. She is survived by her son, Stephen McMeans; granddaughter, Jennifer Kidd; great-grandchildren, Tyler Kidd and Braxton Kidd; several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Dr. Mary Miller officiating.

June Hinson Moore

June Hinson Moore was born in Monroe on Feb. 21, 1939, to Pickett Lamar and Mabel Medlin Hinson. June and Jimmy Lee Moore were married on Oct. 17, 1959, in Union County. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Lamar; twin brothers, Ronald and Donald; husband, Jimmy Lee Moore; and sister-in-law, Pat Ramseur of Concord. She is survived by daughter, Sherye Hall (Jeff); two granddaughters, Kelly Kristin Hall and Allison Hall Brown (Freddie); two great-grandchildren, and nephew, Donny Ramseur of Concord. Moore enjoyed a career in nursing, volunteering, exercising and playing golf. Her friends and family offered her much joy. A service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, at Epiphany Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 5570 Sturmer Park Circle, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 or to the Endowment Fund of Epiphany Lutheran Church.

Ulysee Avery Roope

Ulysee Avery Roope, 88, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, at his home in Advance. He was born in Wilkes County on Dec. 17, 1932. Roope was to married his beloved spouse Delilah Bradford Roope for 53 years. He was preceded in death by his parents Lestus and Eva Wiles Roope, brother Dwight Roope, and son Timothy Roope.

He leaves behind his wife Delilah Roope; daughter Gloria Neisinger (Tony); sister-in-law, Jean Brooks Roope; sister-in-law, Barbara Dale Witmer, and niece Carla Roope.

Roope retired from his Havre-de-Grace Electronics business in Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, where he lived the majority of his life. He returned to N.C. after retirement.

He was a member of Grove Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, Maryland, for 32 years. He enjoyed working in the church, helping people in any capacity he could for the church. He was a member of Clemmons Presbyterian Church for 11 years.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Clemmons Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Beck’s Baptist Church in Winston Salem.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Donald O. Smith Jr.

Donald O. Smith Jr., “Jr” as he was known to all, 53, of Mocksville, died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, after a brief illness.

Smith was born Oct. 31, 1967, in Davie County, to Joyce Tucker Smith and the late Donald O. Smith Sr. He attended Davie County schools and had been an EMT in Davie County and a truck driver. He was involved with the Smith Grove Fire Department, from the junior firefighter program to chief. Smith loved fishing and his friends and family.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Joseph. Surviving are his mother and her partner, Donald Miller, of Mocksville; sister, Cindy Smith Charest (Scott) of Mocksville; daughters, Jessica Garrison (Alan) of Winston-Salem, Kera Smith (Josh) of Mocksville, Misty Smith and Emily Smith, both of Mocksville, Hannah Smith of Winston-Salem; step-daughter Megan Bradsher of Winston-Salem, bonus daughter Ashley Potts of Mocksville; grandchildren, Ellie and Shelby; nephews, Jacob Charest of Charleston, S.C., and Nathaniel Charest of Huntersville.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Smith Grove Fire Department, 4155 U.S. Hwy. 158, Advance, NC, 27006.