On October 11, 2022, Tara Anne Bee, 48, went home to be with Her Lord and Savior. Tara spent her entire life living for her Jesus and now she is resting in His loving arms. She was born on February 24, 1974, at Parkersburg a daughter of Gary Bills, St. Mary’s and the late Doris (Griffith) Bills. On June 1st, 1996 she married Mark Edward Bee, who survives.
Also surviving are two sons; Logan Mark Bee and wife Abigail, of New Milton, and Eli Daniel Bee and girlfriend Victoria, of New Milton; two daughters, Heidi Elizabeth Bee and Maria Anne Bee, both at home, bonus son, Colin Cary Coffman, Center Point, sisters, Michelle Dick, Williamstown, Tina and Anissa Bills, both of St. Mary’s, Melisha Floyd, AL, four brothers, Chad Bills, SC, James Brightwell, MO, John and Rickey Cash, AL; and several nieces and nephews.
Tara was a 1992 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, and a 1996 of Fairmont State College where she received her B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2001, she received a Masters Degree in Counseling from Marshal University. Tara had worked previously at Pressley Ridge School as a counselor and currently was a counselor at the Doddridge County Elementary School. She was a member of Mission of Faith Church, Big Isaac.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Doddridge County High School Auditorium on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Adam Cheeseman presiding. Interment will follow in the Lough (Loft) Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Doddridge County High School Auditorium on Friday, October 14, 2022 after 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to service on Saturday. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.spurgeonfunerals.com. Spurgeon Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Bee family.
James Hunter Sowders, 33, of the Sunnyside Road Community in Doddridge County, departed this life on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, surrounded by his loving family.
Hunter was born August 29, 1989 in Maryville, TN, a son of James and Tymandria “Tammy” Sowders of TN. Hunter was employed by the Doddridge County Board of Education where he served as a multi categorical special education teacher for Doddridge County Middle School. He previously worked as a special education teacher for Ritchie County Schools. Hunter also served as the asst. baseball coach for the Robert C. Byrd Flying Eagles Baseball team for the past 4 years and had previously coached the RCB wrestling team.
He served as a deacon for the West Union Christian Church where he also taught Sunday School and led the children’s message on Sunday mornings. He also served on the board of directors for the Doddridge County Farm Bureau. In Tennessee, Hunter graduated from Greenback High School where he excelled at playing baseball, wrestling, and golf. He also served as a volunteer fireman in Greenback, TN and over the years participated in the Dixie League Youth Baseball program. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Salem University with a bachelor of science in Social Studies Education. He loved hunting, fishing, playing golf with his family, farm living, camping, and most of all being a cheer and pageant Dad.
In addition to his parents, Hunter is survived by his wife, Sarah (Sheets) Sowders; his daughter, Clair Sowders; sister, Breeanne Holt (Jason); brother, Brad Sowders; niece, Maggie Holt; grandmothers, Sandra Gossett and Sandra Sowders; step grandmother, Delores Sowders; great grandmother, Anne Sowders; father-in-law, Ernie Sheets, as well as loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and treasured friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Janet Sheets and grandfathers, Donald Gossett and Bob Sowders.
A celebration of Life will take place at 5pm, Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the West Union Christian Church, 101 Wabash Avenue, West Union, WV, 26456 with Pastor Adam Cheeseman officiating. McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home in Pennsboro, WV is assisting the family with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the RCB Baseball Team, 1 Eagle Way, Clarksburg, WV, 26301.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mcculloughraiguel.com
Deborah “Debbie” Burnside, 70 of West Union departed this life on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. She was born on September 15, 1952 at Jefferson City, MO. a daughter of the late William Clayce Spurlock and Barbara Tucker Spurlock Curtis. On August 4, 1973 she married Robert “Bob” Burnside who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Bobby Burnside (Emily), Oxford, David Burnside (Lori), New Milton, Stephen Burnside (Marlana), Mt. Clare, grandchildren, Reese, Adam, Brooke, Leah, Daniel and Levi Burnside, Greg Reed (Jenna) and Jennifer Cooper, (Justin) seven great grandchildren, sisters, Rebecca Nicholson, West Union, Vickie James, Greenwood, Debbie Boyce, West Union, Dee Dee Nicholson, New Milton, brothers, Clayce Spurlock, Bridgeport, Rick Curtis, Fairmont, Lee Curtis, West Union and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by one daughter, Suzanne Burnside and her step father, Harold Curtis.
Debbie was a 1970 graduate of Doddridge County High School where she was a member of the Marching Band. She was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time with her family. Debbie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister and will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Debbie was a member of the West Union First Assembly of God, West Union.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Spurgeon Funeral Home 56 Front St. West Union on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Joe Hoggard and Pastor John Kopshina presiding. Interment will follow in the Masonic Memorial Park. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel on Saturday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Northern Appalachian Teen Challenge 1877 Good Hope Pike, Clarksburg, WV 26301. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.spurgeonfunerals.com. Spurgeon Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Burnside family.
Nelson Ray White, 81, of New Milton, WV, departed this life on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at his residence. He was born May 7, 1941 in Milton, WV, a son of the late Eschol William and Delores Maxine (Daily) White.
For 25 years, Nelson worked for Western Union based out of Romney, WV as a supervisor and microwave technician. Following Western Union, he worked in maintenance for the Doddridge County Board of Education and also served as the clerk of the works for both the Doddridge County Elementary and Middle Schools. He was a proud veteran of the US Army being stationed in Ft. Gordon, GA where he worked in communications as a Spec-4 from 1959-1962. He greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing. He won multiple bass fishing tournaments over the years including the St. Marys Bass Festival multiple times. Overall, his life was centered around his loving family.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Marceil (Martin) White; sons, Nelson David White and wife Lora of Hurricane, WV and Edward Alan White and wife Sandy of West Union, WV; his grandchildren, Anthony Ray White and wife Lyndsey of St. Albans, WV; Bethany Marie White of St. Albans, WV; Christian D. White of Hurricane, WV; Jeremy A. White and wife Staclyn of West Union, WV; great grandchildren, Zoe’, Landon, Wilder, and Ryatt; sister, Wanda Kay White of WI; sister in laws, Kathy White and Dorothy White, both of Milton, WV, along with loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his granddaughter, Andrea Nicole Trent; brothers, Darrell Hollis White and Ronnie Gene White; sister, Barbara Gay Young, and brother in law, Jack Young.
Visitation will be 4pm-6pm on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at the McCullough-Rogers Funeral Home in Pennsboro, WV. Following visitation a private family graveside service will take place in the Bicker Cemetery at Barker Ridge in Milton, WV.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to the American Cancer Society in Nelson’s memory.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mcculloughraiguel.com
James Leo Williams
James Leo Williams, 98, of West Union, WV (Crystal Lake community) went home to be with His Lord on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at his residence. He was born on June 8, 1924 at Wilbur, WV, a son of the late Parley and Edna Davis Williams. His beloved wife of 71 years, Martha Lee Smith Williams, preceded him in death.
Surviving are one daughter, Karen Panson and husband Michael, Pittsburgh, PA, one grandson, Michael Goff Stinespring and wife Shelli, Oxford community, great grandchildren, Nicole Stinespring, Tiffani Stinespring, Charley Stinespring and James Leo Stinespring, sister, Imogene Lynch, West Union, daughter in law, Donna Williams, Pittsburgh, PA. Leo was also preceded in death by one son, Timothy Williams, infant granddaughter, Mikiah Stinespring, West Union, four brothers, Berlin, Wayne, Corlis and Elmer Williams, four sisters, Eska Weekley, Pauline King, Donna Stair and infant Isophene Williams.
Leo was a 1943 graduate of Tyler County High School and attended Marietta College in Ohio. He was a Coast Guard Veteran serving in WW II. Leo retired from Carnegie Natural Gas Company in Pittsburgh as a Land Agent with 37 years’ service. He was a member of the West Union Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3408 and Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Leo enjoyed hunting, golfing and fishing, and was known for his wonderful sense of humor.
A celebration of Leo’s life will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 123 Church St., West Union, WV, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor David McCauleyley presiding. Interment will follow in the Wilbur Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 2-7 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.spurgeonfunerals.com. Spurgeon Funeral Home is privileged to serve the Williams family.
Earl Richards of Big Isaac, WV, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, went to be with the Lord on October 15, 2022.
Earl was born on October 2, 1922, in Kincheloe, WV son of the late Hiram and Lora Richards. He married Norma Jean Jarvis (July 24, 1950) and spent their lives together in Big Isaac until Jean’s passing on August 29, 2002. He was a member of the I.U.O.E. Local 132 (Operating Engineers) for more than 70 years and worked 35 years as a crane and heavy equipment operator at Black Rock Contracting. But raising cattle and farming was his true joy.
Earl was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. A devoted servant of the Lord, he spent much of his life sharing his testimony. He never met a stranger, profoundly touching the lives of anyone he chanced upon and published an autobiography, “A Lifetime of Happiness” as well as recorded a worship CD, which he shared openly with his many family members and friends. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his son, Jeff “Red” Richards; grandson, Scott Richards; and nine siblings. Earl is survived by his children, Darrell (Chris) Richards, Big Isaac, Joyce Richards, Scottsdale, AZ, Bonnie (Dale) Gerberding, Sheldon, WI, and adopted son, Randall (Sharon) Oliver, Salem; daughter-in-law, Lisa Richards, Social Circle, GA; nine grandchildren; one honorary grandchild; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends at the Davis Funeral Home, 1999 W Main St, Salem, WV on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 2-7 pm. Funeral Service will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 11:00am with Pastor Jon Hayes officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1909 Mineral Rd, Jane Lew, WV 26378. Online condolences can be made at www.davisfuneralhomesalemwv.com. Davis Funeral Home Salem is honored to serve the Richards family.