Deaths

• James Gary “Butch” Ball, 52, of Bluefield-Tazewell Road, Bluefield, Va., died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, Va.

• David Clinton Fields Jr., 70, of Ceres, Va., died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at Wythe County Community Hospital, Wytheville, Va. Arrangements by A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, Va.

• Mrs. Hester Gay Vandyke, 77, of Richlands, Va., died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at her home following a lengthy illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands.



Obituaries

Lacie Daniels

MATOAKA — Lacie Daniels, 68, of Matoaka, died Wednesday, October 31, 2007 in the Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston following a long illness.

Mr. Daniels was born August 11, 1939 at Slate Creek, Va., a son of the late William and Silvany Kelly Daniels. He was a former coal miner and a former employee of the West Virginia Department of Highways, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

In addition to his parents, his first wife, Doris Daniels; four brothers, Andrew, Anderson, Ernie, and Datson Daniels; and one sister, Athelene Daniels preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Linda Kay Lafferty Daniels of the home; four stepdaughters, Kathy Edwards of Arizona, Tina Anderson and husband Dan of Kansas, Teresa Deweese and husband Brian of Glenwood, April Meadors and husband Gary of Princeton; two stepsons, William Cottle of the home, and Andrew Cottle and wife Donna of Jamestown, Tenn.; eight step granddaughters; three step grandsons; one brother, Eulis Daniels of Princeton; and one sister, Inez Long of Ashtabula, Ohio.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 1 p.m. at the Three Forks Community Church of the Living God at Three Forks near Jolo with the Reverend Hubert Sweeney, and the Reverend Pete Woods officiating. Burial will follow the Noah Stewart Cemetery on Keene Ridge near Paynesville. Friends of the family will serve as pallbearers.

Friends may call at the church today (Saturday), November 3, 2007 after 5 p.m.

Arrangements by Fanning Funeral Home, Iaeger.

Lena Alpha Rasnick Raines

VANSANT, Va. — Lena Alpha Rasnick Raines, 90 years of age, of Vansant, Va., passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at the Clinch Valley Medical Center, Richlands, Va., following a brief illness.

Born in Dickenson County, Va., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Ida Honaker Rasnick. She was a resident of Buchanan County most of her life and was a member of the Vansant Presbyterian Church. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and was a wonderful homemaker. She is the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Mrs. Raines was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years: Theodore Raines-June 27, 2001.

She is survived by: Two daughters: Beverly Ann and husband Paul Merritt of Sarasota, Fla., Deborah Raines of Vansant, Va.; one son: William D. and wife Zenobia Raines of Vansant, Va.; five grandchildren: David Merritt of Sarasota, Fla., Michelle Bryant of Sarasota, Fla., Scott Merritt of Atlanta, Ga., Savannah Raines of Vansant, Va., Dakota Dalton Raines of Vansant, Va.; two great-grandchildren: Baylee Bryant of Sarasota, Fla. and Isaiah Bryant of Sarasota, Fla.

Also, survived by several nieces and nephews and very special friends: Ruby Rife, Phyllis Scarberry, Chris Childress and the women of Vansant Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by six sisters: Esther Rasnick, Eddie Rasnick, Reba Counts, Viola Counts, Lou Davis and Nannie Edwards; and four brothers: Charlie, Grady, Tyler and Woodrow Rasnick.

Funeral Services for Lena Alpha Rasnick Raines will be conducted Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Buchanan First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Carl Howell and the Rev. Phyllis Canter officiating with burial to follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Va.

Friends may call at the Buchanan First Presbyterian Church today (Saturday) at 5:00 p.m. with services at 7:00 p.m.

Active pallbearers will be: Elders and Deacons of the Vansant Presbyterian Church.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the Vansant Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 638, Vansant, VA 24656.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.

To leave personal condolences online, visit www.legacy.com

Arthur M. (Smiley) Ratliff Jr.

TAZEWELL, Va. — Arthur M. (Smiley) Ratliff, Jr., age 83, of Tazewell, Va., died Wednesday, October 31, 2007, in a Kingsport Hospital.

A Buchanan County native, he was born June 18, 1924, the son of the late Arthur M. Ratliff, Sr., and Ida Woosley Ratliff, and was the last surviving member of his immediate family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.

He is survived by two daughters, Cathy Gibson, of Abingdon; Kim Bowman, of Lebanon, and five grandchildren: William Ratcliffe-Miller; Rebecca Gibson; Ann Ratcliffe-Bowman; Shor Ratcliffe-Bowman; and Graydon Ratcliffe-Bowman. He is also survived by a host of friends.

Mr. Ratliff, a well known and life-long resident of the mountains of Southwest Virginia, loved his State of Virginia and the county of Buchanan. He was a noted athlete during his teen years, excelling in football. He was a former teacher/coach, a successful businessman and an author, having written four books. A little known aspect of his life concerned his humanitarian efforts in helping various causes and individuals.

A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff was presented with nineteen medals for service to his country. He was awarded the bronze star for valor for capturing an enemy machine gun nest in 1950. Other medals included the United Nations Service Medal, Victory Medal for service in World War II, and two Purple Hearts.

After returning from the Korean War, Mr. Ratliff achieved success and fame as a winning football coach at Hurley High School from 1952-1954, having established the school's first football program. Those years were among his most cherished memories. Entering the mining business in 1955, he became successful as a businessman, later building banking, cattle and land empires. He was the largest individual landowner east of the Mississippi River, and once owned the fifth largest cattle outfit in the United States. He was the founder of Miners and Merchants Bank of Grundy, First Bank and Trust, of Lebanon, and the Big Stone Gap Bank and Trust, of Big Stone Gap, Va. He was also part owner of the Tanglewood and Crossroads Malls, of Roanoke, Va.

Prior to his death he continued to operate the Anchorage Shopping Center, Anchor Motel in Grundy, multiple rental properties and other enterprises.

During his lifetime, Mr. Ratliff was privileged to have stepped on each of the seven continents. One of his favorite places was New Zealand, specifically Henderson Island off the eastern coast of Australia. He was featured in several major publications, including the Cincinnati Post, the National Geographic and on the British Broadcasting Corporation.

An avid student of history throughout his life, Mr. Ratliff was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Emory and Henry University.

He was a member of the Springville Christian Church, in Springville.

Funeral Services for Arthur M. (Smiley) Ratliff, Jr., will be conducted Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelists Johnny Elmore and Mike Rife officiating.

A private committal ceremony will be conducted at Dilston Hall, Tazewell, Va., following the services.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel today (Saturday) from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy, Va. is in charge of all arrangements.

To leave personal condolences online, visit www.legacy.com

Mr. Robert Douglas Walters

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Mr. Robert Douglas Walters, 57, of Sunnybrook Circle S, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, N.C.

He was born Sept. 10, 1950 in Mercer County to the late Douglas Epperley and Catherine Rose Acuff Walters. Mr. Walters moved to Florida to pursue his love of golf and spent his spare time making custom golf clubs.

Survivors include a sister, Rebecca “Becky” A. Boyles of Mocksville, N.C.; a brother, William “Bill” R. (Donna) Walters of Ormond Beach, Fla.; three nieces, Cindy N. Walters, Catherine J. Boyles, and Amanda Reece Boyles; and a nephew, Douglas W. Walters.

Eaton Funeral Home in Mocksville, N.C. is serving the family of Mr. Walters.

To leave personal condolences online, visit www.legacy.com



Funerals

Funerals scheduled today include:

• Victor C. “Pepaw” Argabright: 1 p.m., Burns Wornal Chapel of the Memorial Funeral Directory on Athens Road in Princeton. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton.

• Charles Richard Briley: 2 p.m., Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bluewell.

• William Townsend Brooks: 2 p.m., graveside services and interment at Central Church Cemetery in Burkes Garden, Va.

• Mrs. Josephine Augusta Brown: Noon, Greater Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church in Bluefield. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Bluewell.

• Armon Carmon: 1 p.m., George W. Seaver Chapel of Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton.

• Dr. David J. DeBerry: 3 p.m., Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington, Va. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Va.

• Dallas Mitchell Dillon: 11 a.m., Bethel Chapel Church in Narrows, Va. Burial will follow in Peterstown Cemetery.

• James Wilson “Jim” Laws: 11 a.m., memorial service at Mercer Funeral Home in Bluefield.

• Mary Virginia “GiGi” McGlothlin: 10 a.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mims, Fla.

• Emory Sidney Merrix: 11 a.m., Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery, Bluefield, Va.

• Miriam Geraldine Ramsey: 2 p.m., Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Interment will follow at Bowling Cemetery, Spanishburg.

• Thomas A. Ratcliffe: 2 p.m., Dudley Memorial Chapel in Bluefield, Va. Burial will follow in Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, Va.

• James H. Sayers: 11 a.m., memorial service at Hardage-Gidden Funeral Home in Jacksonville, Fla.

• Margaret Louise Sayers: 11 a.m., graveside services at Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield.

• Dean Whited: 1 p.m., Singleton Funeral Service Chapel in Cedar Bluff, Va. Burial will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens, Claypool Hill, Va.