Roger Lee Auvil
PARSONS -- Roger Lee Auvil, 45, a native of Tucker County and more recently a resident of Strasburg, Ohio, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 10, 2001, at his home. His death was unexpected and attributed to complications from diabetes.
He was born Aug. 24, 1955, at Parsons, a son of Noble Edward Auvil, who survives at Brushy Fork, and the late Grace Marie Waybright Auvil, who preceded him in death in July of 1997.
He was twice married, first, to the former Rebecca Parks, who survives at Parsons, and then to Sherral "Annie" Lowe, who survives at Strasburg, Ohio.
Also surviving are two sons, Roger "Eric" Auvil, Barlow, Tenn., and Aaron Alexander Auvil, Strasburg; two daughters, Kimberly Ann Auvil, Parsons, and Kelsey Brooke Auvil, along with her mother, Anna Goff, all of Elkins; four brothers, David Auvil and wife Geraldine, Sugarlands, Tim Auvil, Keith Auvil and wife Nancy, all of Brushy Fork, Danny "Buzz" Auvil and wife Wendy, Olean, N.Y; two sisters, Sue Knotts and husband Greg, Sugarlands and Paula Bolyard, Parsons; two stepsons, Randy S. Graham, Burnsville, and Jason E. Graham, serving with the U.S. Marine Corps at Okinawa, Japan, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Kathleen Reed, in June of 1999.
Mr. Auvil was a graduate of Parsons High School with the class of 1974, and was a former employee of the Kingsford Charcoal Co., a former construction worker, a former employee of the Elkins Wal-Mart, and at the time of his death was an employee of the Albex Aluminum Co., at Canton, Ohio.
Robert W. Bragg
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. -- Robert W. Bragg, 75, of Middle River, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at his home.
He was born Sept. 23, 1925, at Clarksburg, the son of the late Samuel Bragg and Hazel McGinnie Bragg.
His wife, Helen Louwilla Bragg, survives.
He is also survived by two daughters, Denna Schwinn and Donna Willey; three grandchildren, Jesse Schwinn, Jenne Schwinn and Jenna Willey; two sisters, Margie Simmons, Laurel, and Mary Lou Merrotto, Clarksburg; one brother, Bill Bragg, Clarksburg.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Samuel Bragg.
Mr. Bragg was an electrician by trade, having been employed by the Bethlehem Steel Co., of Baltimore. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II.
Clifford Earl Byrd
FAIRMONT -- Clifford Earl Byrd, 75, of Route 3, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at the Arbors in Fairmont after an extended illness.
He was born July 5, 1925, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Loy Clifton and Mattie Schiefer Byrd.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Matha Jones Byrd.
He is also survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Richard Earl Byrd, Ravenswood, John Thomas and Nancy K. Byrd, Fairview and David Roy and Cindy Byrd, Fairmont; one brother and sister-in-law, Loy Clifton Jr. and Janet Byrd, Jane Lew; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Oleta and Russell Lindsey, Nutter Fort, and Lela Mae and Bill Posey, Clarksburg; two grandchildren, John Thomas Byrd II, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and HollyNoel Elizabeth Byrd, Fairview; two stepgrandchildren, Amanda Jo Bartholow and Jennifer Lynn Bartholow, both of Fairmont, and two stepgreat-grandchildren, Preston Michael Duncil and Briana Marie Duncil.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, John Thomas Byrd.
Mr. Byrd was a substation electrician with Monongahela Power Co., having retired in 1988 with 37 years of service.
He was a member of the Trinity Assembly of God. He was a graduate of Weston High School as well as Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Ill.
He was a member of the Baptist Temple Men's Chorus, a Cub Master for the Baptist Temple Pack and Troop No. 10, a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International and a member of the Quarter Century Club of Monongahela Power Co. He enjoyed trout fishing as well as gardening.
Friends and family may call at the Ford Funeral Home, Fairmont, today from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral will be held on Sunday in the funeral home at 2 p.m., with Pastor Frank Bilotta and the Rev. Bill Preston officiating. Burial will follow in the Pisgah Cemetery.
Geraldine McDaniels DeMoss
PARSONS -- Geraldine McDaniels DeMoss, 62, a resident of the Pheasant Run Community, Kerens, and more recently a resident of Nella's Nursing Home in Elkins, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at the nursing home. She had been in declining health and death was attributed to cancer.
She was born Feb. 8, 1938, at Cleveland, Ohio, a daughter of the late Paul Kurth and Doris Kilbourn McDaniels.
On Nov. 6, 1955, she was married to William Harvey DeMoss, who preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 1996.
Surviving are three sons, Harry Lee DeMoss, William Charles DeMoss, both of Pheasant Run and William Harvey DeMoss, Parma Heights, Ohio; three daughters, Bonna M. Kennedy Yusko and Greg, Bedford, Ohio, Gerri L. DeMoss and companion Mike Long, Pheasant Run and Amanda Jane DeMoss, Cleveland; three brothers, James, Kirby and Larry McDaniels; seven sisters, Betty, Peggy, Anna Mae, Carol and Garnett McDaniels, Karen and Robin Ball; 10 grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Warren and Raymond, and two sisters, Bonnie and Virene.
Mrs. DeMoss graduated from the schools of Cleveland and was an inspector for the R.G. Sloan Plastic Manufacturing Co., before becoming disabled.
She was a member of the former Garnett Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, had worked at the concession stands for Parsons Little League sports, was a homemaker and a member of the Irons Chapel Church at the Pheasant Run community.
James Franklin
Fisher
WESTON -- James Franklin Fisher, 88, of Route 1, Gee Lick community, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness.
He was born in Weston on May 13, 1912, the son of the late Franklin Fisher and Retta Catherine May Fisher.
On Dec. 7, 1935, he married the former Evelyn O. Spicer, who preceded him in death on June 29, 1990.
He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Judy Queen, Clarksville, Tenn.; one son, Gregory J. Fisher, at home; two grandchildren, Lissa Adams and David Queen; four great-grandchildren, Ashlea and Holly Adams and Taylor and Kessler Queen; two brothers, Kessler and Francis Fisher, both of Weston; one sister, Nellie Posey, Weston, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by four sisters, Ova Fisher, Betty McComb, Sarah Posey, Eljean Griggs; one infant sister; one brother, Edward Fisher, and one half-brother, Bill May.
Mr. Fisher was a retired foreman at Colonial Glass Factory of Weston. He attended the Gee Lick United Methodist Church.
Friends will be received at the Floyd Funeral Home, Weston, on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Weston.
Jean Martin Garner
KINGWOOD -- Jean Martin Garner, 89, of Fairmont, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Fairmont General Hospital.
She was born Sept. 11, 1911, in Cumberland, Md., a daughter of the late John R. and Beatrice Brown Martin.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, George W. Garner, in 1990.
Surviving are one brother and spouse, John and Ruth Z. Martin, Fairmont; one sister and spouse, Elinor M. and George J. Shean, Morgantown; one sister-in-law, Valda G. Martin, Orlando, Fla.; one nephew and spouse, John F. and Leta Martin, Orlando; three nieces, Allison Farquer, California, Nan S. Shaffer and husband, Thomas E., and Jan Lopreste, all of Morgantown; three great-nephews, Frederick John Martin and wife, Wendy, Atlanta Ga., Sean Jakeway and Nicholas Lopreste, both of Morgantown, and two great-nieces, Jane F. Hoag and husband Andrew, Atlanta, Ga., and Ashleigh Jakeway, Morgantown.
Mrs. Garner was a 1929 graduate of Kingwood High School and in the fall of 1929 she entered nurses' training at Philadelphia General Hospital. Following graduation as a registered nurse, she was employed at Emergency Hospital in Washington, D.C.
In July of 1938 she married her husband, a lifetime resident of Kingwood before moving to Washington, D.C. She then became a nurse for the federal government and served in many department until her retirement in 1955.
Mrs. Garner was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and during her years living in the Washington area, spent many years as a volunteer docent at the DAR Constitutional Hall. At the time of her death, she was an active member of the Hagens-Evan DAR Chapter in Morgantown.
She was a member of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
Edward Lee Price
BELINGTON -- Edward Lee Price, 80, a lifelong resident of Route 92, north of Belington, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at his home following an extended illness.
He was born Jan. 21, 1920, near Belington, a son of the late Benjamin Harrison and Fannie Moore Price.
On Sept. 26, 1942, he married the former Dorothy Belly Ramsey, who survives at Route 2, Belington.
Also surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Roger Childers, Clarksburg, Sue and Dwayne Phillips, Belington and Ann and Joe Friel, Martinsburg; one son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Jill Price, Belington; two nephews, Steve Price and wife, Cathy, and Kevin Price and wife, Penny, all of Belington; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Frank Neal Price, and one sister, Blanche Murray.
Mr. Price attended the public schools in the Belington area. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Army.
He was retired form Roth Construction as a mason and carpenter. He was a 20-year member of the Masonry Union, AFL-CIO. He was a lifelong member of the Sugar Creek United Methodist Church.
Paul J. Vennari
BECKLEY -- Paul J. Vennari, 84, of Beckley, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at the Sunbridge Pine Lodge Nursing Facility, following a short illness.
He was born March 26, 1916, at Lumberport, the son of the late Joseph and Mary Vennari.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mildred 'Mickey" Vennari.
He is also survived by one brother, Jimmy Vennari and wife, Martha, of Pomeroy, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Vennari attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, Marshall University Graduate School and West Virginia University. He was a teacher, principal and coach in Raleigh County for more than 38 years, having retired as a principal at Stratton Junior High School, was a former assistant principal at Beckley Junior High School and was a drama teacher at the school.
He was a former football and basketball referee in West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia for 40 years.
Mr. Vennari was past president of the Southern Coal Fields Officials Association and officiated high school, college and national playoff games. Upon retirement from officiating, he was named commissioner of the WVIAC.
He served as vice president and president of the West Virginia Education Association and in several positions in other education organizations.
Mr. Vennari had served 10 years in the West Virginia House of Delegates. He had been serving as a member of the Raleigh County Board of Education. He was active in the Silver Haired Congress and Legislatures.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines, having enlisted in 1942 and served in the Pacific theater. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Robert Lee Wagner
KEYSER -- Robert Lee Wagner, 78, of McMullen Highway, Rawlings, Md., died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Md.
He was born on Aug. 24, 1922, at Sycamore Dale, a son of the late Lee Frederick Wagner and Auda Middleton Wagner Lanham.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary E. Metz Wagner.
He is also survived by one son, Robert Kevin Wagner and his wife, Elva, Lake Jackson, Texas, four sisters, Lucille Dodd and Thelma Coffman, both of Sycamore Dale, Jean Nuzum, Bridgeport and Martha Windon, Jane Lew; one half-sister, Nancy Lowe, Sycamore Dale; three stepgrandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law and several close friends.
He was also preceded in death by his stepfather, Argyl Lee Lanham; one brother, Warren Wagner; one sister, Dorothy Wagner and two half-brothers, Jack and Eddie Lanham.
Mr. Wagner was retired from the Celanese Amcelle Plant with 42 years of service.
He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church, Westernport, Md., where he was a past Sunday School teacher, usher and leader with the Royal Rangers Youth Group. He was also active in the Men's Fellowship Council of the Assemblies of God Church.
Mr. Wagner was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II. He also served as a cub scout leader in the McCoole area for many years.
He was active with the Mineral County Senior Citizens group, where he served as chaplain and with the Senior Sounds Choir. He was also an active member of both the Dawson and Rawlings Senior Citizens.
