Obituaries for Wednesday, July 14, 1999

Bertha Criss

SHINNSTON -- Bertha Criss, 90, of Big Elk Community, Wallace, died at 9:27 a.m., Monday, July 12, 1999, in United Hospital Center, Clarksburg, following a brief illness.
She was born in Calhoun County, Nov. 3, 1908, a daughter of the late Edward and Belle LeMasters Myers.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Riley A. Harbert, and her second husband, James R. Criss.
Surviving are five sons, Frank, Howard and Russell Criss, all of Ohio, Cecil Criss, Wallace, and Freddie Criss, Clarksburg; one daughter, Pearl Gray, Florida; 39 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by four sons, Kenneth, Robert, Raymond and James Criss; and five stepchildren, Edward Criss, Bess Davis, Florida Compton, Pauline Pye and Clara Anthony.
Mrs. Criss was a homemaker and Pentecostal.
Friends will be received after 2 p.m. today at Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, where the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. James Loan officiating. Interment will be in the Robinson Cemetery at Big Elk, Wallace.

Martha J. Fetty

SHINNSTON -- Martha Jean Fetty, 79, a resident of Nella's Nursing Home, Elkins, formerly of Smithfield, died at 11:05 p.m. Monday, July 12, 1999, in the nursing home.
She was born in Smithfield, May 30, 1921, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Flossie Hayhurst Fetty.
Surviving are one aunt, Peggy Barnett, Shinnston; one uncle, Oliver Hayhurst, Salem; several nieces and nephews including Junnie Stackhouser, Pine Grove.
She was also preceded in death by one sister, Virginia Ruth Fetty.
Miss Fetty was Pentecostal.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Pricetown Cemetery, Smithfield, with the Pastor Jerry Helmick officiating. Dorsey Funeral Home, Shinnston, is in charge of arrangements.

Elmer E. Gower, Sr.

BUCKHANNON -- Elmer Eugene ''Gene'' Gower, Sr., 86, of Route 1, Mt. Clare, died at 2 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, 1999, in United Hospital Center, Clarksburg.
He was born on June 7, 1913, in Lantz, a son of the late Eugenus Waitman and Margaret Lantz Gower.
In 1931, he married Sally Summerfield Gower, who preceded him in death in 1987.
Surviving are two daughters, Juanita Jean Moore and Hilda I. Beamer, both of Bridgeport; one son, Eugene Gower, Jr., Gassaway; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Amy Gower, Ellamore; several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Doyle Allen Gower and one sister, Gladys Bodkin.
Mr. Gower was a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of Simpson Creek Baptist Church, a 50-year member of Jackson Lodge No. 35, A.F.&A.M. of Good Hope, and a 50-year member of the Scottish Rite of Wheeling.

William D. Menefee

NEWTON FALLS, Ohio -- William D. ''Buck'' Menefee, 56, of Newton Falls, formerly of Philippi, died Friday July 9, 1999, at Grant Memorial Hospital, Petersburg.
He was born Oct. 12, 1942, in Philippi, a son of the late Cecil W. and Mable I. ''Midge'' Bartlett Menefee.
Surviving is his wife, Martha A. ''Molly'' Menefee.
Also surviving are two children, Thomas Richard ''Rick'' Menefee and his wife Cheryl, and Kris Lea Krovich and her husband Mark, all of Parma, Ohio; six grandchildren; two stepsons, Todd Gareau, Newton Falls, and Brad Gareau, Detroit, Mich.; three stepgrandchildren; one sister, Alice Menefee Carder, Grafton; one niece and nephew, several cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.
Mr. Menefee was employed by P.P.G. Industries of Cleveland and Lordstown, Ohio for 34 years. He was an avid sportsman.

William McClain

SALEM -- William ''Clark'' McClain, 17, of Buffalo Calf Community, died at 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, 1999, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Saturday, July 10.
He was born on June 14, 1982, in Clarksburg, the son of William M. and Barbara Wagner McClain, Buffalo Calf Community.
Also surviving are two sisters, Jennifer Louann McClain and Kristin Ashley McClain, both at home; his paternal grandmother, Mary McClain, Patterson Street; his maternal grandparents, Clarence ''Bub'' and Irene Wagner, Deep Valley, Tyler County; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mr. McClain was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and the senior class of Doddridge County High School. He was a former student at Liberty High School. He was also a member of Doddridge County High School football team, the P.E.P. Club and the S.A.D.D. Club.
Friends will be received from 2-9 p.m. today at Greathouse Funeral Home, Salem Chapel. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The Rev. Lynn McClain, uncle of the deceased, Rev. Jon Hayes and Rev. Lillian Simmons, will conduct the service. Interment will be in the Church Cemetery. His body will lie in state one hour prior to service time.

Iva M. Nine

BUCKHANNON -- Iva M. Nine, 92, of Holbrook Nursing Home, Buckhannon, died at 3 p.m. Monday, July 12, 1999, in the nursing home.
She was born on Jan. 14, 1907, in Cass, a daughter of the late John and Minerva Cassel Galford.
In 1927, she married Charles Nine, who preceded her in death in 1985.
Surviving are two daughters, Catherine Hinkle, South Lyon, Mich., and Mary Ware, Buckhannon; three sons, Charles Nine, Cedaredge, Colo., Jack Nine, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Bud Nine, Macon, Ga.; 15 grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, Donald Nine and several brothers and sisters.
Mrs. Nine was a homemaker and a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

John F. Smith

HARRISVILLE -- John F. Smith, 85, of Harrisville, died Tuesday, July 13, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Parkersburg.
He was born in Doddridge County, a son of the late Thomas B. and Anna J. Leeson Smith.
He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Evelyn Williams, Jessie Williams and Georgia Lowther.
Mr. Smith was a retired farmer and a member of the Harrisville Baptist Church.

Samuel W. Warner

Samuel Worth Warner, 58, of Lake Floyd, Bristol, died at 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 12, 1999, at United Hospital Center, Clarksburg.
He was born Jan. 15, 1941, a son of the late Keith and Joy Thompson Warner.
Surviving is his wife, Janet Ruth Parks Warner, whom he married June 8, 1963.
Also surviving are one son, Scott A. Warner, Charleston; two daughters, Mrs. Dowain (Michelle) Ford, Aurora, and Mrs. Gregory H. (Jill Christina) Schillace, Lake Floyd; one brother, Isaac David Warner, Riverton; one half sister, Mrs. Edsel (Gaye) Harper, Canton, Ohio; one granddaughter, Samantha Sue Ford, Aurora; several anuts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Warner was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Circleville High School in Pendleton County. From August of 1963 to February of 1966, he was a teacher in Frederick County schools in Winchester, Va. He served as a district executive for the Shenandoah Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Winchester from February of 1966 to February of 1974. He served as chief executive officer for the Cornstalk District of the Buckskin Council of Boy Scouts in Logan County from February of 1974 to June of 1980.
He had served as an instructor and committee member of Leadership Harrison, was an avid hunter and runner. He was the director of the Salem Apple Butter Festival 5-K Run. He became a member of the Lake Floyd Club Board of Directors in 1984, served as vice president for eight years, and had been president since 1995.
Mr. Warner had a B.S. degree in biology from Shepherd College and was the holder of two master degrees, one from Salem College in education and one from West Virginia University in management studies. He was currently pursuing education leadership studies graduate work in the School of Human Resources at West Virginia University working on his doctorate degree.
Since 1980, Mr. Warner had been employed at Salem-Teikyo University and was an associate professor of management studies.
Friends will be received from 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. until time of service at 1 p.m. Thursday at Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 East Main St., Clarksburg, with the Rev. Dr. Kathryn A. McIntyre and Rev. Dr. Charles R. Echols conducting the service.