Obituaries

Helen J. Thompson,94, of Kenova formerly of Huntington passed away Monday, August 12, 2024 at her daughter’s residence. Funeral service will be conducted 12:30 P.M. Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home with Pastor Shirley Ball officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Valley Memory Gardens. Helen was a member of the Beulah Freewill Baptist Church. She was born January 23, 1930 in Huntington a daughter of the late William C. and Lula Bates Smith. Besides her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband Julius (Jack) Thompson; daughter Dianalynn Thompson, son Michael E. Thompson, brothers Alvin, Bill, Wayne, Bob and David Smith and two sisters Rosella (Sherman) McGown and Connie Banks. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Patricia “Patty” (Rick) Wellman; son and daughter-in-law Tommy R. (Cathy) Thompson; one brother Jim (Shirley) Smith; three sisters Peggy McComas, Mary Chatterton and Shirley (David ) Spurlock; grandchildren Paul Thompson, Jamie Noble, Wade Wellman, Marcie Iseli, Randy Thompson and Justin Thompson; great-grandchildren Dylan, Whitley, Easton, Maggie, Weston, Katie, Jacob, Josh, Jared, Emma, Claire, Ava; great-great grandchildren Presley, Brantley, Lydia, Chloe and Hazel and numerous other family and friends. The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice, Sandy, Kimberly, Lisa, Missy and Blake. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday at Rollins Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Ed Blankenship,72, of Wayne, WV. passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024 at his residence. Graveside service will be conducted 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Maple Hill Cemetery with Minister Chris Stevens officiating. Ed was born November 30, 1951 in Holden a son of the late James and Della Nelson Blankenship. Ed was a veteran having served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army the American Legion Post #93 Honor Guard will administer military graveside rites. Besides his parents he was also preceded in death by his wife Georgia Blankenship; a son Jeffery Blankenship and four brothers Herbert Blankenship, Benny Blankenship, Enos Blankenship and Richard Blankenship. He is survived by a son Travis Blankenship; two sisters Betty Effingham and Paula M. Smith and numerous other family members. There will be no visitation and no procession to the cemetery. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.

Mary Frances Lucas McCoy,77, of Kenova, WV., precious wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Cabell-Huntington Hospital. Funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 11, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home with Pastor Scott Byard officiating. Mary was born September 22, 1946 in Kenova a daughter of the late Raymond and Louise Vestal Lucas. Besides her parents she was also preceded in death by her brother Raymond Lucas. She is survived by her beloved husband Don E. McCoy; two daughters and sons-in-law LaDonna (Pat) Turner and Amy (Todd) Bush; three grandchildren Tyler Turner, Matthew (Chelsey) Turner and Emilee Bush; three great-grandchildren Milo Turner, Liam Turner and Sloane Turner and special friends Willard and Teresa Horn, Karen Holland and Madelyn Copley. Friends may call from 1:00 P.M. to service time on Sunday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rollinsfh.com.  Continue reading “Mary Frances Lucas McCoy”

We bid farewell to Kevin Randall McCoy, who departed from this world on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, kindness and generosity beyond compare. Kevin loved his family fiercely and walked through life with gentle strength, touching the lives of everyone he encountered with an unforgettable grace. A lover of nature, music and books, Kevin found beauty in life’s simple moments and encouraged us all to do the same. He will be remembered with love and affection by his sons Christopher and Michael McCoy, granddaughter Cassie Hughes, great grandson Kymere, siblings, Larry McCoy, Phillip (Ann) McCoy, Scott McCoy, Darren  (Beverly) McCoy, Angie (Tim) Ferguson, and Ericka (Gary) Gillman, along with his dear niece Misty Marshall, Lisa Messer, nephews David and Freddie McCoy, a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives and special friends. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova, WV on Friday, July 26th followed by a funeral service conducted at 2:00p.m.  He will be laid to rest at Docks Creek Cemetery and then we will celebrate his life with a nature picnic and canoe rides at Virginia Point in Kenova. Please join us in celebrating his life.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to grant his final wish.

Mary Elizabeth Walker, 57, of Kenova, WV., passed away Saturday, July 13, 2024 at home. She was born February 20, 1967 in Huntington a daughter of Margaret Reeves Walker and the late Robert Clinton Walker. In addition to her mother, she is survived by a brother and sister-in-law Robert (Laura) Walker and two nephews Ryan Walker and Elijah Walker. Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova is assisting the family. There will be no public services at this time.  Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.

William “Bill” Delbert Kazee, 63, of Kenova, WV., passed away Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the St. Mary’s Medical Center. Bill was born March 6, 1961, to the late Sherman and Sarah Jane Kazee in Beckley, WV. He was also preceded in death by his baby sister Beulah Kazee. Bill was a cherished husband, brother, dad, Papaw, and friend. Bill loved old cars; one of his favorite hobbies was building model cars. Bill was an avid collector and lover of all sorts of antiques. He loved music, books, and movies, as well as golfing and bowling. Spending time with the people he loved was when he was happiest. Everyone that knew Bill knew how much he loved his children and grandchildren, and most of all his best friend and the love of his life for 45 years his wife Eva. He was often seen on his front porch enjoying the weather and talking with his neighbors. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Eva; his sisters, Linda (Ronnie) Keith and Monica (Don) McComas; and brother Warren Kazee; sons Adam (Carrie) Kazee and Gary (Amanda) Kazee; grandchildren Cory Porter-Pitts, Tori (Jeremy) Meade, Andrea (Chase) Bockway, Autumn Kraemer, Blake Marshall, Keirstin Porter, Logan O’Dell, Maddie Kazee, Dustin Marshall, Cheyenne Kazee, Jonathan Kazee, Otto Kazee, and Ellee Kazee; great-grandchildren Jaxon Bockway, Olivia Bockway, Colton Kraemer, James Bockway, Wyatt Kraemer and Joseph Bockway. Bill was also survived by many nieces and nephews, a large community of beloved friends, and his best bud Di Taylor. There will be a celebration of life gathering from 4:00 P.M – 6:00 P.M. Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com. Continue reading “William “Bill” Delbert Kazee”

Harold Lee Pemberton of Wayne County passed away Friday, July 5, 2024 at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, July, 9, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home with Pastor Greg Page officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Valley Memory Gardens. He was the son of the late Richard Harry and Amy Jane Adkins Pemberton. He was a retired conductor from CSX and a veteran having served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Buena Vista Masonic Lodge #60, York Rite and Scottish Rite whose members will conduct graveside rites and he was a member of the American Legion Post #93 whose Honor Guard will conduct military graveside rites. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Erma Ilene Pemberton; one brother Richard Pemberton and nephew Ray Gilkerson. He is survived by his two sons Michael (Sharon) Pemberton and Chris (Terri) Pemberton; three grandchildren Erin Pemberton, Jacynn Pemberton, and Ryann Pemberton; three step-grandchildren Nicholas Young, Mathew Young, and Jessica Young and one sister Donna Gilkerson. Friends may call from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.

Clyde Bruce Rowe, 69, of Ceredo, passed away July 1 peacefully at home.

He is survived by his loving wife Jaylen Rowe; his daughters Lesli Forbes (Jesse) of Charleston and Casey Cipoletti (Jonathan) of Shreveport, La.; and his grandchildren Will (14) and Addie (13) Forbes and Luca (8) and Marco (5) Cipoletti. Bruce was also blessed to have joined Jaylen’s family and is survived by her children Dani Lynn Kelly (John) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Lakin McCann (Chris) of Mobile, Ala. and grandchildren Emma (11), Jayden (8) and Jaxon (9) Kelly and Finley (8), Judah (5) and Shepherd (3) McCann. Bruce was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend and will be dearly missed. Continue reading “Clyde Bruce Rowe”

Essie Ray Massie, 98, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, Monday July 1, 2024 at her residence. Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home with Pastor Richard Childers officiating. Interment will follow in Bean Cemetery. Essie was born June 17, 1926 in Prichard a daughter of the late Isreal and Exer Murray Ray. She was a member of the Centerville Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband Harold “Boots” Massie; granddaughter Sonya Mayo and granddaughter-in-law Rhonda Massie. Survivors include her children Roger (Shelby) Massie, Brenda (Jerry) Damron, Dianna (Charles) Mayo, Debbie (Greg) Adkins, Brian (Michelle) Massie, Brent (Linda) Massie and Jennifer (Jeff) Wellman; grandchildren Tom Massie, Philip Massie, Becky (John) Gray, Alicia (Mike) Patton, Tiffany Damron, Jacqueline (John) Ray, Tyler Mayo, Matthew (Annie) Adkins, Adam Adkins, Seth (Norma) Adkins, Hunter (Katie) Harrison, Hadley Massie, Brittany (Casey) Arthur, Melissa (Chris) Adkins, Lindsey Wellman and Shelby (Adam) Whitmore. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Mason, Justin, Sarah, Nathan, Grace, Nicholas, Alex, Tia, Hannah, Grace, Levi, Hallie, Sydnie, Parker, Caitlyn, Kinsley, Hailey, Luke, Brooks, Sophie, Cooper and Elliot; great-great-grandchildren Norman, Everleigh, Jasper and Madilyn; best friend turned caretaker Maxine Richmond; special friend Gloria McKenzie and dear friend Gayle Massie. Friends may call from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.

RONALD A. WILLIS, 65, passed away June 28, 2024 at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House. He was born March 7, 1959 a son of the late Rev. Berman Willis, Jr. He is survived by his mother Gloria Jean Willis; a daughter Mindy Clark; a brother Berman “Pinky” Willis, III; two sisters Virginia “Jenny” Erwin and Ava Shirlette McCarty along with several nieces and nephews. Special thank you to Amanda McComas for all of her care at this time. In lieu of flowers the family ask for donations to be made to Rollins Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses. Graveside service will be conducted at noon on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at Spring Valley Memory Gardens. There will not be any visitation or procession to the cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at rollinsfh.com.  Continue reading “Ronald A. Willis”