Obituaries

Jul 19, 2021

Russell David Melton, 44, of Monroe, NC passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021. He was born in Union County on November 29, 1976. A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, July 24, 2021 at Gordon Funeral Chapel, burial to follow in Lakeland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:00PM until...

Jul 19, 2021

Carrie Lee Blakeney Walker was born on October 18, 1934 in Chesterfield County, SC to the late Robert Blakeney and Flossie Lowery Blakeney. She was married to the late Jason James Walker. She was a lifelong member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Tradesville, SC. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. To some she was...

Jul 18, 2021

James Lane Tompkins, 69, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2021. He was the son of the Late Clarence and Bernice Tompkins. He was also preceeded in death by a brother, Evan Marcus Tompkins, and wife Joan Christine (Nelson) Tompkins. Jim, a New York City boy by birth but a bit country by nature, began his working life - and...

Jul 17, 2021

Harry Alonzo Godfrey, 94, passed away in his sleep at his home in Monroe, North Carolina on July 17, 2021. He was born January 27, 1927 in Union County, son of the late William Blythe Godfrey and Della Stephenson Godfrey. He is also preceded in death by two brothers, William Godfrey and Douglas Godfrey, and three sisters, Helen McLean,...

Jul 17, 2021

Ray Steven (Steve) Upperman, 73, passed away on Saturday, July 17, 2021. He was the son of the late Ray Eugene Upperman and Ruth Pabst Upperman. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Bruce W. Upperman. The funeral service will be at 11:30AM on Friday, July 23, 2021 at Gordon Funeral Chapel with burial following at Lakeland...

Jul 16, 2021

Audrey Louise Dodd Bales, age 100, died on July 16, 2021. She was born in Boaz, AL on March 1, 1921, one of nine children of the late David Edward and Maude Smith Dodd. She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence and her son Duane. Audrey graduated in 1942 from Berea College KY, where she met Clarence....

Jul 15, 2021

Charles Franklin “Frank” Chaney Jr., 70, of Monroe, NC passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at the Hospice House in Monroe surrounded by his wife and sons. He was born in Union County on November 12, 1950, son of the late Charles Franklin Chaney Sr., and Billie Lee Williams Chaney. Frank was a graduate of Forest Hills High...

Jul 14, 2021

Jessie Smith Purnell, 92, of Monroe, NC, died peacefully on July 14, 2021 at Waltonwood Cotswold in Charlotte, NC. She was born on September 26, 1928 in Monroe to the late Martin and Bessie Smith. Jessie is also preceded in death by her husband Rial Omega Purnell, five sisters: Verna Jones, Willy Ruth Presson, Christine Helms, Elvie HInson, and...

Jul 13, 2021

Jul 13, 2021

Chester “Chet” Lee Moore, 74, of Monroe, NC passed away Tuesday, July 13, 2021. He was born in Lakewood, NJ, on October 10, 1946, son to the late Chester Atwood Moore. A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Gordon Funeral Chapel, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112. The family will receive friends following...

Jul 12, 2021

Wiley Kenneth Helms, 86, passed away Monday, July 12, 2021. He was born on June 1, 1935 in Union County, NC, son of the late Duke Helms and Vera Lomax Helms Flynn and step-father, Johnny Flynn. Mr. Helms graduated from Benton Heights High School in 1953. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a Union County Sheriff’s Deputy. He...

Jul 11, 2021

Rodney Boutwell, 77 of Monroe, NC passed away on Sunday, July 11, 2021. He was born in Santa Clara County, CA, on October 15, 1943, son of the late Dr. Charles Rodney Boutwell Sr., and Gladys Cordella Campbell Boutwell. He is also preceded in death by his brother Paul Boutwell. A military committal service will be held at 9:00AM...

Jul 10, 2021

Johnny Glenn Latham, 86, of Monroe, NC passed away at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Union County on February 15, 1935 son to the late E. G. Latham and Helen Mae Holloway Latham. He is also proceeded in death by a sister-in-law Gail Fowler Latham, and a brother-in-law Tom McCaskill. A funeral service will...

Jul 9, 2021

Ray Turner Cook, 87, of Monroe, passed away Friday, July 9, 2021. He was born September 14, 1933 in Union County a son of the late Cam and Avis Morris Cook. He is also preceded in death by a brother, Waymon Cook and a sister Evelyn Richardson. Funeral services for Ray will be 4:00 PM Monday, July 12, 2021...

Jul 3, 2021

Terry Eugene Bigham, 64, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday July 3, 2021. He was born in Union County on October 4, 1956 to the late David Edward Bigham and Martha Manus Bigham. He was preceded in death by both parents and his beloved dog Zoe. A memorial service will be at 1:30PM, Saturday, July 10, 2021 at...

Jul 3, 2021

Tommy Lynn Graham, 57, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021. He was born July 22, 1963 in Union County of son of the late Larry and Judy Helms Graham. Funeral services will be private. Tommy is survived by a sister, Teresa Graham Black of Monroe, a niece, Kristina Black Boyer of California, a nephew, Matthew Black of...

Jun 29, 2021

Bobby Followay Giblin was born in Sprigg, West Virginia, on February 28, 1933. He was raised by his grandmother, Maude Chapman Followay, in his beloved state of West Virginia which he truly believed was "Almost Heaven." A Norfolk & Western train line passed next to his childhood home, fostering a lifelong love of trains. At the age of 18...

Jun 28, 2021

Bobby Galliher passed away at home peacefully on Monday, June 28, 2021 at the age of 76. He was born March 13, 1945, son of the late Mack and Isabell Miller Galliher. Funeral services will be Friday, July 2, 2021 at 2:00 PM in Gordon Funeral Chapel, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC. Burial will follow in Lakeland Memorial Park....

Jun 28, 2021

Mildred Hadley McNeish, 91, died Monday June 28, 2021, after a short battle with cancer. She was born August 23, 1929, in Sharon, PA, to the late Ralph and Pauline Hadley. She is also preceded in death by her brother Harry Hadley. She married the late William (Bill) McNeish of Grove City, PA in 1952. The family moved to...

Jun 27, 2021

Mrs. Doris Jean Smith Funderburk, 89, of Monroe, NC, passed away Sunday, June 27, 2021. She was born in Union County on October 12, 1931, daughter to the late Curtis Smith and Zula Martin Smith. She is also preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 56 years, George C. Funderburk Jr. She is also preceded in...