Frank L. Blackwell

Retired textile employee

CHEROKEE FALLS – Frank Lamar Blackwell, 85, of 237 Doolittle St., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at his residence.

A native of Cherokee County, he was the husband of Evelene Leagon Blackwell and son of the late Jeff Melton Blackwell and the late Iretta Earls Blackwell. He was a retired textile employee and helped organize and was a charter member of the Cherokee County Coin Club. Mr. Blackwell was a member

of The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Mike Blackwell of Blacksburg and Joel Blackwell of Gaffney; a daughter, Dorcas Blackwell Wright of Blacksburg; two brothers, Etoise Blackwell of Colorado Springs, Colo., and A.G. Blackwell of Gaffney; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In addition his parents, Mr. Blackwell was preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Joy Blackwell.

Graveside services will be held today at 2 p.m. at Frederick Memorial Gardens, conducted by Elders Floyd Martin and Archie Fowler.

Pallbearers will be Steve Blackwell, Barry Earls, Andy Walker, Ed Moss, Joe Moss and George Moss.

The family is at the residence.

Memorials may be made to Total Care Inc., 128 Medical Science Drive, Union, S.C. 29379; or to Hospice Care of S.C., 1612 N. Limestone St., Gaffney, S.C. 29341.

Arrangements by ShufordHatcher Funeral Home.

Mary P. Crater

Mother of Gaffney resident

Mary Phelps Crater, 87, died at her home in Advance, N.C., on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005.

Mrs. Crater was born July 26, 1918, in Davie County to Thomas A. and Minnie Viola Beauchamp Phelps. She was an active member of Mocks United Methodist Church and was a member of Mocks Homemaker Club and Senior Citizens Club. She was a charter member of the Advance Fire Department Auxiliary.

Mrs. Crater was married to Houston F. Crater Sr. on Nov. 19, 1938. Mr. Crater preceded her in death on July 28, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, George Phelps and Jack Phelps, and a sister, Cleo Surratt.

Surviving are two sons, Houston Francis Crater Jr. of Gaffney and David Wayne Crater and wife, Tammy, of Advance; six grandchildren, Houston F. (Fox) Crater III and wife, Kris, Judith Love (Dixie) Bullock and husband, William, Mary Elaine (Daisy) Crater, David W. (Davey) Crater Jr. and wife, Beth, Jerry Selph and April Creasey and husband, Joey; seven great-grandchildren, Austin Crater, Alexis Crater, David Jacob Crater, Dennis Crater, Jade Bullock, Allee Crater and Jaden Creasey.

Services were held Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Mocks United Methodist Church, conducted by the Revs. Bob Symanski, Jerry Surratt and Max Furr. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Mocks United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 2122, Advance, N.C. 27006; or to the Children's Home Inc., 1001 Reynolda Road, WinstonSalem, N.C. 27104.

Mrs. Crater was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who loved her garden and her flowers. The family offers many thanks to Hospice and Palliative Care Center and her loving and devoted caretakers.

Arrangements by Vogler & Sons Funeral Homes, Clemmons, N.C.

Irma K. Fite Circuit teacher, traveling

by horse and buggy

to small country schools

Irma Dean King Fite, 99, widow of Robert Jefferson Fite, has gone home to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, from Brookview HealthCare Center.

Born in Flat Woods, Tenn., Mrs. Fite was a daughter of the late Joseph Braxton and Molly Caton Phillips King. She spent her early years as a circuit teacher, going by horse and buggy to small country schools that did not have a teacher. She loved the Lord and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ.

Surviving are her daughter, C. Janet Whitney and husband, Albert, of Gaffney; her son, Edwin Ray Fite and wife, Brenda, of Jacksonville, Fla.; her foster son, George Bessent and wife, Betty, of Jacksonville, Fla.; her brother, Conrad Braxton King of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Bobby Gene Fite.

Services will be held Friday in Hohenwald, Tenn., with burial following under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is entrusted with local arrangements.

Horace Chambers

Cherokee County native

Horace Chambers, 66, of 69 Hoyt St., New Cannon, Conn., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005.

A native of Cherokee County, he was the son of Orozolar Chambers of Bridgeport, Conn.

Surviving are his wife, Helen Chambers of Spartanburg; a daughter, Jacqueline Chambers of Boiling Springs; two sons, Jonathan Chambers and Michael Chambers of Spartanburg; four grandchildren; three sisters, Virgie Wilson of Bridgeport, Conn., Kathy Blue of New Cannon, Conn., and Jurushia Blue of Long Beach, Conn.; and two brothers, James Chambers of Greer and Jeffery Chambers of West Haven, Conn.

Services will be held Thursday at noon at Lester Gee Funeral Home in Ridgeport, Conn.

(Courtesy of Foster Funeral Home.)

Wanda W. Love

Homemaker

Wanda Ruth Warmack Love, 56, of 155 Goucher School Road, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

A native of Tampa, Fla., she was the wife of Victor Love and daughter of the late Jesse Finley Warmack and the late Vera Alice Harris Warmack. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are her husband, Victor Love of the home; two sons, Freddie Frady and wife, Sheena, of Lavonia, Ga., and Gerald Frady and wife, Leigh Ann, of Royston, Ga.; two daughters, Lynn Frady of Ringgold, Ga., and Jeanette Love of Gaffney; two brothers, Jesse Warmck and Thomas Warmack of Tampa, Fla..; stepmother, Anna Warmack; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Love was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Richard Frady.

Services will be held today at 4 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by Mr. Dean Love and Mr. Ashby Blakely. Visitation will be from 3-4 p.m. prior to the service.

The family is at the residence.

Arrangements by Blakely Funeral Home.

Robert Raines

Retired from Musgrove Mills

Robert James Raines, 69, of 2249 Old Georgia Hwy., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Born in Gaffney, he was the son of the late Eulon Raines and Edna Henson Raines. Mr. Raines was a retired weave room supervisor with Musgrove Mills and was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are his daughter, Charlene Raines of Gaffney; five brothers, John Raines of Blacksburg, Winford Raines, Larry Raines, Richard Raines and Randy Raines, all of Gaffney; and five sisters, Betty Turner, Carolyn Turner, Kay Raines, all of Gaffney, Norma Jackson and Doris Kearse, both of Chesnee.

The family is at the residence.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Blakely Funeral Home.

Donald R. Deaton

BLACKSBURG – Donald Ray Deaton, 60, of 231 Tucker Road, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005.

A native of Gaffney, he was the son of Stoy William Deaton of Blacksburg and the late Mary Louise Tucker Deaton. He was a member of Light House Baptist Church.

Surviving are three sons, Scott Deaton, Steve Deaton and Danny Deaton of Blacksburg; a daughter, Melissa Upchurch of Blacksburg; his twin brother, Ronnie (Fattie) Deaton of Blacksburg; sisters, Brenda Giles of Gaffney, Wanda Dixon, Sue Bridges, Joyce Jolly and Kim Patterson, all of Blacksburg; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Light House Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Grady Gregory. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m.

Visitation will be Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. at Gordon Mortuary and at other times the family will be at the home of Stoy Deaton, 225 Tucker Road, Blacksburg.

Arrangements by Gordon Mortuary.