TERRY ELLIS THAMES JR.

Terry Ellis Thames Jr., 84, of Gastonia, N.C., died Sun., July 20, 2014, at CaroMont Regional Medical Center. He was born Nov. 8, 1929, in Covington County.

He was the son of the late Terry Ellis Thames Sr. and Louise Graham Wingard.

Thames was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He retired as a Mechanical Engineer for Monsanto Company, serving for 36 years. He was a longtime, active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served as a Bible teacher, Sunday school teacher, lay pastor, worship assistant and in many other capacities. He was a member of Scottish Rite, Shriner and charter member of Gulf Breeze Lodge in Gulf Breeze, Fla. for 50 years.

Thames is survived by his wife of 32 years, Billie Gibbons Thames of Gastonia, N.C.; son, Terry E. Thames III of Clearwater, Fla.; daughters, Teresha Thames of Pensacola, Fla., Danise Beetle of Cantonment, Fla., Jan Westfall and Jean Snyder, both of Akron, Ohio; step-son, Alex Ormand of Kings Mountain, N.C.; brother, Ben Thames of Pascagoula, Miss.; sister, Jean Meldrum of Dunwoody, Ga.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thurs., July 24, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastors Braxton East and Kitty Rankin officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 until 11 a.m. prior to the service in the church parlor. Entombment will follow the service at Gaston Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastors Discretionary Fund, 805 S. York St., Gastonia, NC 28052. or to Alzheimer’s Association, Western NC Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.
Condolence messages may be sent online at McLeanFuneral.com.

MATTIE EVA MCCOY

Mattie Eva McCoy, 77, of Red Level, passed away Sun., July 20, 2014, at her residence.

Funeral services will be held Wed., July 23, at 11 a.m. in the Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. Frankie McVay will officiate. Interment will follow in the Fairmount Baptist Church Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m., today, Tues., July 22.
McCoy is survived by her sons, Buddy (Demea) Mercer of Highland Home, Quint (Katie) McCoy of Campbellton, Fla. and Craig (Kristi) Mercer of Perdido; daughters, Cathy (Robert) Alexander of Hebersprings, Ark. and Faye (Shawn) Fields of Red Level.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Amos E. McCoy; parents, Huey Jenkins Ingram and Elmer Coulliette Ingram; and her brother, George Ingram.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Buddy Mercer, Quint McCoy, Craig Mercer, Scott Hall, Teddy McGinty and Kenneth Blackburn.

Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Marler and Jamie Simmons.

ROBERT GRADY OLIVE

Robert Grady “Bob” Olive, 74, of Andalusia, passed away Fri., July 18, 2014, in a Pensacola Hospital.

Funeral services will be Wed., July 23, at 11 a.m. from First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tim Trent officiating. Interment will follow in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, prior to the service, at the church.

Olive was a graduate of Florida State University and an avid Seminole fan. He moved from South Florida to Andalusia in 1996 after retiring from State Farm with 30 years of service. He married his wife Patricia in 2002. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed several hobbies including, traveling in an RV, fishing and reading.

Olive is survived by his wife, Patricia Olive of Andalusia; sons, Rob (Amy) Olive of Eugene, Ore., Todd (Pam) Olive of Jupiter, Fla., Ross (Jennifer) Olive of Maple Valley, Wash., Ken (Linda) Strain of Austin, Texas and Mike (Gayle) Strain of Spanish Fort; and eight grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.

Those unable to attend the service may sign the guest registry online at foremanfuneralhome.com.

CHESTER R. WELLS

Chester R. Wells, 92, of Red Level, passed away Sat., July 19, 2014, in Andalusia Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held Mon., July 21, at 11 a.m. from Foreman Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Scott Bush, the Rev. Billy Boles, and the Rev. Wilson Meadows officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Wells is survived by sons, Gerald (Sue) Wells of Red Level, Tony (Julie) Wells of Andalusia and Mike Wells of Alabaster; daughter, Paulette (Harold) Bush of Alabaster; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Mike Wells, Jim Wells, David Wells, David Gomillion, John Wells and Morgan Wells.

Honorary pallbearers were Danny Wells, Logan Whittle and Parker Wells.