Cynthia Jean Gage
Wake Forest
Cynthia Jean Gage, 48, passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2014, surrounded by her family. Ms. Gage was born in Los Angeles County, California, to Nancy Wetzler Gage and the late John Donald Gage, and was an accomplished jeweler in the San Francisco area for over 25 years. She worked closely with her mom’s business, Whetstone Home Grown, at area farmer’s markets.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Ms. Gage is survived by her mother and step-father, Nancy W. and Don Wilhell of Wake Forest and by a brother, Jeffrey Gage and wife, Mary Virginia Gage, of Macon, Georgia.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Horace Gaylon Layton
Eatontown, New Jersey, formerly of Youngsville
Horace Gaylon Layton, 79, passed away quietly in his home surrounded by friends and family on October 30, 2014. He was a career solider and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He was a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and former Inspector General of Fort Monmouth and leaves behind a legacy of honor and service. His career accomplishments span from Korea, Viet Nam to overseeing the vast modernization of military communications at Ft Monmouth, NJ. Many of the Programs Mr. Layton was involved in at Ft Monmouth and at his second career at Computer Science Corporation would later be instrumental in the development of the Internet and today’s cell phone.
An avid golfer, Horace enjoyed the fellowship of the regulars at Gibbs Hall as much as the game. Mr. Layton was active in the community, serving on the Eatontown, N.J., planning board and on various capacities at his second home of Duck N.C. He and his beloved wife, Lucy, enjoyed spending time entertaining and working on their oceanfront palace aptly named “Something Special.” Often taking long walks and enjoying the dinner time ruckus with those closest to them. Horace was well known for setting a full table and creating excitement with the little ones waiting for his homemade ice cream.
Horace was born December 30, 1935, to Annie “Buba” Rodgers and Ben Layton in Franklin County, NC. He is survived by his former wife, Frances Layton; current wife, Lucy Layton; four children, Gary Layton, Dwight Layton and his wife Kelly, Ava Layton and Maria Mitchell; six grandchildren, three great grandchildren; and his brother, Joseph Layton.
Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon, November 6, 2014, at Harris Chapel Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 8 Wednesday evening, November 5, 2014, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation at DVNF.ORG
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
William H. “Bill” Blackmon
Wake Forest
William Howard “Bill” Blackmon, 87, died Saturday, November 1, 2014. He was born in Johnston County, the son of the late Howard and Naomi Daughtery Blackmon, and was a member of the Falls Baptist Church. Bill was a founding member of the Falls Fire Department and was a long-time member of the board of directors.
Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock Friday afternoon, November 7, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Falls Community Cemetery.
Bill is survived by his sons, Wayne Blackmon of Wake Forest and Neil Blackmon of Clarksville, Virginia; and granddaughters, Lindsay, Anna and Carolann Blackmon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Blackmon, and by his daughter-in-law, Gail Bailey Blackmon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Falls Baptist Church General Fund, 9700 Fonville Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Friends may visit with the family from 6:30 to 8 Thursday evening, November 6, 2014, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Larry Gene VanLuven
Wake Forest
Larry Gene VanLuven, 68, died Tuesday, October 28, 2014. He was born in Owosso, Michigan, the son of the late Donna Spitler VanLuven and Milo VanLuven, and was a loving husband and father. Larry was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was an electrician by trade.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Holiday Inn Express at Wakefield.
Mr. VanLuven is survived by his wife of 20 years, Shelia Hunt VanLuven; a daughter, Courtney VanLuven of Wake Forest; two sons, Larry Hunt of Winston-Salem and Dennis Hunt of Wake Forest; sister, Pat Lavenski of Michigan; brother, Dale VanLuven of Michigan; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim VanLuven and Bob VanLuven.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Hubert Percy ‘H.P.’ Long Jr.
Youngsville
Hubert Percy “H.P.” Long Jr., 70, died Sunday, October 26, 2014, at his home. H.P. was born in Wilmington, the son of the late Hubert Percy Long Sr. and L.Salene Coley Long, and was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. He was retired from Universal Tobacco Company.
Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, October 29, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Youngsville Cemetery.
Mr. Long is survived by his wife of 26 years, Mary Helen Grissom Long; brother, Victor Long and wife, Leslie, of Youngsville; step-sons, Bobby Fowler and wife, Lisa, of Youngsville and Jimmy Fowler and wife, Cindy, of Louisburg; grandchildren, Sonya Efird & husband, Benner, Jamie, Wayne and Robbie Fowler, Nick Doup and Tyler Thorne; several nieces, nephews; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Long Young.
Memorial contributions may be made to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Nell Eddins Jordan
Rolesville
Nell Ruth Eddins Jordan, 80, passed away Friday, October 31, 2014. She was born May 30, 1934, in Rolesville, the daughter of the late Lonnie and Estelle Eddins. Nell loved Rolesville Baptist Church and was a dedicated and faithful servant her entire life. She had a large extended circle of family and friends and they were all very special to her. She will be missed, but greatly remembered.
A service celebrating her life was held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, November 2, 2014, at Rolesville Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Randy Bridges and the Rev. J. Marshall Neathery officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Nell is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Eugene Jordan; two loving daughters, Michele Skipper and husband, Todd, and Beverly Pulley and husband, Scott; three grandchildren that she loved unconditionally, Grace Skipper, Emily Skipper, and Jordan Davis.
She loved her family more than anything and shared that love with her surviving sisters, Betty Hocutt and Doris Welsh, along with her brother, Bobby Eddins.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, June Eddins and Willard Eddins, and by her granddaughter, Kylie Davis.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the Wake Medical Center Congestive Heart Failure Program for the compassion and care that they provided.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rolesville Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 185, Rolesville, NC 27571.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Danah R. Mitchell
Raleigh
Danah Ronnell Mitchell, 41, of Raleigh, died Thursday, October 30, 2014. Danah was born in Wake County, the daughter of Dee Denton Mitchell and the late Ronnie Mitchell.
Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, November 3, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Burial was in the New Denton Cemetery.
Danah is survived by her mother, Dee Mitchell; her beloved cat, “Jinxy”; special friend, Rusty Lindsay of Raleigh; and by numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Crystal Doris Hopkins Wall
Wake Forest
Crystal Doris Hopkins Wall, of Wake Forest, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at WakeMed. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of the late Dausey Cleveland Hopkins and Lissie Ray Hopkins, and was a member of Rolesville Baptist Church. Crystal loved the outdoors and her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 o’clock Friday morning, October 31, 2014, in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Randy Bridges officiating. Entombment was in the Rolesville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Wall is survived by her sons, Ronald Wall and Bobby Wall and his wife, Vickie, all of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Martin Wall of Wake Forest and Caroline Wall and special friend, Ben Stahl, of Raleigh; special niece, Sherry Ashley of Whiteville; sisters-in-law, Dot Mitchell of Wake Forest and Betty Preddy of Wilmington; and many special nieces and nephews. Mrs. Wall was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Wall; her brother, Dock Hopkins; and by her sisters, Sadie Jackson, Jane Bullock and Cleone Weathers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eastern Wake EMS, P. O. Box 84, Wendell, NC 27591 or to the Rolesville Fire Department, P. O. Box 249, Rolesville, NC 27571.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Bettie J. Brunkhorst
Raleigh
After a prolonged illness, Bettie Joan Staiger Brunkhorst went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of October 27, 2014.
She spent a lifetime proclaiming Christ to kindergarten and preschool children, teaching in Lutheran schools for over 25 years and teaching Sunday School for 57 years.
Bettie was born to Roberta and Edgar Staiger in Moberly, Missouri, on March 9, 1932, and attended Kirksville, Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman University). Her teaching career was temporarily interrupted when she married William, Bill, Brunkhorst and joined him in England where he was serving in the United States Air Force. While there, Bettie served as organist for Lutheran services in the base chapel. Upon returning to the United States, Bettie taught in Lutheran churches and schools in Texas, Virginia, Missouri, and North Carolina. She also organized and directed children and teen choirs, preschools, and mothers morning out programs.
Upon retirement in Arlington, Virginia, in 1988, Bettie and Bill moved to Raleigh to be near family. Before illness overtook her, Bettie enjoyed retirement and travel to Spain, Italy, Europe and the far reaches of the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, October 31, 2014, at Hope Lutheran church in Wake Forest. Entombment was in Raleigh Memorial Park.
Bettie is survived by her husband, Bill; daughters, Linda Miller (husband Mike) of Midland, Texas, and Ruth Ellen Lasiter (husband Nick) of Raleigh; grandchildren, Emily Miller Chandler (husband Brian), William (wife Kay), and Will, Jason, and Ian Lasiter. Bettie is also survived by her four great-grandchildren and by her sister, Phyllis Criss (husband, Bill) of St. Charles, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141; Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or to Frontotemporal Dementia, Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087.
The family is grateful to the staff of Clare Bridge/Carolina House of Wake Forest (where Betty resided for the past year) for their warm and tender loving care.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Richard T. ‘Dick’ Monteith Jr.
Wake Forest
Dick died on Oct. 28, 2014, after a long battle with heart muscle disease. Dick was mayor of Wake Forest, a longtime Raleigh businessman, a commercial real estate broker, an advocate for economic development, an active Rotarian, and a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Dick served as mayor of Wake Forest from 1993 to 1997. During his term the population of Wake Forest doubled and the tax base quadrupled. Dick facilitated the merger of the Wake Forest Cultural Arts Association with the United Arts Council of Wake County, which produced funding for the popular “Six Sundays in Spring” concert series which was begun during his term. Funding was found for a “Camp I Can” for less fortunate children in town. Dick helped secure the final funding for the Senior Citizens Center and led the Town to donate its existing library building to Wake County in order to obtain a new larger, modern library for the Town. At the end of his term he was awarded special recognition by the Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to economic development. He continued this effort by serving on the Wake County Economic Development Commission for twelve years.
Dick and his wife, Janet, founded Monteith Travel Service in 1983 and built it into a three office chain with annual sales exceeding $5 million dollars. After the sale of the travel business in 1997, Dick began a career as a commercial real estate broker. Dick brokered deals which created Capital Commerce Plaza, Wake Forest’s first major retail center, and numerous residential developments.
Dick was president of the Rotary Club of Wake Forest, Assistant District Governor, a charter member of the Paul Harris Society, and served in a number of other Rotary efforts, including chairing two different district conferences. Dick served as the District Governor’s Special Representative for the founding of the new Wakefield / Wake Forest Rotary Club. In 2009, the Rotary Club of Wake Forest named Dick as their “Rotarian of the Year.” Dick was awarded the Rotary Foundation’s Major Donor Award in 2013.
Before moving to Wake Forest, Dick worked as an economic analyst in Washington, DC, and was the owner-operator along with his first wife of a successful Hallmark Shop.
Dick traveled widely having visited Europe and the Caribbean countries including a special trip to Cuba with a Habitat for Humanity exploratory team. He was an avid reader and published over 100 book reviews, wrote several journal and newspaper articles, many poems and short stories, as well as the novel, Journeys Home: Choices that Faced the Boomer Generation.
His children remember the many provocative op-ed articles and journal pieces that he emailed to them asking, “What do you think?” and all remember the freewheeling debates, the poetry readings and discussions that he moderated over when all were gathered around the dinner table.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ruth Monteith of Sumter, South Carolina, his first wife, Peggy Robbins Monteith, and a sister, Annette Brunson. In 1981 Dick met a young widow, Janet Snow Mote; the two were married and moved to Wake Forest. There they adopted each others’ children and together raised three children, Kathy Monteith Otten of Hillsborough, New Hampshire; Dr. Theresa Monteith Johnson of Morehead City, and Andrew Alderman Monteith of Matthews. Dick and Janet have seven grandchildren, who lovingly called them “DD” and “JJ.” Dick is also survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Burke of Dalzell, South Carolina, and Grace Pack, of Lake City, Arkansas.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in St John’s Episcopal Church, Wake Forest, and the family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that contributions be made in Dick’s honor to the Rotary Club of Wake Forest Foundation, C/O Rotary Club of Wake Forest, P.O. Box 1126, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or to the Capital Campaign Fund at St John’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 608, Wake Forest, NC 27588. A private family burial will be held at the St John’s Episcopal Church Columbarium.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Lee R. Leuice III
Rolesville
Lee R. Leuice III, 62, formerly of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, passed away Wednesday October 29, 2014, at WakeMed Hospital after an extended illness. Lee was born in Jamestown, New York, to Ruth Fie Leuice and the late Lee R. Leuice Jr. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Lee is survived by his wife of 27 years, Melissa VanSickle Leuice; son, Jason Leuice of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; daughter, Shelby Leuice of Rolesville; mother, Betty Fie Leuice of Knox, Pennsylvania; sister, Lynn Washabaugh of Portland, Oregon; granddaughter, Deja Leuice of Texas; and two nieces and two nephews.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Makenzie Rose Tilley
Franklinton
Makenzie Rose Tilley, the infant daughter of Crystal and Chris Tilley, was born and died on Monday, November 3, 2014.
A graveside funeral service was held at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, November 5, 2014, at the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cemetery.
In addition to her parents, Makenzie is survived by her big sister, Madison Tilley; grandparents, Ruth and Danny Murray; aunts and uncles, Toni and Derek Bowden and Sherri and Robbie Tilley; and by several cousins and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Rose and Bobby Tilley.
Online condolences may be made to www.brightfunerals.com.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
