1, Douglas Mortuary; Welch, WV; Posted Obit.
"Mary Ellen Lanter Hess, 87, of Welch passed away Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Bower Hospice House in Beckley. Born May 25, 1935, in Tazewell County, VA she was the daughter of the late Walter T. Lanter and Naomi Ellen Martin Lanter Greer, and Claude Greer."In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband Jack O. Hess in 2013.
She was a graduate of Welch High School and a member of the First Baptist Church in Welch. She was currently attending the First United Methodist Church in Welch."Those left to cherish her memory are three daughters, Sandy Murensky and husband Rick of Welch, Cindy Whitlock and husband David of Canvas, WV, and Vicky Belcher and husband Richard of Welch; three grandchildren, Oliver Bright, Samantha Fink and husband Nathan, and Michael Whitlock and fiancée Brooke Kidd; and great grandchildren, Victoria Bright, Jonathan, Samuel and Anthony Bright, Augustus (Gus), Jack and Victor Fink.
"Funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, June 22, at 12 noon in the Douglas Mortuary Chapel in Welch with Pastor Johnny Pennington officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell.
"Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 11am to 12 noon.
"Pallbearers will be Oliver Bright, Jonathan Bright, Samuel Bright, Anthony Bright, Michael Whitlock, and Nick Lewis.
"The Douglas Mortuary of Welch is serving the family. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.douglasmortuary.com"
1. 1910 Census, Buchanan Co, VA; Grundy District; taken 3 May 1910; Page 150A; Family #221/221.
Listed as Gordon Rife; age 29; born in VA; married twice; last time for 7 yrs; farmer; head of
household.
2. 1940 Census, Buchanan Co, VA; Grundy District; E.D. 14-4; taken on 15 Jun 1940; Page 115B;
Image 40 of 44; Household #313.
Listed as Gordon Rife; age 61; born in VA; married; 3rd grade education; lived in same place on
1 Apr 1935; laborer on W.P.A. toilets; head of household.
3. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Gordon Rife
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 63
Birth Date: abt 1879
Marriage Registration Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 7 Nov 1942
Marriage Place: Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Father: William Rife
Mother: Eliza Rife
Spouse: Rosie Bell Woosley
Certificate Number: 1942035679
4. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Gordon Riffe
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 4 Jul 1881
Birth Place: Buchanan Cou, Virginia
Father:
William Riffe
Mother:
Liza J Riffe
SSN: 224185092
Notes: Aug 1938: Name listed as GORDON RIFFE"
5. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Carolyn Goddard; 3 Dec 2007; maintained by Clifford Edsel
Miller.
" Gordon Rife
Birth 4 Jul 1880
Death 7 Dec 1953 (aged 73)
Burial
Rife Cemetery
Slate, Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 23237742"
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Lynn Delp; 8 May 2008.
" Rosa Belle Rife
Birth 7 Apr 1897
Death 13 Aug 1980 (aged 83)
Burial
Lester Cemetery
McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 26679577"
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Daisey; 24 Jul 2015.
" Ira Alex Vanover
Birth 26 Nov 1870
USA
Death 4 Dec 1941 (aged 71)
Virginia, USA
Burial
Tookland Cemetery
Royal City, Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 149731920"
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1949); Page 494; WV Archives Website.
Clarence J. Lester; age 21; born in Davy, WV; single; living in Baileysville, WV; son of Okey and
Roamaize (Justice) Lester; married on 12 Feb 1949 at Baileysville, WV; Wanda Jean Short; age 17;
born in Davy, WV; single; living in Baileysville, WV; daughter of Alce and Oma (Green) Short.
2. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Clarence Joeseph Lester [Clarence J Lester]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 20 Jul 1926
Birth Place: Davy McDowel, West Virginia
Death Date: 1 Mar 1996
Father:
Oscar O Lester
Mother:
Romansie Justice
SSN: 236322220
Notes: Sep 1942: Name listed as CLARENCE JOESEPH LESTER;
07 Mar 1996: Name listed as CLARENCE J LESTER"
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1949); Page 494; WV Archives Website.
Clarence J. Lester; age 21; born in Davy, WV; single; living in Baileysville, WV; son of Okey and
Roamaize (Justice) Lester; married on 12 Feb 1949 at Baileysville, WV; Wanda Jean Short; age 17;
born in Davy, WV; single; living in Baileysville, WV; daughter of Alce and Oma (Green) Short.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1921); Page 5; WV Archives Website.
Richard Kennedy; age 21; born in McDowell Co, WV; single; farmer; living at Bradshaw, WV; son of
David and Sarah; married on 24 Mar 1921 at Bradshaw, WV; Victoria Roberts; age 17; born in
McDowell Co, WV; single; daughter of Monroe and Easter.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1925); Page 50; WV Archives Website.
Richard Kennedy; age 23; born in McDowell Co, WV; single (sic, he was previously married); farmer;
living at Bradshaw, WV; son of David and Sarah; married on 10 May 1925 at Bradshaw, WV; Ida Bell
Wimmer; age 18; born in McDowell Co, WV; single; daughter of S. Guss and Melvina.
3. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Richard Kennedy
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 82
Birth Date: 26 Jan 1902
Death Date: 16 May 1984
Death Place: Grundy, Buchanan, Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 29 May 1984
Father: David Kennedy
Mother: Sarah Hagerman
Spouse: Ida Wimmer Kennedy
Certificate Number: 1984018130
Military Status: none"
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1921); Page 5; WV Archives Website.
Richard Kennedy; age 21; born in McDowell Co, WV; single; farmer; living at Bradshaw, WV; son of
David and Sarah; married on 24 Mar 1921 at Bradshaw, WV; Victoria Roberts; age 17; born in
McDowell Co, WV; single; daughter of Monroe and Easter.
1. Virginia, U.S., Divorce Records, 1918-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Emerald Dallas Bishop
Gender: Male
Race: White
Divorce Age: 44
Birth Date: 2 Dec 1938
Marriage Date: 18 Dec 1962
Divorce Date: 9 May 1983
Divorce Place: Virginia, USA
Spouse: Raymonde Morand
Certificate Number: 1983008137
Number of Children: 1"(Additioanl Information Provided: Raymonde was French; they married in France; total of 3 children, 1
under 18)
2. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Emerald Dallas Bishop
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marriage Age: 45
Birth Date: 2 Dec 1938
Marriage Registration Place: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 27 Jun 1984
Marriage Place: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Father: Cecil Bishop
Mother: Pearl Marie Fairbanks
Spouse: Treva Annette Strickland Bradshaw
Certificate Number: 1984022866"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Treva Annette Strickland Bradshaw
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marriage Age: 41
Birth Date: 22 May 1943
Marriage Registration Place: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date: 27 Jun 1984
Marriage Place: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Father: John Bunyan Strickland
Mother: Treva Earleen McMillian
Spouse: Emerald Dallas Bishop
Certificate Number: 1984022866"
1. Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name Wanda Sue Hagy
Gender Female
Race White
Marriage Age 16
Birth Date 24 Mar 1952
Marriage Registration Place Martinsville, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 24 Dec 1968
Marriage Place Martinsville, Virginia, USA
Father Cledith Elmer Hagy
Mother Edna Mae Cline
Spouse Jesse Milton Martin
Certificate Number 1968048038"
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 409; WV Archives Website.
Bill Delain Fullen; age 21; born and living in Jenkinjones, WV; single; married on 18 May 1957 at
Jenkinjones, WV; Pearlia Frances Moore; age 18; born and living in Pageton, WV; single; with
consent of Hary and May Moore, parents of pearlia Frances Moore.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1957); Page 409; WV Archives Website.
Bill Delain Fullen; age 21; born and living in Jenkinjones, WV; single; married on 18 May 1957 at
Jenkinjones, WV; Pearlia Frances Moore; age 18; born and living in Pageton, WV; single; with
consent of Hary and May Moore, parents of pearlia Frances Moore.