Braxton Citizens' News, Obituaries

Obituaries

Parker Brian Richardson, 15, of Sutton passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
He was born on April 2, 2007 in Summersville to Sarah Shafer Balcourt and Dustan Richardson.
Preceding him in death was his aunt, Wendy Shafer Simpson.
Parker, a freshman at Braxton County High School, was a polite and respectful teenager that enjoyed being outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing and 4 wheeling with his dad. At school his favorite class was Agriculture. He also enjoyed spending time with his friends and girlfriend, Kenlee. He enjoyed going to the Fright Farm in the fall of the year. When described by people that knew him they said he was a joyful soul who had a helping heart for others. He and his cousins were close. We will miss Parker’s beautiful blue eyes and his attitude on life.
Left to cherish his memories are his mother, Sarah Shafer Balcourt and Dustan Richardson of Sutton; sister, Alli Richardson of Gassaway; girlfriend, Kenlee Flint and her father, Jake Flint; uncles, Jamie Shafer and wife, Jennifer, Mike Richardson, John Richardson and Mitchell Richardson all of Sutton; aunts, Rebecca Richardson of Sutton, Rebecca Chipps of Clarksburg and Amy Shafer of Gassaway; and many cousins and friends. He is also survived by his wiener dog, Boomer and his german shepherd, Lacy.
Parker will be cremated and his Celebration of Life Service will be 7 P.M. Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway.
A gathering of friends and family will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com.

Shirley Jean Fisher, 82, of Hacker Valley, formerly of Webster Springs, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2022, surrounded by her family.
She was born on September 3, 1939, in Webster Springs to the late Ora Cogar and Lenora Carter Cogar. She was raised by her grandparents, Ben Cogar and Nora Cogar, at Sugar Creek in Webster County, WV. She had many fond memories growing up on Sugar Creek with her grandparents, brother Bennie H. Cogar, and cousins Waymond Cogar and Dink Cogar, whom have all since passed away. Shirley is also preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, L. Duane “Dee” Fisher.
Shirley is survived by her son, Michael (Trish) Fisher of Elkview and the lights of her life, granddaughter Michaela (Ian) George, and 4 month old great-grandson Brooks George of Elkview. She is also survived by family, Debby (Robert) McCoy of Charlestown, Jeanie (Randall) Moore of Webster Springs, and William “Bill” (Roseanna) Fisher of Charlestown; and many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends to mourn her passing.
Shirley retired from the Webster County Board of Education where she was the Executive Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. Upon retirement, she did volunteer work for the First Baptist Church of Webster Springs, Hacker Valley Senior Center, and the Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland.
Shirley accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior on April 19, 1974. She spent the rest of her life as a Christ like example to others. Shirley was a member of the First Baptist Church of Webster Springs and later in life was a member of the Independent Baptist Church of Cleveland. She was always willing to offer a hand where needed at the church and throughout the community. She will be missed by many throughout Webster County, but mostly by her family whom loved her dearly.
Services to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Dodd & Reed Funeral Home, Webster Springs, with Pastor Chris Cosner officiating. Shirley will be laid to rest beside her husband, Dee, at the MW Cutlip Cemetery, Jerry’s Run. Friends may join the family for visitation one hour prior to service time at the Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.doddreedfh.com.
Dodd & Reed Funeral Home is honored to be serving Shirley’s family.

Rosella Anita Gillespie Squires, 89, of Millwood, WV, passed away on May 16, 2022, at the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston, WV.
She was born near the Holly River in Braxton County on June 3, 1932, the daughter of Arthur and Hester Gillespie, who had twelve children. The family moved to Newell, WV, where most of the family spent their lives.
She was a homemaker during her married life. Her first job was as a housekeeper for Arthur Wells. The Wells family operated the Homer and Laughlin Plant that is best known for their fiesta ware. She loved to cook and bake and always made too much food and too much variety. She enjoyed working in her flower beds, and did a lot of sewing over the years making gowns for her daughter and bell bottom pants for her son. She made all the curtains in her house. She was involved in the VFW and Korean War Veterans Ladies Auxiliaries. She served as President for many years until 2020. She enjoyed visiting the veterans in the nursing homes in Ravenswood.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Arol Squires; daughter, Cindy Pinder; son, Dan Squires; daughter-in-law, Nancy Squires; 3 grandchildren, Kimberly Pinder, Brooke Squires, and Derek Squires (wife, Katelyn); 5 great grandchildren, Tristyn Squires, Hannah Squires, Emma Squires, Gavin Squires, and Kinleigh Whitmore; and siblings, James Gillespie, Sylvester Gillespie, Linda Pitts, Faye Fone, Sissie Mattern, Bessie Rowan, and Maxine Mellinger.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a 3-year-old sister; another sister, Juanita Harper; brothers, Lyle Gillespie and Junie Gillespie; and son-in-law, Norman Pinder.
The funeral service were held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Roush Funeral Home in Ravenswood, WV with Pastor Marvin Stalnaker officiating. Burial followed in Ravenswood Cemetery.
Friends visited the family at the funeral home on Friday, May 20, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hubbard Hospice House, 1001 Curtis Price Way, Charleston, WV 25311.

Betty Lee Thompson, 96, of Frametown, formerly of Clarksburg, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Braxton Health Care Center, Sutton, WV.
She was born December 3, 1925 in Braxton County to the late Gaile and Wilsie Carr Singleton.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Gaile Barr.
A real estate developer, she built and owned Thompson Development and Thompson Coal and Construction in Clarksburg, WV. She was a member of the United Methodist church in Clarksburg. In her spare time she like to crochet and play Scrabble. In her younger years she enjoyed cooking and gardening.
Betty is survived by her grandsons, James Barr and wife, Melissa of Frametown, and Jeff Barr and girlfriend, Jessica Triolo, of Jacksonville, Florida; great grandsons, Isiah Cumberledge and wife, Katerina, of Florida, and James Logan Barr of Florida.
Her funeral service will be 1 P.M. Saturday, May 28, 2022 at Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway, WV with Reverend Rich Demastus officiating. Interment will follow in the Sugar Creek Cemetery, Gassaway, WV.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com.