Braxton Citizens' News, Obituaries, The Braxton Democrat

Obituaries

Mary Jo Browning
Mary Jo Browning, 87, of Birch River passed away Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston, WV.
She was born December 21, 1934, the daughter of the late Carmel and Mabel Lloyd Johnson. Also preceding her in death was her brothers John Johnson, Glen Johnson, William ‘Bill’ Johnson, and sister Anna Mae Murphy.
Mary was a homemaker, enjoyed canning, gardening, and spending time with her family. She was a Christian by faith and attended Birch River Baptist Church.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Hershel ‘Fred’ Browning, son, Jeff (Robin) Browning, daughter, Jill (Matt) Fowler, and grandsons, Ryan Browning and Justin Browning.
Graveside services were held Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Keener-Wood Cemetery, Birch River, WV with Rev. Jim Murphy officiating. Friends called from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, September 9, 2022 at Greene-Robertson Funeral Home, Sutton, WV.
Greene-Robertson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Browning family.
Online condolences may be sent to: greene-robertsonfuneralhome.com

Thelma (Dempsey) Sims
Thelma (Dempsey) Sims, 85, of Cowen, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 2, 2022 at Peyton Hospice House, Lewisburg.
Born September 25, 1936 in Tioga, she was the daughter of the late Cecil and Emma (Culvert) Dempsey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Sims; and siblings: Martha Knapp, Darrous Dempsey, Cora Selman, Robert Dempsey, and Donzel Dempsey.
Thelma was a Christian and enjoyed attending church whenever possible. She enjoyed singing hymns and spending time with her friends and family.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Mary Ann (husband, Glen) Bragg, Brenda (husband, Rex) Ware and Helena Chaney; her son Robert Sims; sisters: Barbara Mathis, Mary Sims, and Helen Carpenter; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her passing.
Services to celebrate Thelma’s life were held 2pm on Friday, September 9, 2022 at Adams-Reed Funeral Home, Cowen. Burial followed at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Cowen. Friends joined the family for visitation one hour prior to the service time.
In lieu of food and flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Peyton Hospice House, 1265 Maplewood Ave., Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.adamsreedfh.com
Adams-Reed Funeral Home is honored to be serving Thelma’s family.

John Stephen Baker
John Stephen Baker, 54, of Gassaway, West Virginia passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
John was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1967 to the late Arthur William Baker and Dorothea Mildred Breuer Baker.
John was the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Wellsboro Senior High in 1986. Most recently, he was a paraprofessional driver who transported clients to their supervised visitations. Before that, John worked at Braxton County Memorial Hospital for 14 years in the Housekeeping Department. He took much pride in his work.
John was a Philadelphia Eagles superfan, enjoyed working with his model trains, and spent much time growing his coin collection. John was a fantastic uncle who loved all his nieces and nephews. Watching his nephew Adam Smith play football was one of the greatest joys of his life. Before he passed away, John also loved watching his great niece, Jane, and great nephews, Noah and Emmett, while their parents worked. His entire family will deeply miss making new memories with him.
John is survived by his brothers, William Baker and Arthur Robert Baker; sisters, Kathleen Talada, Brenda Badmone, Johanna Shelmire, Dorothea Shuster, and Alice Smith; nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews. John lived with his sister Alice, her husband Stephen Smith, and her children Elyse Kopp, James Dwight Pierson, Shyloh Lusk, Hannah Mireles, and Adam Smith for many years.
John will be cremated, and his services are pending.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway, WV.

Tammy Hinkle-Wood
Tammy Hinkle-Wood, 48, of Buckhannon, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022 at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Buckhannon.
She was born in Gassaway on February 8, 1974 to the late Calvin and Jean Frame Burge.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Aaron Burge and her first husband, Daniel Hinkle.
Tammy was a 1993 graduate of Braxton County High School. She was a homemaker but also worked out of the home as a custodian. She loved to decorate her home with primitives. She was a good cook and her family will remember her two favorite meals, meatloaf and lasagna.
She will be forever remembered by her husband, Mitch Wood, of Buckhannon; and son, Joshua Hinkle (Corina) of Sutton; and stepson, Jerod Andrew Wood of Buckhannon. She is also survived by her unborn grandson, Asher Hinkle.
Tammy’s visitation was from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday, September 12, 2022 at Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway.
Her funeral was 11 A.M. Tuesday, September 13th at the funeral home.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com.

Robert A. SpongeBob” Hudson
Robert A. “SpongeBob” Hudson, 35, of Gassaway passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV.
He was born March 23, 1987 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Preceding him in death was his infant niece, Pamela Fisher and his cousin, Dale Hudson.
Spongebob, as most knew, him had a helping heart. You would often see him driving a side by side, hauling a trailer down Bluefield road. He mowed and split wood for people. He liked to tinker on cars and machines. Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes. He also worked for the town of Burnsville for some time. Interestingly, Spongebob gained his nickname from Tom Shuman who coached him during his freshman year of football. He went on to be a 2007 graduate of Braxton County High School. He had many friends who knew him. He will be missed. The family finds comfort that he was a CORE organ donor and will continue to be helping others.
He will be forever remembered by his mother, Joelle Hudson Greathouse and stepfather, Doug Greathouse of Burnsville; Robert Dobbins, who was like a father to him, of Gassaway; son, Karson Cunningham of Ohio; brothers, Joseph Dobbins of Gassaway, and Bradley Dobbins and wife, Josie, of Gassaway; sisters, Madonna Collins and Freda Fisher both of Buckhannon; maternal grandmother, Dale Lee of Burnsville; nieces, Katelynn, Malina, and Brooklynn; nephews, Clayton, Landon, Walker, David, Anthony and Jonathan. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles and many cousins.
A gathering of family and friends was from 5 to 7 P.M. Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway.
He was cremated following services.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Roach Funeral Home, 708 Braxton Street, Gassaway, WV 26624 to assist with funeral costs.

Timothy Michael Johnson
Timothy Michael Johnson, 41, of Sutton, formerly of Oak Hill, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022 at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center surrounded by his family.
He was born on February 16, 1981 in Raleigh County to Edward Merle and Sharon Kay Morton Johnson of Oak Hill.
Tim was a kind hearted guy that enjoyed going on outdoor adventures with his wife. He loved to fish.
In addition to his parents he is survived by his wife, Michelle Myers Johnson of Sutton; sons, Caleb Michael Johnson and wife, Nautica, of Oak Hill, Payton Nottingham and Kaden Nottingham both of Sutton; daughter, Vivian Johnson of Oak Hill; brothers Edward Johnson II and wife, Yun, of Ft. Worth, TX; sisters, Angela Johnson and companion, Jason Gravley, of Oak Hill and Chrystal Reller and husband, Josh, of Las Vegas, NV; four nephews and one niece; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and his loving dog, Riley.
Tim’s funeral will be 5 P.M. Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway. Burial will follow in the Sugar Creek Cemetery, Gassaway.
Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the funeral home.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com.

Desper Lee Lemon “Tex”
Desper Lee Lemon “Tex”, 87, of St. Albans, passed away peacefully at home on August 12, 2022 surrounded by family.
He was born on July 30, 1935 to Thomas and Susie Lemon and raised in Sugar Creek, WV. He was a 1954 graduate of Gassaway High School and moved to St. Albans in 1956 to work for Union Carbide where he continued to work for the next 39 years until retirement. On a weekend trip home to visit family his best friend and soon to be brother-in-law, Roland Wilson, introduced him to the love of his life, Mary Lou Mollohan. They were married on March 14, 1959, and had their only child and light of his life, Tonya Lemon several years later.
He was an active member of the St. Albans community for 65 years and served at City Councilman for 11 years. Desper was a member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church for many years and cherished his time spend with his church family. He was a brother of Washington Lodge #58 for 59 years and was very proud to be a Mason. In 2021 for his extensive work in the community, the City of St. Albans honored Desper with his very own holiday and August 2nd officially became Desper Lemon Day. In July 2022, the SAPD honored Desper with a memorial flower garden in front of their new police station for many years of support they received from him.
Desper loved spending time with his family at the family farm in Braxton County. At the farm he enjoyed four-wheeling and sitting on the front porch waving at those passing by and listening to the whippoorwills.
Desper was a one-of-a-kind, charismatic, hardworking family man who will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou Lemon of St. Albans, daughter, Tonya Lemon of Charleston, sister, Sharon Loyd of Gassaway as well as several beloved nieces and nephews, and honorary grandsons, Cayden and Silas Cooper of St. Albans, who are missing their adored Popaw so very much
A celebration of Life will be held October 1, 2022 at the Green-Robertson Funeral Home, Sutton. Visitation will be from 12-2pm, service at 2pm.
There will be another Celebration of Life to be held at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, October 22, 2022. Visitation will be 1-2pm with the service at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, St. Albans, WV.

John Franklin Myles
John Franklin Myles, 86, of Sutton, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at Lewis A. Johnson VA Hospital, Bridgeport.
He was born November 30, 1935 in Erbacon, WV, the son of the late Ralph & Mamie Rose Miles. He is also preceded in death by his son, Troy Myles; daughters, Diane Lane, Donna White; great grandchild, Maddi Lane, brothers, James Harold “Gib”, Doy, Herbert, Jr. & Jearald Miles; sisters, Waneta, Wanda, Wilma.
Frank worked as a Coal Miner and also was a Contractor. He served his country as a Army Veteran and was a member of Stump Chapel Baptist Church, Tesla, where he served as a Trustee at the church.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Holcomb Myles; grandchildren, Lori Stover/Williams, Brandi Huffman, Scott Lane, Serina Myles, Michael Gibson; great grandchildren, Troy Stover, Cameron Huffman, Caylee Huffman, Aiden Wright, Ali Wright, Landon Wright, Coen Lane; brother, Jack Miles of Cottle, WV; sisters, Ruth Toler of Flatwoods, Wilda Evans of Akron, OH.
Upon Frank’s request the body will be cremated and there will be no service.
Greene-Robertson Funeral Home is humbled have served the Myles family.
On line condolences may be sent to: greene-robertsonfuneralhome.com