Helen Hollifield

Helen Catherine Petrie Hollifield, 99, passed away Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, at Conover Nursing Center.

Mrs. Hollifield was born Feb. 8, 1910, in Lincoln County to the late Dr. Robert William Petrie Sr. and Eva Wood Wilkie Petrie. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Ward Hollifield Jr.; a son, Dr. John W. Hollifield III; a brother and sister-in-law, R.W. Petrie Jr. and Betty Triplett Petrie; and a sister, Mary Wilkie Petrie.

Mrs. Hollifield was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Lenoir; she was a retired teacher in the Caldwell County School System; was a member of St. Stephens Ladies Circle, Senior Citizens Group, the Arts Council and was a Boy Scouts Den Mother.

Survivors include a daughter; Evanna Hollifield Bush of Conover; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Hollifield Avant of Nashville, Tenn.; a granddaughter, Catharine Lynn Hollifield of Nashville, Tenn.; two grandsons, David Leggett Bush Jr. and wife April Beasley Bush of Camilla, Ga., and Michael Andrew Bush of Tampa, Fla.; a great-granddaughter, Ashley Jordan Bush of Camilla, Ga.; and a great-grandson William David Bush also of Camilla, Ga.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at Bass-Smith Funeral Home Chapel at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Tony Bradshaw officiating.

Memorials may be made to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Caldwell County, 902 N.W. Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645, Boy Scouts Of America, c/o Piedmont Council 420, PO Box 1059, 1222 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia NC, 28053, or St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 1406 Harper Ave., Lenoir NC 28645.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Helen Catherine Petrie Hollifield.

Philip Cataldi

Philip James Cataldi, 88, of Hollins Circle, Lenoir, died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, at Frye Regional Medical Center.

He was born March 9, 1921, in Rome, N.Y., to the late Charles and Rose Vescio Cataldi.

Phil always loved to do the impossible. His enjoyment after 28 years in the restaurant business was playing the stock market. He was a plant chemist with General Cable for 18 years. He was also a World War II Navy veteran and a member of VFW Post 431 of Rome, N.Y.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Mary Nigro Cataldi of the home (marrying Mary was the best investment I ever made); beloved daughter, Mrs. Marilyn E. Crump and husband Tom of Lenoir; one brother, Charles Cataldi of Florida; two sisters, Mrs. Angela Capponi and Ms. Catherine Cataldi, both of Florida; and one beloved grandson, Tommy Crump and his wife Mendy of Lenoir.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens of Lenoir.

The service will be conducted by the Rev. Julio C. Dominguez.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Shannon Brittian, Eddie Crump, William Crump, Dale Atwood, Brian Whittington and Buddy Baker.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, Memorial and Tribute Processing Center, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060 or Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Kathy Gragg

Ms. Mary “Kathy” Kathleen Gragg, 64, of Collettsville, died Jan. 28, 2010.

Born Oct. 7, 1945, in Crossnore, N.C., she was a daughter of the late Alfred Boyd and Mary Ethelene Coffey Sr.

Kathy was Baptist by faith and a former member of New Hopewell Baptist Church. She worked for many years at Jon Nelson’s 321 Nursery in landscape designs. Kathy was a loving mother, sister, nana and friend to all. She never met a stranger and always found the best in people. She was always smiling, laughing and taking care of all. Kathy always put others first. We could always count on her. We love you mom and will never forget you. We will always be thankful to you. Till we meet again.

Kathy is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Leda Shatley of Linville; four daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Jon Nelson, Lisa and Tony Hernandez, Elizabeth “Biz” and Ronnie Baucom, Bertha “Bert” and Junior Todd, all of Lenoir; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Boyd and Wanda Coffey Jr., Sammy and Christine Coffey and Roger and Debbie Coffey, all of Lenoir; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Lela and Jay Rupard, Kay and Richard Shoemake Sr., and Bernice Smith, all of Lenoir; she also is survived by eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and other relatives.

A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Evans Funeral Service of Lenoir with Brother Nicky Waters and Brother Joe Angle officiating. Interment will follow in the Boyd Coffey Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Lynn Coffey, Jake Coffey, Ricky Shoemake, Richard Shoemake, Refugio Aguilar, Timothy Darrell Shatley, Lewis Rupard and Corey Baucom. Honorary pallbearers will be Darrell Shatley, Ben Shatley, Josh Shatley, J.J. McGuire, Junior Todd, Tony Hernandez, Ronnie Baucom and Jon Nelson.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Evans Funeral Service. The family also will receive friends at the home of Donna and Jon Nelson at all other times.

Memorials can be made to the Edgemont Baptist Church Youth Camp at P.O. Box 1013, Linville, NC 28646.

Online condolences may be sent to the Gragg Family at www.evansfuneralservice.com.

Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir is serving Kathy’s Family.