Obituaries
Obituaries in Cowen, West Virginia
Kenneth Ray Martin
Jul 12, 2025
Kenneth Ray Martin, 89, of Craigsville, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown after an extended illness. He was born June 23, 1936, in Craigsville, a son of the late Noell Martin and Ethel Metheny Martin.
Kenneth was a retired employee of AT&T having worked over 30 years and helped build the...
Derrick Steven Taylor
Jul 11, 2025
Derrick Steven Taylor, born October 31st, 1965 left this world unexpectedly for his eternal home on July 11, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his parents – Jesse and Esta (Rae) Taylor, uncles George, and Eddie Taylor.
Surviving him are daughter Jessica Taylor-Davis (husband Caleb), son Brandon Taylor (wife Mikaela), grandchildren...
Kevin Dewayne Short
Jul 10, 2025
Kevin Dewayne Short, 52, of Camden on Gauley, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Weston. He was born October 5, 1972, in Richwood, a son of Calvin and Martha Prater Short.
Kevin was a 1990 graduate of Webster County High School. He then started his career as a...
Rodney Darrell Phares
Jul 1, 2025
Rodney Darrell Phares, 68, of Cowen passed away at his home on July 1, 2025. He was born on May 16, 1957, in Richwood, the son of the late Virgil Phares and the late Sada White Phares.
Rodney was a graduate of Cowen High School, served in the United States Army, worked for Metal Craft in Richwood,...
Robert Lee Mills
Jun 28, 2025
Robert Lee Mills, 68, of Mills Mountain passed away on June 28, 2025, after an extended illness at WV Caring in Elkins. Robert was born in Clarksburg on August 2, 1956, the son of the late Lloyd Dorrel Mills and the late Edith Adeline Salisbury.
He was a graduate of Cowen High School, was in the United...
Jeannie Marie Donaldson Bailes
May 30, 2025
Jeannie Marie Donaldson Bailes, 50, of Nettie passed away on May 30, 2025, at Summersville Regional Hospital after an extended illness. Jeannie was born on September 25, 1974, in Summersville, WV, the daughter of the late Phillip Donaldson and the late Kathryn Roberts.
She was a 1992 graduate of Webster County High School and was a United...
Gerald D. Handschumacher
May 28, 2025
Gerald D. Handschumacher, 74, of Upper Glade passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Webster Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. Gerald was born on December 28, 1950, in Bolair, WV the son of the late Gerald R. Handschumacher and the late Elizabeth “Mae” Wilt Handschumacher.
He retired from Weyerhaeuser; however, had previously worked for Oneida...
Mary Margaret Vanscoy
May 16, 2025
Mary Margaret Vanscoy, passed away on May 16, 2025 after an extended illness at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV. She was born on October 11, 1944, in Cowen the daughter of the late John Heck and the late Kate Claypool Heck.
Mary was a 1964 graduate of Cowen High School; she had been a clerk...
Tracy Lynn Bruner
May 14, 2025
Tracy Lynn Bruner, 52, of Craigsville, WV passed away on May 14, 2025, at Summersville Regional Medical Center. She was born on September 25, 1972, in Webster Springs, WV the daughter of Gary Robinson and the late Linda McCoy.
Tracy previously worked for the IGA, was a manager of the Family Dollar in Webster Springs and Chevron....
Judy Ann Carpenter
May 12, 2025
Judy Ann Carpenter, 72, of Tampa, Florida, formerly of Oak Hill, West Virginia passed away Monday, May 12, 2025, at the Whispering Oaks Rehabilitation Center, Tampa after an extended illness. She was born on May 18, 1952, in Richwood, a daughter of the late Everett and Nellie Bussey Lyons.
Judy was a former Day Care Center Director...
Michael Joseph Lovely
May 3, 2025
Michael Joseph Lovely, 53, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at his home on Williams River May 3, 2025, after an extended illness. Michael was born on September 5, 1971, in Webster Springs the son of Larry and JoAnn Lovely.
Michael was an old soul who found pleasure in the simple things in life. He was an...
John William Sawyer
May 3, 2025
John William Sawyer, 77, of Williams River, WV passed away on May 3, 2025. He was born on July 29, 1947, in Richwood, WV, the son of the late Walter and Dora Lee Sawyer.
John was a 1966 graduate of Cowen High School. He was a former exterminator in Ohio and West Virginia. John was a former...
(Jim) James W. Morrison
May 1, 2025
(Jim) James W. Morrison, 70, of Craigsville, WV, formerly of Moundsville, WV went home to be with the Lord on Thursday May 1st, 2025 surrounded by family.
Jim was born Sept. 23, 1954 in Camden on Gauley, WV to the late Ray H. Morrison and Agnes G. Morrison. He was a 1972 graduate of John Marshall High...
Jimmy “Hippie” Lawson
Apr 22, 2025
Jimmy “Hippie” Lawson, 71,of Craigsville, went home to be with our lord and the love of his life of 43 years, Youvone, on April 22, 2025.
Born on October 9, 1953, in Braxton County to Shirley June Boggs and Jim “Pistol” Rapp. Hippie was a family man that always was the one who took care of everyone....
Harold Carl Hollandsworth
Apr 20, 2025
Harold Carl Hollandsworth better know as “Beechnut” went home to be with the Lord on April 20, 2025. Harold was born in Boggs, WV on March 17, 1938, the son of the late Rexal Hollandsworth and Opal Rose Hollandsworth.
He was a truck driver for Bonnie J. Corp in Nicholas County before retiring after forty-one years. He...
Deloris Pearl Taylor
Apr 11, 2025
Deloris Pearl Taylor, 78 of West Milford WV passed away on April 11, 2025, at the home of her son surrounded by her family. She was a kind loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt.
She loved being outdoors and working around the yard and her flower bed. Deloris was born February 17, 1947, to the...
Randy Wilson Sr.
Apr 9, 2025
On April 9, 2025, Randy Wilson Sr. arrived at the Pearly Gates of Heaven and requested immediate entrance. Preceded by his father, Pat Wilson; mother, Violet Wilson Mellott; two brothers, Pat Edward and Foster Ford; and two sisters, Aretta and Laura. Also preceding him in death were maternal grandparents Joe and Ella Suttle and paternal grandparents Joe and Laura...
Bonnie Mae (Salisbury) Wilson
Apr 7, 2025
Bonnie Mae (Salisbury) Wilson, 72, of Erbacon, passed away Monday, April 7, 2025, at her residence with her family by her side. She was born February 22, 1953, in Sutton, a daughter of the late James Eddie Salisbury and Bonnie Jean Radcliff Salisbury.
Bonnie was a former CNA at Webster Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cowen, WV....
Warren David Wamsley, Sr.
Apr 4, 2025
Warren David Wamsley, Sr, 78, of Williams River, Cowen, WV passed away on April 4, 2025. He was born on October 17, 1946 in Richwood, WV the son of the late Eugene (Gene) and Wanda (Betty) Siburt Wamsley.
Warren attended Cowen High School. He was previously a logger and coal miner. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, listening to...
Mark Anthony Henline
Mar 31, 2025
Mark Anthony Henline, 62, of Webster Springs, formerly of Cowen, passed away unexpectedly Monday, March 31, 2025, at his residence. He was born May 10, 1962, in Sutton, a son of the late Novel and Verma Weese Henline.
Mark attended Webster County High School before moving to Columbus, Ohio to work for Tire America. In his spare...

