Person Page - 6950

     Shirley Lafay Flowers Shirley Flowers Gill, 66, of Roanoke passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019. She was preceded in death by her father, Lynwood Flowers, a brother, James Flowers, and a sister, Janice Richards. Surviving are her son, Lynwood Gill and Mary; granddaughter, Rainy Gill; mother, Joyce Flowers; brother, Robert Flowers; sister, Michelle Flowers; and former husband, Donald Gill. Interment will follow in Fair View Cemetery.³ She was buried at Fair View Cemetery, 3300 Melrose Ave. N.W., Roanoke, Virginia.^3,4 She was born on August 2, 1952 at Maryland.^2,4 As of February 28, 1970,her married name was Beckner.¹ She married Marvin Kenneth Beckner, son of Marvin Eugene Beckner and Doris Glorydine Collins, on February 28, 1970 at Roanoke, Virginia.¹ Shirley Lafay Flowers and Marvin Kenneth Beckner were divorced on April 14, 1972 at Roanoke, Virginia.² Shirley Lafay Flowers died on February 3, 2019 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 66.^4,3

     Jamie Renee Beckner was buried at Copper Hill Church of the Brethren Cemetery, 8838 Floyd Hwy N. US Hwy 221, Copper Hill, Floyd Co., Virginia.^1,2,3 Her Social Security Number was 231-39-2419.⁶ She was born on May 8, 1978 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2,4,5 She died on December 19, 1995 at Floyd Co., Virginia, at age 17.^1,2,3,6 She Jamie Renee Beckner, 17, of Copper Hill died Tuesday, December 19, 1995. She was a Junior at Floyd County High School. Surviving are her parents Marvin Kenneth and Sylvia Beckner, Copper Hill; sister, Cindy Lynn Beckner, Copper Hill; two special cousins, Terry and Greg Beckner, Copper Hill; several aunts and uncles. Interment will follow in Copper Hill Church Cemetery, Floyd County, Va. on December 21, 1995.³

     Donna Jean Lightner was born on March 20, 1927 at West Virginia.¹ As of January 27, 1965,her married name was Collins.¹ She married Millard Samuel Collins, son of Asa William "Ace" Collins and Annie Adaline King, on January 27, 1965 at Elkton, Cecil Co., Maryland.¹ Donna Jean Lightner and Millard Samuel Collins were divorced on September 10, 1971 at Bedford Co., Virginia.¹

     William David Holland William “David” Holland, 26, passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022. He was born on May 26, 1996 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Left to cherish his memory are his parents, William Everett Holland, Jr. and Michelle Collins Holland; sister, Brittney Michelle Holland; brother, Christopher Daniel Holland; aunts and uncles, Patricia and Junior Canady, Kimberly and Arthur Golden, Mimi and Cliff Dill, Ponnie and Frank Sampson, Allen and Kim Collins; and many other extended family members and friends.² He was born on May 26, 1996 at Portsmouth, Virginia.^1,2 He died on November 12, 2022 at Virginia at age 26.²

     William Mark Eavey was buried at Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia.^3,5,6 He was born on February 15, 1961 at Warren Co., Virginia.^3,4,5 He died on October 30, 1981 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 20.^3,5,6 He William M. Eavey, age 20, of 220 Cassell Lane S.W., died Friday. He was a former member of the school safety patrol at Crystal Spring Elementary, had served as a newspaper carrier for the Times-World Corporation between the ages of 12 and 17, and was a former member of Junior Achievement and Boy Scout Troop #1 at First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Eavey had participated in the Strings Orchestra at James Madison Junior High School, Patrick Henry High School, and the All City Orchestra. Following his junior year of high school, Mr. Eavey traveled to Germany as an exchange student. He was a commended Merit Scholar and Honor Graduate of Patrick Henry High School. He attended The American College in Paris and Boston University. Surviving are his parents, James W. Eavey, Jean W. Eavey; sister, Mrs. James A. (Marjorie E.) Hartley, Pearisburg; nephew, Michael J. Hartley; grandmother, Katherine H. Eavey, Weyers Cave; also surviving are three uncles, two aunts, and eight cousins. Graveside services will be in Evergreen Cemetery. on November 1, 1981.⁶

     Michael David Eavey was buried at Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia.³ He died on August 24, 1955 at Virginia.³ He was born on August 24, 1955 at Virginia.³

     Thomas William Eavey was buried at Fairview Cemetery, 822 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, Culpeper Co., Virginia.^3,4 He was born on November 28, 1957 at Warrenton, Fauquier Co., Virginia.^3,4,5 He died on November 30, 1957 at Warrenton, Fauquier Co., Virginia.^3,4

     Robert Lee Eavey was buried at Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia.³ He died on February 10, 1960 at Virginia.³ He was born on February 10, 1960 at Virginia.³

     Willard Palmer Gowdy Jr. was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.^3,4 He Willard Palmer Gowdy, Jr. passed away on May 9, 2018, after a long illness. Willard was an outgoing, friendly man who knew no strangers. The loves of his life were his wife Marjie Gowdy of Callaway, VA; his son Todd Gowdy and wife Lori Saunders of Amherst, VA; his four grandchildren Nathan, Sam, Cara and Luke; his son Craig Gowdy and wife Iris Gowdy of Chester, VA; his son Michael Hartley and fiancée Jessica Conway of Baskerville, VA; his daughter Mary Catherine Hartley of Roanoke, VA; his sister Lynn Byrd and husband Wesley Byrd of Dayton, TN. Willard is also survived by his stepbrothers David Kahlstorf and Dr. William Kahlstorf of Mississippi and their families. Willard was preceded in death by his father Willard Palmer Gowdy, Sr. and wife Frances Gowdy of Tupelo, Mississippi; his mother Jean Gordon Gowdy; and brother, Douglas Gordon Gowdy, all of Greenville, Mississippi. A native of Greenville, Mississippi, Willard was graduated from Greenville High School and the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a bachelor’s degree of science and two Master’s degrees. He later joined the U.S. Army, trained in the Nursing program, and started his career in anesthesia. Willard was very good at his profession and performed over 20,000 cases as a nurse anesthetist for more than 35 years, caring for his patients in the military and civilian worlds. Willard achieved the rank of Major in the U.S. Army, rising to the distinction of Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He participated with the medical attachment to Operation Eagle Claw, the Iranian hostage rescue mission in 1980, as part of the U.S. Army Special Forces unit Delta Force. Willard also served with Special Forces units in Operation Enduring Freedom, Haiti, in 1994. Willard was a proud military member, receiving a number of military service distinctions, including the National Defense Medal, the Humanitarian Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal for Operation Eagle Claw, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal for Uphold Democracy. His passion for civil service also earned him a chairman’s position with the Giles County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors. Willard was a devout animal lover and was particularly fond of his little dogs Gizmo and Boudreaux, his Scottish Highland cattle, horse, donkey and numerous cats and goats that he and Marjie raised on their small farm in Virginia. Willard loved boating, hosting friends and family on the trawler Vagabond Shoes in the Mississippi Sound, while living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Willard was a former member of the Biloxi Yacht Club and enjoyed many hours with great friends at the Rub Rail. Willard shared close ties with friends in the Gulf Coast region especially while working to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, and returning to Roanoke, he was honorary member of the WHAs. Willard enjoyed sports, coaching his sons and their teams in the early years, and later traveling to watch his grandchildren participate in their events. He was an ardent Packers fan, taking a pilgrimage to Lambeau Field 20 years ago. Travel was another joy for Willard which included numerous trips to the western part of the U.S., along with multiple visits to Europe and the Caribbean. Highlights of some of his adventures included a German wedding, a Fort Lauderdale ‘Parrothead’ trip, and a Richard Petty Driving School Experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Inurnment will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Continuous Living Center at the Salem Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), to Healing Strides of Roanoke, or Planned Pethood of Rocky Mount, Virginia. The family expresses special appreciation to the staffs of Carilion Medical Center, Catawba Hospital, and the Palliative Care and Hospice units at the Salem VAMC for their loving care over the past year.³ He married Marjorie Lynn "Marjie" Eavey, daughter of James William Eavey and Doris Jean Wood.^1,2 Willard Palmer Gowdy Jr. was born on April 30, 1942 at Greenville, Washington Co., Mississippi.^3,4 He died on May 9, 2018 at age 76.^3,4