Mr. Sarno

Mr. John Frederick “Jack” Sarno, Jr., age 68, formerly of Blowing Rock, and current resident of Langston, Alabama, died early Sunday morning, March 18, at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama after a remarkable fight with prostate cancer.
Mr Sarno was born January 30, 1939 in Johnstown, New York, a son of the late John Frederick and Jesse Biatek Sarno. He was the retired, owner and operator of Cliff Dwellers Motel and The Mountainaire Motel in Blowing Rock.
Prior to moving to Blowing Rock, Mr. Sarno was the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Niagara Falls Public Schools for 17 years. He also worked as a school psychologist for school systems in upstate New York.
He earned his Masters in School Psychology from Syracuse University and his bachelor of arts from the University of Rochester.
Mr. Sarno was a member of St. Jude’s Roman Catholic Church in Scottsboro, Alabama.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie Sarno; two daughters, Amy Sarno of Beloit, Wisconsin and Danielle Trivette of Ontario, Canada; and one son, Bradley Sarno of Langston, Alabama; three grandchildren, Thomas, Ethan and Eva Trivette, all of Ontario, Canada; and one sister, Julie Sarno Fort of Port Orange, Florida. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral mass was conducted Wednesday morning, March 21 at St. Jude’s Roman Catholic Church in Scottsboro, Alabama. Officiating the service was Father Vincent Chembakassery.
Memorials may be considered to the American Cancer Society, 2515 Memorial Parkway, SW #B, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 or St. Jude’s Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 971, Scottsboro, Alabama 35768.
Scottsboro Funeral Home of County Park Road in Scottsboro, Alabama was in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Lunsford

Sudie Ford Lunsford, age 78, of Elk Creek Road, Deep Gap, died Wednesday evening, March 7, 2007 at Watauga Medical Center.
Mrs. Lunsford was born May 6, 1927 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Ralph Allen and Mary Helen Young Ford. She was a member of Mount Ephriam Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
She is survived by one daughter, Donna L. Tester and husband James; one son, Bruce James Lunsford and wife Donna, all of Deep Gap; one granddaughter, Meleah Wardrupp of Waynesville; and three grandsons, Emmet, Thomas and Jeffrey Lunsford, all of Deep Gap; two great-grandchildren, Keavi and Lilly Wardrupp, both of Waynesville; seven sisters, Sally Taylor of Foscoe, Sylvia Burns and husband Ronnie and Marie Jones, all of Boone, Mavis Story and husband Wayne and Christine Moretz, all of Lenoir and Charlotte Isaacs of Hudson, and Mariam Pitts and husband Dean of Morganton; and two brother, Merritt Ford and wife Christine of Linville and Rev. Edgar Ford and wife, Martha, of Lenoir.
Mrs. Lunsford was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce James Lunsford, Sr., three sisters, Doris Norris, Bertha Jestes and an infant sister and three brothers, Max Ford, Ralph Allen Ford, Jr. and an infant brother.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lunsford were conducted Friday, March 9 at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. David Austin and Rev. T.J. Jackson. Interment followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens.
The family suggests memorials to the Steward Simmons Volunteer Fire Department, 191 Jakes Mountain Road, Deep Gap, N.C. 28618.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Lunsford family.

Mrs. McKay

Margaret Blair McKay, age 83, of Hickory, died March 12, 2007 at the Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley. She was born in Lenoir, NC, November 3, 1923, daughter of the late John Smyre and Maggie Powell Blair. Mrs. McKay attended Lenoir-Rhyne College and worked for a number of years in hospital and office administrative positions, and more recently in retail sales with Tanner Companies on Valley Boulevard in Blowing Rock, NC.
Mrs. McKay was a charter member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Hickory. She was active in many community activities in Blowing Rock, NC.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, A.R. “Pete” McKay.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Wright and her husband Robert, and her son Reid McKay and his wife June. Other survivors include her grandsons James Wright and wife Aiko of Tokyo, Japan and Jason Wright of Raleigh, NC and her granddaughter Marjorie McKay of Hickory.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 15 with the Reverends Bill Garrard and Barry Nealy officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
The family asks that memorials be made to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658 or Crossnore School, Inc., P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, NC 28616.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory of Lenoir is serving the family of Margaret Blair McKay.