DONALD CHARLES RAXTER

EASLEY — Donald Charles Raxter, 59, son of the late William Hugh Raxter and Margie Melanie Stewart Raxter, passed away on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at St. Francis Downtown Hospital in Greenville.

Mr. Raxter was a skilled woodworker, and he loved collecting arrowheads.

Don is survived by his sons, Luke Raxter (Julie) of Easley and Nicholas Raxter of Easley; grandchildren, Aaron Raxter, Lillie Raxter and Riley Ann Raxter; a brother, Steve Stephens (Debbie) of Liberty; a sister, Irene Raxter Rigby (H. Cecil) of Liberty; and numerous close friends and family members.

Mr. Raxter was predeceased by his wife, Deborah Medlin Raxter; parents; and a brother, Bill Stewart Raxter.

Funeral services were held on July 14 in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Gordie Hager and Rev. John Brown. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Flowers will be accepted, but donations can also be made in Don’s memory to The Salvation Army Pickens Service Center, 102 Stewart Drive, Easley, SC 29640.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Raxter family.

 

KENNETH LACY MCNEILL

SENECA — Kenneth (Ken) Lacy McNeill passed away on Sunday, July 11, 2021.

Born in Augusta, Ga., on Jan. 24, 1958, Ken was the son of the late Willie C. McNeill and Eugenia G. McNeill.

He was a 1976 graduate of Seneca High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from the then-named Central Wesleyan College (now known as Southern Weslyan University). Ken then enlisted in the Navy, where he was stationed in Okinowa, Japan, and San Diego, Calif. After military service, he chose to reside in California until a brief illness caused him to return home in 2014. He was last employed by Aramark Food Service at Clemson University. Ken was a member of New Harmony Methodist Church.

He is survived by his mother, Eugenia McNeill; brother, Brian McNeill (Cathy); nephews, Daryl McNeill Jr., Duane Goodine and Brian Goodine; and niece, Tiffany Spires.

Preceding him in death were his father, Willie C. McNeill, and brother, Daryl McNeill.

Services were held for Mr. McNeill on July 17 at New Harmony Methodist Church in Seneca, with Rev. Randall Dean Wright officiating. Burial followed at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Walhalla, where Mr. McNeill received full military honors.

Flowers are accepted.

 

ANNIE HELEN HAYES

PICKENS — Annie Helen Hayes, 93, longtime resident of Mt. Tabor Church Road, passed peacefully into her savior’s arms on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at her daughter’s residence in Mobile, Ala.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edgar Hayes; a son, Robert Bolen; her parents, Robert Harris and Eutelka Thrower; a sister, Margarette Martin; and a brother, Jack Harris.

Left to cherish her memory are her three daughters, Shawn Stallard, Sharon Joiner (Don) and Susan Hoover (Tom); a son, John Bolen (Sheila); a stepson, Jerry Hayes (Mary); a stepdaughter, Linda Cable (Mike); a brother, Richard Harris (Barbara); 10 grandchildren; three step grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; and numerous other family members.

She enjoyed sewing, arts and crafts, working with her flowers, vegetable gardening, canning and being in the outdoors with her cats and baby goats, and was a fabulous cook.

Interment will be held at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston.

Memorials may be sent to Griffin Baptist Church, 1629 Pumpkintown Highway, Pickens SC 29671.

JOSHUA EUGENE ‘JOSH’ SEAWRIGHT

PICKENS — Joshua Eugene Seawright, 29, son of Joy Mary Seawright, passed away on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at his home.

Josh enjoyed listening to music, playing golf and working on cars. He also cherished his daughter and loved his family very much.

Survivors include his mother; stepdad, Tom Davis of Pickens; one daughter, Nevaeh Lynne Seawright of Simpsonville; one brother, Austin Hurley of Greenville; one aunt, Marianne Bazzle of Simpsonville; two uncles, Charles Ray Seawright (Teresa) of Simpsonville and Timothy Alton Seawright (Jesse) of Simpsonville; and grandparents, Mary Seawright of Simpsonville and Alton Seawright (Nancy) of Piedmont.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 21, from 10-10:45 a.m. in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home, with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Greenville Memorial Gardens.

Josh was predeceased by his father, Chad Hurley; one brother, Chase Jackson; and great-grandmother, Margaret Hamby.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Seawright family.

 

SARA MOORE ROBINSON

SENECA — Sara Moore Robinson, 90, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at Seneca Health and Rehab.

Born in Fair Play, on June 27, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Roland Hilton and Bessie Lecroy Moore.

Mrs. Robinson is survived by a son, Michael Robinson, and a brother, Jack Moore.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Robinson was preceded in death by sisters, Christine Shaver, Eleise Burdette and Margie Williams.

A visitation was held in the chapel of Keowee Funeral Services (formerly Brown-Oglesby Funeral Home) on July 19. Interment was held at Oconee Memorial Park with a graveside prayer service.

 

BILLY BOWEN

 

EASLEY — Mr. Billy Ray Bowen, 86, husband of the late Kay McCall Bowen, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Born in Pickens County, a son of the late Oscar David Bowen and the late Clessie Reece Bowen, Mr. Bowen retired from Platt Saco Lowell with more than 15 years of service and attended Easley First Wesleyan Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

Surviving are his son, David Bowen and his wife, Angela, of Taylors; and his sister, Joan Bowen Perry of Newberry.

In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Bowen was predeceased by two brothers, Jimmy Melton Bowen and Robert “Bobby” Bowen.

Funeral services were held on July 18 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown. Entombment followed in the chapel of Reflection Mausoleum of Robinson Memorial Gardens.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the special previous and present caregivers who loved and cared for Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Assembly of God, P.O. Box 160, Travelers Rest, SC 29690.

Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.

 

AARON JAMES GILSTRAP

EASLEY — Aaron James Gilstrap, 21, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at his home.

Mr. Gilstrap was born May 15, 2000, the son of the of Sammy Gilstrap and Lauree Owen. He loved to collect guns and knives.

Survivors include his father, Sammy Gilstrap of Pickens; his mother, Lauree Owen (Jeremiah) of Easley; one sister, Nora Leigh Gilstrap of Tennessee; two brothers, Jacob Owen and William Owen, both of Easley; grandparents, Donnie Mast (Janet) of Marietta, Pam Mast, Jeremiah Owen and Sammy Allen Gilstrap (Sharon), all of Pickens; and great-grandmothers, Ollie Rice of Pickens and Avildie Evatt of Easley.

Aaron was predeceased by his grandmothers, Rosie Sentell and Lola Faye Owen.

A gathering with friends and family was held on July 17 in the sanctuary of The Father’s Vineyard.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Gilstrap family.

 

REBECCA GAINES PLATTS

LIBERTY — Rebecca Gaines Platts, 81, of Liberty, went home to her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Rebecca was a member of First Baptist Norris. She graduated from Lander University and retired from Clemson Extension Service. Rebecca loved to create and appreciate beautiful crafts of any kind. Her true passion was for quilting. She was a member of the Upstate Quilting Guild.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

She is survived by her children, Rebecca (Chris) Harper, Carl T. Platts Jr., Barbara (Mack) Creswell and Elizabeth Platts; grandchildren, Ensign Reid (Avery) Creswell II, Elizabeth Platts, Alexander Harper, Gabrielle Creswell, Cameron Platts and Roger Harper; a sister, Susan (Stan) Yates; former spouse, Carl Platts Sr.; and several nieces, nephews and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lois Gaines; and brother, Roger Gaines.

Funeral services were held on July 16. The graveside service was held at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to First Baptist Norris, P.O. Box 130, Norris, SC 29667 or Gideons International, P.O. Box 112, Liberty, SC 29657.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

 

WILLIAM HAROLD MCCONNELL

MARIETTA — Mr. William Harold McConnell, 79, husband of Rachel Lee McConnell, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Born in Easley, a son of the late John McSwain McConnell and the late Elma Raxter McConnell, Mr. McConnell was a 1960 graduate of Dacusville High School. He was the owner and operator of McConnell Grading & Utilities Inc. for 48 years and loved woodworking and steam engines. Mr. McConnell was a member of Nine Forks Baptist Church.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 15 years, are his son, Jason McConnell (Susan) of Dacusville; his sister, Sandra M. McAlister (Steve) of Saluda; his three grandchildren, Kade Pittman (Kristin), Drew McConnell and Katie McConnell; and a great-granddaughter on the way, Anndee Pittman.

In addition to his parents, Mr. McConnell was predeceased by his daughter, Teresa M. Williams; and his two brothers, Quincy McConnell and Joe McConnell.

Funeral services were held on July 18 at Jones Hill Church of God. Burial followed in the Ryder Family Cemetery, at 123 Hidden Hills Road in Marietta.

Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.