RICH RUDOLPH “RUDY” HAYES

PICKENS — Rudy Hayes, 85, husband of Nell Bolding Hayes, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at his home surrounded by his family.

Born in Pickens, a son of the late Louise Ferguson Hayes and Rich Hayes, Rudy Hayes was a graduate of Pickens High School, where he played football from 1951-1954, winning a state championship in 1952. Rudy played with the Clemson Tigers from 1955-1959. He played in the Orange Bowl (1957) and the Sugar Bowl (1959). His professional football career was with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1959-1962. Memberships included the Mason Lodge of Pickens and Gideons International of Pickens. He served in the jail ministry at the Pickens County Law Enforcement Center. Rudy managed Owens-Dillard Marine Sales until it closed and later retired from Grant Ford of Pickens.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years; two daughters, Teresa Landers (Mike) of Dacusville and Linda Constance (Chris) of Pickens; one son, David Hayes (Amy) of Pickens; 12 grandchildren, Will Landers (Jill), Sam Landers (Makayla), Michael Constance (Adrea), Clay Constance (Natasha), Kelli Barker (Brett), Candace Frasier (David), Bryan Hayes (Taylor), Amanda Hayes, Andrew Hayes, Jonathon Hayes, Aidan Hayes and Nadalie Hayes; and 14 great-grandchildren, Kenna Landers, Eli Constance, Noah Constance, Conner Constance, Finn Constance, Saylor Barker, Hallie Barker, Aryana Alleshouse, Landon Alleshouse, Lily Alleshouse, Blakley Frasier, Savannah Frasier, Elzie Hayes and Elliot Hayes.

Mr. Hayes was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Catherine Holder and Betty Cartee.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 18 at Red Hill Baptist in the church sanctuary. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Red Hill Baptist Church, 558 Red Hill Road, Pickens SC 29671 or Gideons International, PO Box 1533, Pickens SC 29671.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Hayes family.

BILL HANDLEY

DACUSVILLE — William Earl “Bill” Handley Jr., 83, of Pace Bridge Road, beloved husband of Jane Bradley Handley, died in his sleep on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at his home in Dacusville.

Born on Oct. 18, 1936, in Sylacauga, Ala., he was a son of the late William Earl Handley Sr. and Thelma Young Handley.

Bill was a graduate of the Sylacauga High School Class of 1955. He was employed with Avondale Mills and Chemstrand/Monsanto Company for 33 years in data processing in Pensacola, Fla., Greenville and St. Louis, Mo. He was a member of Nine Forks Baptist Church and the Dacusville Lions Club. In his earlier years, Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, arrowhead hunting, golf, old cars and shrimping.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, Bill is survived by his beloved children, Liz McKinney (Tim), Becky Stovall (Walter) and Bill Handley (Teresa); grandchildren, Bryan McKinney, Erika Handley and Megan Watt (Austin); great-grandchildren, Lilie, Bryson, Payton, Ellie Mae, Liam and Hailey; sisters, Brenda Armstrong (Carl) and Carol Austin (Perry); nephews, Jim Armstrong (Debbie) and Matt Austin (Lea); a niece, Joy Lambert (Larry) of Sylacauga, Ala.; and extended family and friends in Alabama and Savannah, Tenn.

Bill was predeceased by his parents; a grandson, James; a great-grandson, T.J.; and a nephew, David Austin.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 6-8 p.m. at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Nine Forks Baptist Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. A reception for family and friends will be held at the Dacusville Lions Club immediately following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Nine Forks Baptist Church, 3207 Earls Bridge Road, Easley, SC 29640, or the Dacusville Lions Club or the charity of one’s choice.

The family will be at the home.

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

ROBERT A. BOYLES

CENTRAL — Robert Aubrey Boyles, 94, of 117 Cross Creek Road, died on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Prisma Health-Baptist Easley Hospital.

Born in Akron, Ohio, he was the widower of Phyllis Rodgers Boyles and a son of the late Morgan Daniel and Beatrice Lake Boyles. Mr. Boyles attended the University of West Virginia in Morgantown, W. Va., where he was a premed student. He later entered the U.S. Army, where he served with the 11th Airborne during WWII. He was a self-employed cabinetmaker and was a longtime member of the Clemson Area Woodworkers Club.

Surviving are three daughters, Lycia Golson (Joseph), Beth Martinez (German) and Sara Douglas (Richard); seven sons, David Boyles (Becky), Craig Boyles (Betty), Philip Boyles (Meg), Mark Boyles (Sallie), Nathan Boyles, Sam Boyles (Sonya) and Aaron Boyles (Traci); three sisters, Jo Criss, Dora Everson and Shirley Flynn; a sister-in-law, Dianne Boyles; 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Danny Boyles.

A private memorial service will be held by the family at a later date.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services are handling arrangements.

Jimmy Clinton McGrew Sr.

PICKENS — Jimmy Clinton McGrew, 72, husband of Dorothy Jean McGrew, passed away on Feb. 16, 2020, at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a son, Jimbo McGrew; daughters, Lori McGrew Powell and Maryann (Robert) Custeau; grandchildren, Eric Powell, C.C. Powell, Levi McGrew, Johnny McGrew, Jakie Owens, Tyler Murphree, Haley Wimpey and Braden Murphree; 18 great-grandchildren, five nieces and two nephews.

Jimmy was predeceased by his parents, Johnny McGrew and Elise Elrod McGrew; and sisters, Betty Hill and Jean Pope.

Jimmy loved to fish and hunt, tractors, gardening and in his later years loved bingo.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Oolenoy Baptist Church. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral starting at noon in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will accept flowers, or donations can be made to Oolenoy Baptist Church.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the McGrew family.

Phillip Marshall Richardson

WEST UNION — Phillip Marshall Richardson, 62, husband of Tracy Merck Richardson of 24 years, passed away on Feb. 15, 2020, at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca.

Survivors include his wife, Tracy; daughters, Anna Marie Preza (Bladimir) and Stephanie Leigh Kelley (Jeff); grandchildren, Phillip Tyler Richardson (Kymberlie Stancil), Emily Tubik, Allison Tubik, Brooklyn Preza and Bladimir Preza Jr.; brothers, Wallace Richardson, Wayne Richardson (Pat) and Don Ray Richardson (Wanda); and sisters, Shirley Ann Keaton (Bill) and Patsy Lynch.

Phillip was predeceased by his parents, Ernest Benson Richardson and Ruby Leigh Patterson Richardson; brothers, William Richardson, Stevie Richardson and Douglas “Sonny” Richardson; and a sister, Mary Lou Foster.

Phillip was an employee of Duke Energy.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral starting at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home. Burial will follow the funeral at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

The family will accept flowers, or donations can be made to the Cottingham Hospice House, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Richardson family.

Janet R. Burgess

Pickens — Janet Rigdon Burgess, 71, wife of Jim Burgess, passed from this life on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020.

Mrs. Burgess was born in Greenville County, daughter of the late James H. and Vivian Carter Rigdon. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Liberty.

Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Jim Burgess; daughters, Dana Burgess Simmons (Malcolm) and Amanda Burgess Sheriff (Russell), all of Pickens; and her grandchildren, Cody Simmons, Cale Sheriff and Audrey Sheriff. Also surviving is her brother, James H. “Sonny” Rigdon Jr. (Betty) of Pelzer.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens. The family will greet friends following the service.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.

Mildred T. Goss

Pickens — Mildred Terry Goss, 81, wife of James Miles Goss, passed from this life on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020.

Mrs. Goss was born in Gwinnett County, Ga., a daughter of the late Martin and Flonnie Martin Terry. She was retired from The Foster Plant of Alice Manufacturing Co. as a weaver and she was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include her husband, James Miles Goss of the home; children, Kenneth Tallant (Yvonne), Marty Odum, Robert Keanum and Linda Darlene Cowan (Craig); stepchildren, Beverly Morrison (Marty), Scott Goss (Lisa) and Amanda Davis (Greg; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Her siblings include Buck Terry, Dianne Hayes, Teresa Estelle, June Smith and Betty Ann Langston.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Goss was preceded in death by siblings, Vickie Brumbolo, Joyce Manning, Marion Waters, Minnie Ruth Simpson and Sallie Roper.

The family will receive friends at Dillard Funeral Home from noon-1:45 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, with funeral services following in the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum.

A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.

The family is at the home.

JOEY EDWARD PATTERSON

PICKENS — Joey Edward Patterson, 55, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020.

Born in Pickens, he was the son of the late Thomas and Betty Patterson and husband of Karen Patterson.

Joey was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family and watching his Clemson Tigers play football.

Survivors include four daughters, Logan Patterson of Mauldin, Heather Kelley of Pickens, Kasey Abercrombie (Jeff) of Pickens and Stephanie Childs of Townville. Joey also leaves seven grandchildren, Trevor Kelley, Anslei Kelley, Steven Spearman, Michael Swaykowski, Alexis Catlin, Charlee Grace Abercrombie and Taylor Abercrombie, to share in his memory.

A graveside service was held on Feb. 17 at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

In lieu of flowers, family request memorials be sent to Bible Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1544, Pickens, S.C. 29671.

Online condolence may be sent to dillardfunerals.com.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Patterson family.

THOMAS IVY HUDSON

PICKENS — Thomas Ivy Hudson, 92, passed away on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at his home in Pickens.

Born in Pickens County, he was the son of the late William Thomas and Mattie Cater Hudson and husband of Agnes Morgan Hudson.

Ivy served his country proudly in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

In addition to his wife, Agnes, of 67 years, Ivy is survived by three sons, Hubert Hudson (Sharon), Ben Hudson (Debbie) and Houston Hudson (Jane), all of Pickens; and a daughter, Regena Granter (Russell), also of Pickens. Ivy also leaves eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren to share in his memory.

He was predeceased by a son, Isaac Hudson Sr.; a sister, Inez Morgan; and a half-brother, Roy F. Couch.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 14 in the Dillard Funeral Home chapel. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

Online condolences may be sent to dillardfunerals.com.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Hudson family.

GENE M. CLARK

LIBERTY — Eugene Morton “Gene” Clark, 91, of Beverly Circle, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020.

Born in Millville, N.J., he was a son of the late Leon and Leah Polhamus Clark.

Mr. Clark formerly worked for Kerr Glass and Durand Glass in Millville, N.J. He enjoyed playing pool and was a former member of the Senior Center in Easley. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy.

Surviving are his wife of the home, Emma Farrish Murdock; a son, Donald Clark of Bridgeton, N.J.; a granddaughter, Jennifer Boll (Michael); two stepchildren, Sue Cerione of John’s Island and Jimmy Murdock (Danna) of Summerville; and two step-grandchildren, Erin and Ryan Murdock.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Eugene Morton “Gene” Clark Jr.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 14 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown.

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

JIM BLEVINS

LIBERTY — James Allen “Jim” Blevins, 79, of 122 Meadow View Lane, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, at his home.

Born in Christiansburg, Va., he was a son of the late Edward J. and Vivian Clowers Blevins.

He retired from the ElDeCo Inc., where he worked as a project manager, and was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. During his free time, he enjoyed fishing.

Mr. Blevins served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

Surviving are his wife, Teresa G. Blevins of the home; four sons, James W. Blevins of Honea Path, Douglas A. Blevins of Charlotte, N.C., Robert M. Blevins of Manassas, Va., and Ronald D. Blevins of Bedford, Va.; a daughter, Beth Felts of Bedford, Va.; a stepson, Chris Rowland of Liberty; a sister, Lois Staley of Wilkesboro, N.C.; a brother, Roby Blevins of Melbourne, Fla.: nine grandchildren, Allen, Nikki, Cory, Allison, Jonathan, Nathan, Thomas, Anna and Caleb; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Pearl Ralston, and a grandson, Aaron Grom.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Blevins were conducted on Feb. 15 at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Building Fund, 101 Pisgah Road, Easley SC 29642.

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

HAROLD D. RAINEY

EASLEY — Petty Officer First Class Harold D. Rainey, 94, died peacefully in Easley on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020.

A veteran of World War II, Harold (known as “Papa” to friends and family) was stationed in the Pacific Theater and was involved in the invasion of the Philippines with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was also involved in the post-war occupation of Japan for six months. He served for 21 years of active duty in service to his country.

Papa Rainey was born a farm boy on Nov. 7, 1925, in Anderson County to Preston (“PU”) Rainey and Elizabeth Kelly Rainey. At the outbreak of the Pacific War, he did his duty and joined the U.S. Navy after “fibbing” about his young age so that he would be accepted. He attended basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Unit at Great Lakes, Ill.

After graduating from basic, he was assigned to sea duty immediately. While stationed in San Diego, Calif., he again volunteered, this time for Special Forces Training (now known as “Navy Seals”). Unfortunately, he was injured during a live knife combat training exercise and sustained a severe hand injury. He was not allowed to continue, but he was allowed to return to the fleet.

After the war, Papa served on active sea duty in the Atlantic until his retirement. He was discharged with full honors in 1963. After the military, Papa brought his family back to South Carolina.

Papa Rainey was a brave and loyal sailor, as well as a loving father. He married Ruth Hiott of Anderson County after meeting her on the staircase at the old Upper Mill in Pelzer.

He is survived by his sons, Terry, Steve and Butch (Sharon); his three grandchildren, Shannon, Cameron and Dagan; and his two great-grandchildren, Landon and Hudson Rainey.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, who passed in 2000, and a daughter-in-law, “Cookie” Rainey. Papa is also survived by his second wife, Betty Kelly Rainey.

Papa was a devout Christian who knew Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was a faithful member of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.

A visitation and receiving of friends took place at Rock Springs Baptist Church on Feb. 15. There will be no graveside service, as Papa will be interred at the Dolly Cooper Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Belton during the coming days.

The church service will be officiated by Pastor Dr. David Gallamore. Funeral arrangements are provided by the Robinson Funeral Home location in downtown Easley.

In lieu of flowers, Papa’s wishes were that donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project to help injured Veterans: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/.