JOHNNY E. ELLIS

SUNSET — Johnny E. Ellis, loving husband, father and grandfather, walked through the valley and arrived at his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

Born Aug. 13, 1944, John was the son of the late Fred and Sue Edwards Ellis and the brother of Bob (Joan), Rick (Vickey), Joe (Debbie) and Dot (Ron) Persik.

He left behind his wife, Linda; son, Jason; stepdaughters, Sharon Biggs and Lisa Sloan; grandchildren, Isaiah, Silas and Rory Ellis; and stepgrandsons, Michael and Joseph Biggs.

John fought a long, hard three-month battle to stay with those he loved, but only our merciful loving God could heal him. Our broken hearts had to let him go, thankful for the time, love and experiences we shared with him. John remains a part of each of us and will forever live in our hearts and memories.

In honor of John’s wishes, no formal services will be held. Remembrance may be made at Mountain View Funeral Home in Pickens.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Ellis family.

EVELYN BARNES BEARDEN

PICKENS — Evelyn Barnes Bearden, 95, wife of the late B.C. Bearden, born May 17, 1925, passed from this life Monday, April 12, 2021.

A daughter of the late Verner and Dora Barnes, she was born in Pickens County. Ms. Bearden retired from Sangamo Electric Company in 1988. After retirement, she continued her hobby as a seamstress and loved making quilts for all her family. Her handiwork is treasured by all those she loved. She enjoyed being outside and all types of flowers.

Ms. Bearden had been a faithful member of Concord Baptist Church since 1949.

Survivors are a son, Tommy (Joyce) Bearden; daughter-in-law, Martha Bearden; and two grandsons, Joel and Jonathan Bearden.
She was predeceased by her husband and son, Randall J. Bearden. She was the last surviving member of her family.

A graveside service was on April 15 at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to honor Evelyn’s life may be made to Concord Baptist Church, Building Fund, 723 Concord Church Road, Pickens, SC 29671.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Bearden family.

MYRA CATER PORTER

PICKENS — Myra Cater Porter, 68, passed away on Monday, April 12, 2021, at Rainey Hospice House.

Mrs. Porter was the daughter of the late Mae Riggins Cater and William Fletcher Cater.

Survivors include three sons, Kevin Porter (Kim) of Pickens, Kyle Porter (Myra) of Easley and Kirk Porter (Shawna) of Pickens; one brother, Wayne Cater (Frances) of Liberty; three sisters, Carolyn Cowan (Robert) of Pickens, Evelyn Galloway (Tom) of Easley and Nancy Anderson (Wallace) of Pickens; and six grandchildren, Sara Porter, Alissa Porter, Chloe Green, Anna Porter, Abigail Porter and Evan Porter.

Funeral services were held on April 15 at Griffin Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Porter was predeceased by her parents and one son, Keith Porter.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Porter family.

MICHAEL WADE ‘MIKE’ ROPER

PICKENS — Mr. Michael Wade “Mike” Roper, 72, loving husband of Lisha Diane Gilstrap Roper, of Pickens, passed away on Monday, April 5, 2021, at Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital.

Mike was born in Pickens County on Feb. 22, 1949, to Mrs. Evelyn Christine Gilstrap Roper and the late Joseph Daniel “Joe” Roper. He spent his life serving others as a paramedic for the Pickens County EMS, where he retired in 2013. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam, and was a proud member of the American Legion. Mike was a true family man and was a member of Peter’s Creek Baptist Church, where he served as sound technician.

In addition to his loving wife, Mike is survived by his three children, Shawn Roper of Pickens, Travis Roper (Jensa) of Easley and Deidra Roper of Pickens; a granddaughter, Maddison Roper of Easley; and four brothers and sisters, Janice Massingale (Calvin) of Easley, Gary Roper of Piedmont, Kenneth Roper of Easley and Angela Roper of Cleveland, Tenn.

Graveside services were conducted on April 17 at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either the Quilts of Valor Foundation Local Chapter: 2661 Earls Bridge Road, Easley, SC 29640; or to the Pickens County EMS: 216 L E C Rd, Pickens, SC 29671.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family.