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PAGE 10A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 25. 2021
Deane Briegel
Deane Graham Gooch
Briegel, 97, passed away
peacefully Wednesday, Janu
ary 20, 2021 at her home in
Jasper. She was born Clara
Deane Graham on January
27, 1923 to Lee Roy and
Clara Patterson Graham in
Savannah, Georgia.
Deane is survived by son,
Blake Gooch of Jasper;
daughter, Donna Dewitt
Willis of Houston, Texas;
beloved nieces, Brenda
Symons Smith and Candy
Townsend Rogers of Savan
nah, Georgia; beloved
nephew, Leonard Young III
of Morrow, Georgia; step
children, Mike and Claire
Briegel of Spring Hill,
Florida, and Louis, Jr. and
Laurie Briegel of Canton,
Georgia. Dean's extended
family of grandchildren,
great- and great, great-grand
children, nieces and nephews
range from Georgia to Texas.
She was preceded in death
by husbands, Herbert Dewitt,
William "Bill" A. Gooch, and
Lou Briegel; daughter, Har
riet Dewitt Coe and sons, Jim
Gooch and Joel Gooch.
In 1969 Deane moved
from Sandy Springs, Georgia
to Jasper with husband Bill
Gooch and sons Joel and
Blake. It was here that she
continued her career as an
organ and piano teacher. She
taught many local children as
a private piano teacher in a
small studio at the old Jasper
Elementary School. In her
home she instructed many
younger adult students on a
Hammond B-3 organ and an
upright piano. Good music
was part of her life and work,
and the Gooch home was
often filled with recorded and
live music during her teach
ing years.
Deane was also organist at
Jasper First Baptist Church
for many years where she
and her family were mem
bers. Prior to coming to
Jasper she had served as or
ganist at Buckhead Baptist
Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
After ending her career as
a music teacher and organist,
Deane took over the family
framing business started by
her husband Bill. She deeply
enjoyed connecting again
with her community in this
way. She was happy to sup
port, and to be supported by,
a thriving artistic community
in this area. Her exceptional
attention to detail further ex
panded the reputation of
Gooch Framing well beyond
Jasper, Bent Tree and Big
Canoe. Like the beautiful
music that filled her home,
many pieces of interesting
and compelling artworks
covered the walls of her
home and studio.
In the late 1990s Deane
sold her frame shop and re
tired from professional life.
She was content to look back
on two very satisfying ca
reers, took great pride in the
successes of her students and
whenever she saw a piece of
artwork in homes and busi
nesses that she'd framed.
Later in her life Deane
married Lou Briegel whom
she had known for many
years prior from their in
volvement with he Jasper
Lions Club, managing local
elections and other civic ac
tivities. In her marriage to
Lou she found a sense of
happiness and peace that was
well deserved at the end of
her long life.
As a mother, Deane loved
and supported each of her
children. Though her chil
dren were often living far
from her, she encouraged
their independence and al
ways enjoyed having them
come home to visit or to stay
for extended periods. She
was mother and step-mother
and friend as best as she
could be to all her children
without distinction. Deane's
granddaughters Monica and
Wendee Willis remembered
Deane as more than "a
grandma, great grandma, and
a great great grandma. She
loved traveling, fashion, food
and most of all she loved
spending time with family
and friends."
Deane was especially
close with her extended fam
ily in Savannah. Her visits
with them were always occa
sions of much laughter, good
food, and many hugs. She es
pecially loved the beach at
Tybee Island. Each summer
for about 10 years she would
gather with her sister and
nieces at an ancient beach
house for a week-long re
union. She often recalled
those beach years as some of
the best years of her life.
Travel and camping with
her family also gave her
many years of enjoyment and
pleasure. In 1972 she, Bill
and Blake traveled through
out the United States, eastern
Canada and into Juarez,
Mexico in a home-fashioned
camper-van. She was also a
founding member of the
Sharptop Mountaineers
Camping Club. With the
Mountaineers she and her
family joined other local
families camping in many
state, national and local
camping sites for all the years
of the club's active years.
Later in her life she overcame
her fear of flying and traveled
to Ireland with a local travel
club. She and Lou traveled to
Hawaii and Alaska. She also
added the adventure of a
cruise with her daughter
Donna. She likewise encour
aged her son Blake to expand
his horizons by living abroad
for several years. She was
proud of his service to the
United States as a Peace
Corps volunteer to Mongolia.
Deane was blessed with
many life-long friends.
Though time, age and cir
cumstances separated her
from many of her closest
friends, she often spoke of
them and treasured their
place in her heart. There are
too many to mention here.
Following Lou's death in
2018, Deane continued to
live at Rock Creek Manor in
Jasper where she and Lou
moved in 2012. In 2020 her
son Blake returned to Jasper
and moved Deane in with
him, becoming her full-time
caregiver. They lived to
gether until her death, just six
days shy of her 98th birthday.
To the end she maintained
her love of good music, deli
cious food, being as inde
pendent as she could be and
having her family around her.
Her family is particularly
appreciative of the love and
deep care provided by Home
stead Hospice. In particular
we would like to thank: Rox
anne Boling, RN, Connie
Smith, and Peyton Hughes,
CNAs, Rachel Green, MSW,
and Rev. Stephen
Hawthorne, Chaplain. Addi
tionally, the following friends
are forever in our family's
hearts for the love and sup
port they showed our mom in
her last years: Rev. David
Stuart, Leslie Chapman
Miller, Lillie Long and
Cheryl Wilson. Without
them, our efforts to make our
mom's life end well would
have been much harder.
Thank you all.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home and Crema
tory.
Ronnie Byers
Ronnie H. Byers, 74, of
Lexington, SC passed away
unexpectedly on February
16, 2021 at Agape Hospice
House in Lexington. He was
born in Cherokee County,
Georgia and has previously
Obituaries
lived in Georgia, North Car
olina and Illinois before relo
cating to South Carolina.
Ronnie is a former educator
in Pickens County, Georgia,
having served as a teacher
and principal before moving
into the insurance field where
he was an executive with the
Horace Mann Insurance
Companies and later with
Health Markets before retir
ing.
He is survived by his wife
of 50 years, Linda Seymour
Byers; a son, Sam; a daugh
ter, Kelley Brown (Ted) of
Lexington, SC and a son, An
drew Byers, Ph.D. (Miranda)
of Durham, U.K. He is also
survived by seven grandchil
dren, Luke, Colt and Thad
Brown of Lexington and
Brynn, Hayden, Cavan, and
Adalyn Byers of Durham,
U.K. and a sister, Connie
Connar (Dave) of North Au
gusta, SC.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Brown and
Inez Sperin Byers and a
brother, Hugh Byers.
Graveside services were
conducted by Reverend Mark
Yoder on Tuesday, February
23, 2021 at 2 p.m. with inter
ment at Ridge Crest Memo
rial Park in
Batesburg-Leesville, SC.
Donations can be made to
the American Stroke Associ
ation, 400 Percival Road, Co
lumbia, SC 29206, at
www.stroke.org, or to a char
ity of your choice.
Caughman-Harman Fu
neral Home, Lexington
Chapel is assisting the family
with arrangements.
www.caughmanlexington.co
m
Barbara
Thomason
Barbara Lee Thomason,
83, of Jasper, Georgia passed
away on February 20,2021 at
Pruitt Healthcare in Jasper.
Barbara was born May 2,
1937 in Young Harris to the
late Charles Lee and Mar
garet Marie Shepard.
Mrs. Thomason is sur
vived by her children, Jeff
and Patti Thomason of
Jasper, Jan and Fred Allen of
Ellijay, Judy and Brian Pin
son of Jasper; grandchildren,
Leeanna Allen of Statesboro,
Emily Allen of Ellijay,
Samantha and Matthew
Dunn of Ball Ground, Sarah
Pinson of Jasper, Thomas
Pinson of Jasper; great
grandchildren, Madison,
Molly, and Maggy Dunn;
brother and sister-in-law, Bill
and Kay Shepard of Social
Circle. Several nieces,
nephews and other relatives
also survive. She was pre
ceded in death by her hus
band, Fred Thomason.
Funeral services are
scheduled for 11 a.m.,
Wednesday, February 24,
2021 in the Roper Funeral
Home Chapel with Rev. Pre
ston Jones and Rev. David
Stuart officiating. Interment
will follow in Sunrise Memo
rial Garden.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home & Crematory
in Jasper, GA.
Online condolences can
be made at www.roperfimer-
alhome.com
Nicholas Parks
Nicholas Conner Parks,
37, of Kennesaw, Georgia
passed away Saturday, Feb
ruary 13, 2021 at Fannin Re
gional Hospital. He was bom
February 12, 1984 in Mari
etta, Georgia.
Nick was truly a Renais
sance man. His zest for life
always had him looking for
new mountains to climb,
caves and rivers to explore,
or Burning Man events to at
tend. He was skilled at many
things yet still had an un
quenchable thirst for learn
ing. He was constantly
searching for things to try,
make, cook or challenge him.
His sunny nature made him a
favorite with children; espe
cially his many nieces and
nephews. He never met a
stranger in his travels and en
joyed collecting rocks, expe
riences and friends. He
stayed especially close to his
friends from school but al
ways had room for a new
person in his circle.
He is survived by his par
ents, Marlene and David
Cousineau of Colorado;
brother and sister-in-law,
Zack and Kayli Cousineau of
Wyoming; sister and brother-
in-law, Courtney and Nathan
Henderson of Jasper; grand
parents, Nancy Salazar of
Kennesaw, Joe Salazar of Ft.
Walton, Florida, Laura
Hodgkinson of Cobb County;
nieces and nephews, Gemma
Henderson, Wyatt Hender
son, Garrett Henderson, Cord
Cousineau, and Kinley
Cousineau.
He was preceded in death
by his father, Billie H. Parks,
Jr.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home and Crema
tory.
Obituary
Archive
www.pickensprogress.com
Brenda Brown
Brenda Brown, 72, of
Jasper, passed away Wednes
day, February 17, 2021 at
Piedmont Mountainside Hos
pital. She was born July 22,
1948 to Troy Dean and Lois
Pell in Dalton, Georgia.
Brenda is survived by her
husband, Jackie Brown of
Jasper; sons and daughters-
in-law, Shane and Stephanie
Duncan of Jasper, Michael
Shawn and Tracey Duncan of
Chickamauga; grandchildren,
Piper Duncan, Willow Dun
can, Leah Duncan, Logan
Brown, Zack Giles, Ryker
Brown, Brianna Brown;
great-grandchildren, Kaison
and Max; brothers and sis-
ters-in-law, Marty and Jenny
Hibberts of Ellijay, Jon and
Ximena Usher; special aunt
and honorary mother, Jean
Usher of Dalton; stepsons,
Jason and Miranda Brown,
Justin and Dawn Brown.
Several other relatives also
survive.
She was preceded in death
by her mother, Lois Pell and
father, Troy Dean.
Funeral services were
held at 2 p.m., Friday, Febru
ary 19, 2021 in the Chapel of
Roper Funeral Home with
Brother Scotty Hammontree
presiding. Interment fol
lowed in Sunrise Memorial
Gardens.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home and Crema
tory.
Online condolences may
be made at www.roperfiiner-
alhome.com.
Benjamin Hitt
Benjamin Marion Hitt, 67,
of Jasper, passed away Satur
day, February 20, 2021 at
Roswell Nursing Home. He
was born June 23, 1953 to
Charlie and Claudine Hitt in
Canton.
Benjamin is survived by
his children, Jamie Hitt of
Dahlonega, Jason Hitt of
Dahlonega, Jill Gibson of
Dahlonega; sisters, Sharon
Mulkey of Jasper, Dianne
Roper of Jasper; brothers,
Johnny Denny of Jasper,
Steve Denny of Jasper, JR
Brown of Dalton, Marvin
Hitt of Jasper, seven grand
children, one great-grand
child and several nieces and
nephews also survive.
Online condolences may
be made at www.roperfiiner-
alhome.com.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home and Crema
tory.
Glenda Reeves
Glenda Gail Reeves, 73,
passed away, Friday, Febru
ary 19, 2021, at Piedmont
Mountainside Hospital in
Jasper, Georgia.
Miss Reeves is survived
by her brother, Randall
(Charlotte) Reeves of Cal
houn, Georgia. She is also
survived by first cousins:
Geraldine (John) Moody,
Debbie (Tom) Baker, Janice
(Aaron) Ingram, Gilla Ham
montree, Suzy Hammontree,
Shirley Reeves Martin and
Charles (Nancy) Reeves and
many other extended family
members.
Glenda was preceded in
death by her parents, Rev
erend J. B. Reeves and Mrs.
Jewell Pettit Reeves and in
fant sister, Clara Ruth
Reeves. She was also pre
ceded in death by first
cousins: Edsel Hammontree
and Jim Hammontree.
Glenda was employed by
Gold Kist for 31 years and
Moore Pontiac in Canton for
several years where she
formed many lasting friend
ships with people who be
came a part of her extended
family.
Glenda always said that
her greatest blessing was the
day that the Lord saved her
soul. She was a faithful mem
ber of Salem Baptist Church
in Jasper for 62 years and
was the piano player for
many years. Glenda had a
strong love of all her family
and friends and prayed daily
for them. She will be greatly
missed by all who knew her.
A graveside service will
be held at 3 p.m. on Thurs
day, February 25, 2021, at
Salem Baptist Church in
Jasper, Georgia with Rev
erend Thurston (Buck)
Parker officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please
make donations to Salem
Baptist Church.
Online condolences may
be made at www.roperfiiner-
alhome.com.
Arrangements are en
trusted to the staff of Roper
Funeral Home and Crema
tory.
1948 photo shows unique view of Marble Hill
TOO MUCH WATER AND ALL IN ONE PLACE — July 6,1948 — When bigger rains are to be had, Pickens County
doesn’t want them. Damage estimated at $20,000 was done when a flash flood hit Marble Hill Wednesday. Grandview
Lake, at the head of Long Swamp Creek, is believed to have saved heavier losses. Marble Hill’s only paved street, State
Highway 53, was flooded. The usually dry highway is shown in front of the J. W. Patterson and Sons store. Note the depth
of the water. Photo by J.H. Dilbeck. (Newspaper clipping reprinted Courtesy of Bill Cagle, Pickens Historical Society)