Susie Barns Bell

Susie Barns Bell, age 89 of The Cove in Tazewell VA died Monday, December 26, 2011 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA. Born October 15, 1922 in The Cove in Tazewell, VA she was a daughter of the late Clinton Newberry Barns and Mary Byrd Taylor Barns. She was a US Coast Guard Veteran of World War, II. Mrs. Bell was born and raised on the family farm in The Cove where later she and her late husband, Hugh Bell operated the Barns and Bell family farm. She was a member of the Tazewell Presbyterian Church in Tazewell, VA. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary B. Bell; two sisters, Mary Taylor Brittain and Virginia Barns; one brother, Bill Tom Barns.

She is survived by her son, Clinton M. Bell and wife, Loretta Duncan Bell of Horsepen, VA; grandson, Chase Elisha Bowman; nephew, Bobby Brittain of Tazewell, VA; three sisters in law, Hope Bell and Katherine Bell both of Davidson, NC, and Lina Bell of San Francisco, CA; brother in law, George L. Bell of Burlington, NC.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 AM Saturday, December 31, 2011 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA with the Reverend Greg Wood and Walter Schwitzerlett officiating. Burial will follow at the Barns Cemetery on the family farm in The Cove. Pallbearers will be Jessie Asbury, Tom Bowen, John Fisher, Jessie Lawson, Bob Moss, and William Pridgen.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-9 PM Friday, December 30, 2011. The family requests memorial contributions be directed to the Presbyterian Children’s Home of the Highlands, PO Box 545, Wytheville, VA 24382.

Forrest David Bricker

Forrest David Bricker, age 66 of The Cove in Tazewell, VA died Saturday, November 5, 2011 at his home on Thistle Cove Farm. Born May 7, 1945 at Ravenna Arsenal, OH, he was a son of the late Forrest Davis Bricker and Mary Crockett Bowen Bricker. He was a graduate of Beaver High School and graduated with honors from West Virginia University. Dave was a US Army Veteran, honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. He was a retired stock broker, and currently served as President of Sibley Coal & Coke Company, Manager of Sibley Communications & Energy, and was Director of Logistics for Sibley Communications all of Bluefield, WV. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Catherine Wirtz Bricker.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Bennett; one sister, Carol Bricker Pharr of Earlysville, VA; many family members including, nieces, a nephew, cousins, an uncle, in laws and friends. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA.

Graveside services and interment will be at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 with Pastor Jerome Hancock of the Southside Church of the Nazarene and Pastor George Dewey Ferguson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Dave’s request was that you take someone special out to dinner.

Wanda Davis Miller

Wanda Davis Miller, age 64 of Tazewell, VA died Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Bluefield Regional Medical Center in Bluefield, WV. Born January 15, 1947 in Tazewell County, VA, she was a daughter of the late Howard William Davis and Florence Lilly Martin Davis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Arlie Franklin Miller; son, Douglas Hyter Miller; four brothers Albert Wayne Davis; Johnston Hyter Davis, Sr., David Robert Davis, and Howard Davis.

She is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Lowe and husband, Gerald of Meadowview, VA; six sons, David Miller, Donald Miller and wife, Sandra, John Miller, Michael Miller, Daniel Miller and wife, Meredith, and Charles Miller all of Tazewell, VA; one brother, Mac Davis and wife, Irene of Winchester, VA; two sisters, Irma Mitchell and husband, Les of North Tazewell, VA and Edith Stephens and husband, Rondo of West Jefferson, NC; ten grandchildren, Sheila Brett, Marc Lowe, Natashia Davis, Morgan Miller, Arlie Miller, Nathan Miller, Jason Gillespie, Teddy Flemings, Cheyenne Miller, and Savanna Miller; four great grandchildren, Hunter Brett, Skylette Lowe, Tyler Chase Gillespie, and Haley Nicole Gillespie; and very special friend, Daisy Remines.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 PM Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, VA with the Rev. Kelvin Seabolt officiating. Burial will follow at the Gillespie Cemetery in Thompson Valley, VA. Pallbearers will be Robbie Davis, Junior Sheppard, Roy Boardwine, Oakie Bogle, Cody Jackson, Marc Lowe, Nathan Miller, and Arlie Miller.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-9 PM Friday, September 2, 2011.

~ The Cove ~

Douglas Hyter Miller, age 44, of Tazewell, Va., passed away Saturday, January 22, 2011 at his home. Born December 31, 1966 at Richlands, Va., he was a son of his loving mother Wanda Davis Miller of Tazewell, Va. and the late Arlie Miller. He was a graduate of Tazewell High School and was a devoted member of the Cove Fire Department along with being a hard working employee of Gillespie Cove Farms. Doug was devoted to his family and loved his home in The Cove. He was an avid sportsman and was often remembered for his sense of humor.

Survivors in addition to his mother include his loving wife of nine years, Marcella Miller; and the two joys of his life were his son and daughter, Teddy “Slick” Miller and Cheyenne “Dub Dub” Miller; six brothers, David Miller, Donald Miller and wife, Sandra, Charles Miller, John Miller, Michael Miller, and Daniel Miller and wife, Meredith, all of Tazewell, Va.; one sister, Mary Ann Lowe and husband, Gerald of Meadowview, Va.; two sisters-in-law, Sissy and Connie; two special nieces who dearly loved him, Natasha Davis and Morgan Davis-Miller; other nieces and nephews include Sheila Brett, Savanna Miller, Arlie Miller, Nathan Miller, Mark Lowe, Hunter Brett, and Joseph Miller.

Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell, Va. with the Reverend Kelvin Seabolt officiating. Burial followed in the Gillespie Cemetery Thompson Valley, Va. Pallbearers were Daniel Miller, David Miller, Donald Miller, John Miller, Charlie Miller, and Robbie Davis. Honorary pallbearers were Oakey Bogle, Arlie Miller, Garland Boardwine, and Walter Bogle.

The family received friends at the funeral home 6-9 p.m., Monday, January 24, 2011.

Doug is sorely missed and our sincere condolences go to his wife, children and extended family.

Cove Volunteer Fire Department

Our small valley has an all volunteer fire department and, almost, everyone plays a part. We have a Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Fighters, traffic controllers, people who keep the paperwork and many others. We all have pagers and when those pagers go off, we go running. It's usually Daniel and his brother, Doug, who are first at the station and then, first at the scene. Depending upon where the rest of the volunteers are, they come as they are able.

It's a real community affair and one of which we're exceptionally proud. You see, there are only about twenty-six people who live in the Cove and we're all doing our part.

The beautiful autumnal decorations at the station were put in place by Bogey and Doug, the same Doug who is a Fire Fighter and brother to Daniel. Bogey decided, and then put into action, her plan of decorating the fire station. Isn't it lovely? Most of the decorations came from neighboring farms and add to the loveliness we view every day. Bogey, with her sister-in-law, Meredith who is married to Daniel, handle the paperwork that comes with every call.

The door needs painting, it seems, every year and we're rushing to get it painted before cold weather sets in.

Thanks, Bogey and Doug; it looks great; well done!

Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm and Volunteer Traffic Controller -smile-

Making Hay

Tuesday of this past week we cut hay at Thistle Cove Farm and had every intention of putting it up on Wednesday or Thursday. When I awoke on Wednesday morning I, as usual, let the dogs out and then stepped onto the back porch to check the weather. The slight rustling, I thought, was the wind in the trees but within thirty seconds the skies opened and rain began to pour, absolutely pour!
Remember Andy Griffith? "It rained and it rained and it rained; it was a real frog strangler!" So it was and my heart sank as I thought of our beautiful hay, now becoming beautiful wet hay. I did the only thing I could do, the only thing any sane person would do -smile- and looked to the sky. "Well God, if you want your hay to get wet, that's okay with me." And I really did mean it...sort of. I meant it as much as possible under the circumstances and thinking of all the animals this hay was supposed to feed this coming winter. Do you remember the man who told Jesus, "I believe Lord. Help me believe"? Like him.
It rained all day Wednesday and into the night but Thursday dawned bright, sunny, hot and...no rain! I kept looking at our hay field, wondering if the hay could be saved but the men who help us weren't available Thursday. Friday was much the same as Thursday, bright, sunny, hot and no rain. About 11:00 a.m. John M. came and began cutting our hay, later on Red kicked and baled it and about 2:00 in the afternoon men began picking up the square bales and stacking them on the wagon for the trip to the barn.
We put up 377 bales of beautiful, sweet smelling, lovely hay and it was all dry! The rain held off until Saturday morning...thank you God...and it's all in the hay loft now.

Why is this so important and how does it pertain to you? If you've eaten today, thank a farmer. If you've used electricity or driven or ridden in a vehicle, thank a coal miner. Of all the industries in the world, those two affect our lives every single day of every single week of every single year our entire lives! There's no escaping it. Every single day a farmer and a miner get out of bed, put on their boots and go to their potentially dangerous job and the rest of us benefit. Think about it the next time you buy groceries or, better yet, visit a farmers' market and then...

THANK A FARMER!

Grace and Peace,
Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm

Cove Winter 2010

~ waiting for breakfast at Thistle Cove Farm ~

~ view going towards head of Ward's Cove ~

~ Morris Knob ~

~ old walnut tree at Thistle Cove Farm ~

Although the first Cove snowfall was in November, it's been since 18 December 2009 we've had snow, continuously, on the ground. We've not seen a winter with this much snow since January 1996 and there are times I've waded through three foot drifts to get to our barn.

I wouldn't change it for the world and I bet there are millions who would give years off their life to live in the Cove. The air is clean, the sky is clear and the seasons are beautiful, each in their own right.

We are blessed indeed.