■ OBITUARIES

Diane Fite Harper

KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC–Diane Fite Harper, 80, of Kings Mountain, NC, passed away on July 31, 2023 at White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain, NC. She was born in Mecklenburg County, NC, daughter of the late John Lawson Fite and

Ronald “Ron”

Baxley

KINGS MOUNTAIN:

Ronald “Ron” Baxley, 65, died Monday, July 31, 2023 at his home. Born in Hopkinsville, KY he was the son of the late James and Katherine Geraldine Luckey Baxley. Ron

Gladys Wilkinson Fite and was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Carolina Harper and her beloved furbaby, Mary. Diane attended East Carolina University and UNC at Chapel Hill where she earned a teaching degree she used to teach art.. She retired from Kings Mountain High School after 30 years of service sharing her love of art with countless students. Diane was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Kings Mountain. She was an avid reader, voracious political spectator and an accomplished artist and painter. After her retirement, Diane volunteered with Pathways in Gastonia, NC and later became a certified drug and alcohol abuse counselor and led the Women’s Program at Pathways. Her intelligence and strength was an avid Tar Heel and Braves fan. He enjoyed good music and acting goofy amongst others. He never met a stranger and excelled at being a loving father, husband and grandfather. He enjoyed attending First Wesleyan Church with his grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Laura Mathis Baxley of the home; daughters, Jennifer Shehan and husband Heath of Kings Mountain and Amber Rochette and husband Jason of Knoxville; sister, Karen Dunn and husband John of Kings Mountain; brother, Steven Baxley and wife Carolyn of Charlotte; grandchildren, guards held their opponent’s star to only 17 points, well below her average of 45 points per game. In her junior year she was tapped as a member of The National Honor Society and named a Junior Marshall in recognition of her superior leadership and academic skills. In her senior year she was elected Queen of May by the students of KMHS.

Mary Ann Beam Huffstetler

CHERRYVILLE – On a beautiful Saturday evening, Aug. 5, Mary Ann Beam Huffstetler left her frail body and became a citizen of God’s glorious kingdom. Now she is celebrating with her mother and daddy and her two big sisters and two big brothers who she adored. Our hearts are broken but we rejoice in the knowledge that one day soon, by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we too will join that happy band.

Mary Ann graduated from Kings Mountain High School in 1957 and attended Limestone College. She married Palmer E. Huffstetler on Aug. 9, 1958. Mary Ann was born at her parents’ home place in Kings Mountain, N.C., on Nov. 29, 1938. She started school barely one block from her home at West School on Mountain Street. At about age 7 she began to take piano lessons and became quite adept in playing that instrument. In her early years she played piano for the Wednesday night prayer service at Central United Methodist Church in Kings Mountain. She continued formal piano instruction until she reached the age of 14. Although she played with unusual feeling and expression, she played only for her personal enjoyment. She was an excellent basketball player at Kings Mountain High School where she lettered in both her junior and senior years.

Mary Ann was selected to play on the Cleveland County All-Star team with another teammate. The two were admired by everyone who knew Diane. She was a wonderful mother, sister, aunt and friend to many who will be missed dearly. She is survived by her daughter: Katherine Harper (Greg McGinnis), Kings Mountain, NC; siblings: Jane Fite Moore (Randy), Belmont, NC, John Lawson Fite Jr. (Nancy), Washington State and Sandra Wilson, Kings Mountain, NC and a host of loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

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

Guest register is available at: www.harrisfunerals. com. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services Kings Mountain, NC is in charge of arrangements.

Brennan and Sawyer Shehan and Charlie and Nora Rochette; mother-in-law, Shirley Caveny Mathis of Kings Mountain; and niece and nephews, Ann, Keith and Kagen. A memorial service was held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at First Wesleyan Church in Kings Mountain with the Rev. Caleb Williams officiating. The family received friends following the service, in the church.

Funeral services are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation in Kings Mountain. www.claybarnette.com

Valerie Baity Coleman

Valerie Baity Coleman age 90, of Mt. Airy, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Born on May 7, 1933, in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Pinkney

By Loretta Cozart

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office released its July statistics. During the month, there were 9,536 calls for service, 185 arrests, and 1,188 papers served, includ-

On Thursday, August 3, at 5:36 p.m., officers from the Shelby Police Department responded to the 300 block of Grice Street regarding calls of shots being fired in the area.

Upon their arrival, officers located a white male in the front yard of 347 Grice Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. After the arrival of Cleveland County

Baity and Eloise Early Baity.

Mrs. Coleman was a graphic designer and worked for the Northeast Georgian. Valerie is described by her family as being a very creative person who loved art and making creative crafts. She was a member of the Demorest Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Gina Coleman Rice; brothers, Arthur Pinkney Baity, Jr., and David Baity; and sister, Linda Baity Bennett; and one great-grandchild.

Survivors include her loving husband of 68 years, Donald W. Coleman of Mt. Airy, Georgia; sister, Deborah Baity Austin (Rodney) ing 367 criminal, 582 civil, and 239 subpoenas.

One hundred eighty-five incident reports were handled: 167 were criminal, and 18 were non-criminal. One-hundred concealed carry permits were issued.

EMS and medical first responders, the male was pronounced deceased on-scene.

The victim was identified as Stacey Mills McSwain, 49, of Shelby. The Shelby Police Department Criminal Investigations Team is actively investigating this incident, and no arrests have been made at the time of this release.

Anyone with informa- of Kings Mountain, NC; grandchildren, Michelle Rice, Shaun Rice, and Jasmin Rice, great-grandchildren, Aethan Hightower, Deoen Hightower, Savannah Rice, and Devon Rice; and several nieces and nephews. Valerie never met a stranger. She loved people and her happy and loving personality immediately drew people to who in her many international travels with her husband. Many of those people became lifelong friends. Our family’s loss is heartbreaking and she will be missed and loved always. tion concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the Shelby Police Department at (704) 484-6845. You can also report information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers of Cleveland County at (704) 481-TIPS or through the Crime Stoppers P3 app on your mobile device.

A Memorial service was held in Mt. Airy, Georgia on July 29, 2023.

Narcotics seized were 120,510.0 DU pills, Cocaine 15.0 g, Marijuana 420.1 g, Meth 308.7 g, and Fentanyl/ Heroin 34 g. The monthly average of inmates handled by the sheriff’s office was 246 males and 41 females.

Mary Ann was named a delegate to Girls’ State at UNC Greensboro and was also a delegate to the NC National Honor Society Convention in Durham, NC, in 1957.

She was named a debutante and made her debut before Western North Carolina Society in Shelby in 1957. She began courting her future husband on New Year’s Eve night, 1951. After attending Limestone College, she and Palmer were married at Central United Methodist Church in Kings Mountain. Palmer entered Wake Forest Law School that Fall and Mary Ann became the secretary to the Director of Admissions at Wake Forest (Dr. Louis Aycock) and the Assistant Director (W.G. Starling).

She held that position for the three-year period Palmer attended law school. Following the couple’s residency in Winston-Salem, they lived in Kings Mountain, Orlando, Raleigh, and Cherryville, where they have resided since 1964. Mary Ann concentrated her time on rearing their three sons but also found time to actively serve her church and assist in her sons’ school activities. At First United Methodist Church she served in various capacities including choir member, Sunday school teacher, worship committee member, pictorial church directory chair, and as a member of the sanctuary committee during the construction of the new church facility in 1971-72. In addition, she served as vacation church school director and as a teacher. She was a member of the Aunt Pearl Harrelson Circle and later the Ida Wright Circle at Cherryville First United Methodist Church.

Mary Ann and Palmer enjoyed traveling with their children and grandchildren and, in their later years, in the western states, the South Carolina beaches, and Florida. She had a lifetime love of music, often spending hours at her piano playing classical selections, Broadway hits, and romantic songs of the 1940s and 1950s. During the early 2000s she displayed her writing skills while penning several essays on special stories of her youth. Her expressions were open and heartfelt with feeling and emotion.

Mary Ann is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, her three sons, Palmer, Jr. (Tiffne), Ben (Pam), and Tad; three grandchildren (Palmer III, Alice Ann, and Benjamin Beam); two great-grandchildren (Sadie Grace and Eliza); and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her as a gracious and caring person who shared an unforgettable smile with everyone she greeted. She was preceded in death by two sisters (Dorothy Harrill, and Margaret Harmon) and two brothers (Walter and Bill Harmon), as well as her parents, Ben and Sarah Mae Beam.

A Memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Zack Christy officiating. The family received friends from 1 to 1:45 p.m., prior to the service in the church fellowship hall. A private burial service will be held in Kings Mountain at Mountain Rest Cemetery.

The family extends its gratitude and deep appreciation to the management and staff of Peak Resources, Cherryville for their kindness and warm, encouraging support during Mary Ann’s time there.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Endowment Fund of First United Methodist Church, 601 North Pink St., Cherryville, N.C., 28021. Carpenter – Porter Funeral and Cremation Service served the family of Mrs. Huffstetler.

Gaston County Police detectives and specialists with Animal Care and Enforcement, assisted by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), executed a search warrant on Wednesday, August 2, at a residence at 945 E. 6th Ave. Gastonia, NC, as part of a dog fighting investigation.

The search warrant resulted from a nearly twomonth-long investigation into a report of numerous dogs at the location being used for dog fighting. The Human Society of the United States was contacted to assist in evaluating and rescuing the dogs at the residence. Fourteen (14) dogs were located during the search and seized. The dogs were rescued by the HSUS and taken for medical treat- ment and further evaluation.

On Saturday, August 5th, the Gaston County F.A.S.T team arrested the following individuals involved in this case:

Henrique Durant, 945

E. 6th Ave, Gastonia, was charged with 15 counts of Felony Dog Fighting and 15 counts of Cruelty to Animals. Durant was given a $150,000 secured bond.

Ukema Miller, 945 E. 6th Ave, Gastonia, received one count of Misdemeanor An- imal Cruelty. Miller was given a $5,000.00 secured bond.

The investigation into this case is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. J. Brienza at 704-8663320 or Crimestoppers at 704-861-8000. There is no further information currently available.