Longtime Statesville deacon
STATESVILLE — Deacon Charles Lee “Chuck” Brantley Sr., 89, of Statesville, passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at the Gordon Hospice House.
The vigil will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020, at St. Philip the Apostle Church, located at 525 Camden Dr. in Statesville.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis at 10 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2020, at St. Philip the Apostle Church. Homilist will be Father Thomas Kessler, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church. Burial will follow at Oak Wood Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be his six sons-in-law.
Born March 24, 1930, in Rock Hill, S.C., to the late John Givens Brantley and Cordie Alice Helms Brantley, he graduated from Benton Heights High School in Monroe and served four years in the U.S. Air Force. On Nov. 20, 1954, he married Shirley Ann “Mickey” Dowd Brantley. He was the owner and operator of Brantley Dental Laboratory in Statesville for 60 years. He was a former member of Statesville Jaycees, the Exchange Club of Statesville and the Statesville Moose Lodge.
He was ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte on June 19, 1988, in the diocese’s second class of permanent deacons by Bishop John F. Donoghue. After ordination he was assigned to his home parish of St. Phillip the Apostle, where he served faithfully as a permanent deacon with his wife Mickey by his side for the past 32 years. He retired in 2005 and was inactive as a deacon at the time of his death.
In 2016 St. Philip the Apostle Church presented the Jewell Award to Deacon Chuck and his wife Mickey. This award recognizes members’ dedication and selfless giving to the parish community.
Deacon Chuck and Mickey joined the Statesville parish well over 50 years ago. Over the years they were very involved with Cursillo as well as the Charismatic Prayer Group and served as co-chairs for RCIA efforts at the parish. Deacon Chuck also served as parish council chairman and grand knight of the local Knights of Columbus council.
He and his family enjoyed boating and fishing on Lake Norman and family beach trips to Oak Island.
Deacon Chuck’s love and kindness touched his family, his Church and everyone he ever met.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Daniel Brantley and Charles “Chad” Brantley Jr.; a daughter, Judith Ann Brantley; and two grandsons, William and Thomas Harwell. Two brothers, J.C. and Richard Brantley, also preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley Ann “Mickey” Dowd Brantley; and seven children, Theresa B. Kindley (Ken) of Lincolnton, Lisa B. Onley (Ken) of Statesville, Alice B. Harwell (Terry) of Statesville, Peggy B. Bolens (Ricky) of Sandy Ridge, Andrea B. Faw Faust (Stephen) of Union Grove, Laura B. Haneline (Brandon) of Statesville and John Brantley of Wilmington. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, one great-grandson and one brother, Eugene Brantley (Sue) of Monroe.
Memorials may be made to St. Philip the Apostle Church – Forward with Christ Building Fund, 525 Camden Dr., Statesville, N.C. 28677. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com.
Troutman Funeral Home of Statesville is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Benedictine Father Arthur J. Pendleton, a monk and priest of Belmont Abbey, passed over to the Lord on Friday evening, Feb. 21, 2020, at his home in the monastery.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at Mary Help of Christians Basilica. Burial will follow at Belmont Abbey cemetery.
He was born Jan. 24, 1930, in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of the late Arthur N. Pendleton and Mary Agnes Ryan Pendleton.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in textile chemistry and coloring from the Rhode Island School of Design, and a Master of Science in textile engineering from the Institute of Textile Technology in Charlottesville, Virginia. He pursued further studies in chemistry, earning a Master of Science from the University of Notre Dame and his doctorate from Clemson University.
After coming to the Carolinas to work in the textile industry, Father Arthur entered the monastery at Belmont Abbey in August 1958. He made his first profession of vows on Jan. 27, 1960, and was ordained a priest on June 4, 1964. In the monastery, Father Arthur served as prior under four different superiors, as well as administrator of the Abbey. He was much sought after as a confessor and spiritual director. At Belmont Abbey College, he was a professor in the Chemistry Department for 40 years, 15 of which he was the department chair.
Father Arthur was an exemplary monk, a holy priest, a demanding teacher with a passion for his subject and his students, and a respected and much-loved colleague and friend. He was a mentor to countless students who were drawn by his gentle smile and genuine goodness.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother John.
He is survived by the monks of Belmont Abbey, his sister and brother-in-law Judith and Harry Hoitink, his sister-in-law Jane Pendleton, and his nephews John Christopher Hoitink, Craig Michel Hoitink and Frederic Pieter Hoitink.
Memorial gifts may be made to Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, N.C. 28012.
Condolence messages may be shared at www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
ONEONTA, New York — Deacon Thomas P. O’Connell, 84, died Jan. 4, 2020, at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
Friends are invited to greet the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St. in Oneonta.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at St. Mary’s Church, 39
Walnut St. in Oneonta, with Father David Mickiewicz officiating.
He was born on December 23, 1935, in Astoria, New York, the son of Michael and Lillian (West) O’Connell.
After graduating from St. John’s University in 1960 and earning a master’s degree in 1963 from Siena College, he taught at Christian Brothers Academy (1960-1963), Wappingers Central School (1963-1970), and SUNY-Delhi (1970-1995). At Delhi he taught English and philosophy and in 1977 received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. From 1996 to 2000 he taught theology and served as the department chair at Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem. He also served on the Board of Education for the Delaware Academy Central School District.
In 1976 he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Albany, New York. He served at St. Peter’s Church in Delhi, St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta and Cooperstown, and St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. He also preached or lectured at various other area churches.
Born and raised in “The Big Apple,” he nevertheless truly enjoyed his “Thoreau Experience” living close to nature in his beloved hills of Delaware County.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Katherine (Schuller) O’Connell; their four children, Eileen (Paul) Keating of Ithaca, Gregory (Vicky) O’Connell of Delhi, Kristen (Tom) Ford of Ithaca, and John (Michelle) O’Connell of Wallingford, Connecticut; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother Michael; a sister-in-law, Eileen Walker; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Kathleen and his brother Patrick.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware County Senior Meals Program, 97 Main St. Suite 2, Delhi, N.Y. 13753.
To offer condolences to the family, please go online to www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta are in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
FLETCHER — Deacon Michael LeVon Stout, 75, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, from this life and is now in the presence of our Lord. He finished his fight with cancer peacefully in the afternoon surrounded by family.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 7, at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. and recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at St. Barnabas Catholic Church, by Father Adrian Porras, pastor.
Deacon Mike, as he was better known by many, was born in South Bend, Indiana, on May 14, 1944, to the late Elmer and Mary Loma (Hannah) Stout. At the tender age of 9, he lost his mother also to cancer, and then a few years later his father remarried the former Nina Engel. He was a graduate of Central High School in South Bend. He met the love of his life, Cathie, and they were married in August 1965. He continued his education at Purdue University and majored in mechanical engineering – technology. Later, he went on to pursue a degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University-New Orleans.
He began his career working at Bendix in South Bend, moved on to Wheelabrator Frye in Mishawaka, and then transferred to Arden in June 1983 to work at Balcrank Products. While raising his family in the mountains of western North Carolina, he discovered a new passion for trout fishing and anything associated with being outside. He enjoyed his plants, gardening and helping others with anything they needed. He never met a stranger, always sharing a smile and a laugh that lit up any room.
He felt a calling to greater service in the Catholic Church and pursued his studies to become a permanent deacon. He was ordained as a permanent deacon on June 10, 2006, and served at St. Barnabas Church. His many areas of service included presiding at weddings, baptisms and funerals. Other areas of outreach included prison ministry, visiting the sick and mentoring other deacon candidates, along with countless other tasks.
In his 14 years of diaconate service, Deacon Mike took to heart his call to service. As a permanent deacon, Deacon Mike was a committed man whose faith was an example to others. He not only proclaimed the Gospel, but he lived the Gospel message and brought it to others with his wife Cathie always by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ron; and his brother-in-law, Kenny Cole.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Cathie; daughter, Mary Swanson; son, Darren (and wife Heather); grandchildren Jilian, Katie and Trey; sisters Barb (and husband Marcel) Landuit, and Christine Cole; sisters-in-law, Joyce Schrader and Pat Luczynski; brother-in-law, Norman Michaels; and many other relatives including aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to: St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Barnabas Catholic Church, P.O. Box 39, Arden, NC 28704; or Bridge Foundation (formerly CarePartners Hospice), P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
SWANNANOA — Father Matthew James Leonard, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church, passed away on December 28, 2019, in Black Mountain at the age of 57. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and parish community.
The Vigil for the Deceased will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, at St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrew Place, Swannanoa, with Bishop Peter J. Jugis as the celebrant.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop Jugis at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at the church.
A Virginia native, Father Leonard was born on July 23, 1962, to the late Cdr. Warren Leonard and Johnnie (Cummins) Leonard. He was a Tri-State Golden Gloves boxing champion during his high school years. He joined the U.S. Navy at 17, and it was there while serving his country that he heard his true calling to follow the Lord. He read and studied the Bible during his years in the Navy and credited his late father for teaching him faith through example.
After graduating in 1994 from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, he entered St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Charlotte on June 6, 1998, by Bishop William G. Curlin.
During more than 20 years of priestly ministry, Father Leonard served at four parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte, including St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir. He had served as pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church since 2009.
His priestly ministry centered on serving the Lord and his parishioners. On the 10th anniversary of his priesthood, he told the Catholic diocese's newspaper, "The greatest gift is to be able to know Christ better by serving people."
With honesty, warmth and a heart as big as he was, he shared the hardships and difficulties from his youth in his homilies and interactions with his parishioners – preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to encourage anyone who may be struggling in life. God is always present in our lives, he often said. "We all need to discern the activity of God in history, in my life, in your life. We all belong to something greater than what's here."
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Patrick and Christopher. He is survived by his five siblings, Cynthia Ticknor, Cathleen Schmidt, Therese Merranko, Michael Leonard and Mary Roy; and many nieces and nephews.
His family wishes to extend sincere thanks to his parish family at St. Margaret Mary Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrew Pl., Swannanoa, N.C. 28778.
Harwood Home for Funerals of Black Mountain was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald