Obituaries for the week of Sept. 8

Published 10:01 pm Monday, September 5, 2022

Chris Windell Dezern

Mr. Chris Windell Dezern, 56, of Lewisville passed away on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Chris was born in Forsyth County on Sept. 24, 1965, to the late Bobby Joe Dezern and Nancy Phelps Dezern. Chris was involved with the Boy Scouts of America for 43 years. He was an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. He served as assistant scoutmaster of Troop 918 at his childhood home church, Pfafftown Christian Church.  Chris also volunteered at Carolina Bible Camp, Camp Raven Knob, and was a member of Warners Chapel Church of Christ in Clemmons. He had a passion for the outdoors and serving his community. He also worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement for 20 years. Chris is survived by his sister, Laura Cooper (Mike); nieces and nephews, Allen and Olivia Cooper and Walter and Nancy Cruz; and numerous great-nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Pfafftown Christian Church Cemetery with Minister Charley Belch officiating. A service to celebrate Chris’ life will follow at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Boy Scout Troop #918, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, NC 27040. Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the Dezern family. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Dr. Clarence ‘Butch’ Hughes Fossier

Dr. Clarence “Butch” Hughes Fossier, 81, of Bermuda Run, passed away Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1940, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, to Clarence and Katherine Fossier. Dr. Fossier was a veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Clemmons United Methodist Church. He completed his undergraduate degree at Stanford and received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and later retired from Lake Forest Orthopaedics and was team orthopaedic surgeon of the Chicago Bears. He continued being active in the medical field until his death. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Fossier. Surviving are his wife, Linda Erwin Fossier; children, David Fossier (Andrea) and Jennifer Autian (Zack); stepchildren, Eric Welde (Lisa), and Gretchen Elliott (Danny); grandchildren, Tyler Autian, Anna Fossier and Kyle Fossier; step-granddaughter, Chelsea Hunter (Ryan); step great-grandchildren, Peyton and Weston Hunter and a sister-in-law, Pam Fossier. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at Clemmons United Methodist Church with Rev. John Fitzgerald officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Clemmons United Methodist Church, 3700 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012.

JoAnn Ireland

Mrs. JoAnn Ireland of Advance passed away Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. She was born in Davie County on Jan. 9, 1932, to the late Clayton and Leona Mitchell Gregory. JoAnn was a member of Macedonia Moravian Church in Advance. She was retired from Hanes Hosiery.

JoAnn loved traveling with her husband, E.W. “Jack” Ireland until his death on May 18, 2005. They enjoyed the coast, fishing and traveling in their Airstream. Both loved spending their winters in Florida. JoAnn was an avid and accomplished seamstress. She loved knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery and many other crafts. She loved to share her crafts with others and teach others.

She was proceeded in death by a sister and three brothers, beloved poodles Mitzi, Swampy and Little Bit. She is survived by her son, Jacky Ireland (Donna) of Advance; daughter, Sharon Ireland Keesee (Curt) of Hurt, Virginia; grandchildren, Amanda Ireland-Desmond of Knightdale, John Ireland (Susan) of Advance; great-grandchildren, Landon, Riley and Eli Ireland; sister Geraldine Edwards of Clemmons; brothers Melvin Gregory (Wilma) of Advance and Johnny Gregory of Rural Hall; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends Vernon and Carolyn Moore and Mickey Graham.

A graveside service will be held at Macedonia Moravian Church in Advance on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Zach Dease officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Macedonia Moravian Church or Liberty Hospice 5 East Main Street, Thomasville, NC 27360.

Raymond ‘Ray’ Monroe Stout

Raymond “Ray” Monroe Stout, 75, passed away on Sept 2, 2022, in Winston-Salem. He was born on April 8, 1947, to the late James Monroe Stout and Arlene Britt Stout. He leaves behind his loving wife of 57 years, Faye Boose Stout; sons, Steven Ray Stout and Tony Jay Stout;  and grandson, Logan Russell Stout. He graduated from West Forsyth High School in 1965 where he met and married Faye Boose Stout. Raymond also graduated from Forsyth Tech with a degree in business and Guilford College with a degree in business management. He worked with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1966 in the manufacturing area, was drafted into the U.S. Army early that year and spent 13 months in South Korea before returning to the U.S and finishing his time with the 82nd Airborne Core G-3 Operations Fort Bragg. He returned to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to the payroll department as a payroll clerk. After 45 years with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, he retired as a payroll manager. He worked with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy from 1974 to 1999 with the rank of lieutenant, then worked with the Wake Forest Police Department as a reserve police officer in 1999. After his retirement from RAI, he became a full-time police officer for Wake Forest. After Wake Forest bought the LJVM Coliseum, he transferred from the Wake Forest Patrol Division to the coliseum as a security officer where he coordinated the coverage for sporting and other events. He also worked part time with Allied Universal as a company police officer at the court house, government center and city hall from April 2016 until March 2021. Raymond and Faye loved to ride their motorcycles with friends all over the East Coast during the summer months. He loved their faithful and loving dogs, who provided joy throughout their time together. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, at Olivet Moravian Church with Rev. Matthew W. Allen officiating. Burial will follow in the church graveyard. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel.  Memorial contributions can be made in Raymond’s honor to Olivet Moravian Church 2205 Olivet Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 or Trellis Supportive Care 101 Hospice Lane Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Lawrence ‘Pal’ Tarantino Jr.

Lawrence “Pal” Tarantino Jr., 92, formerly of Stratford, Connecticut, passed away Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at his home in North Carolina. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Nov. 23, 1929, to the late Lawrence Tarantino Sr. and Ethel Lore Tarantino. Tarantino worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for 10 years and Jenkins Vales for 40 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Korean War. Tarantino was an avid golfer for over 50 years, loved the N.Y. Yankees, N.Y. Giants, and the UCONN Huskies women’s basketball team. Preceding him in death was a sister, Sally and brothers, Tom and Louis. Surviving are his loving wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Radachowsky Tarantino; daughters, Lorraine Tarantino and Michele Tarantino (Matt Fasanella); grandchildren, Dean Jenco (Joy) of Shelton, Connecticut, and Marisa Clark (Tyler) of Lancaster, S.C.; also surviving are his grandpuppies, Sadie and Willow. There will be no formal services at this time. Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel is serving the family.

Gerald Allen West

Mr. Gerald Allen West, 77, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, peacefully at his home in East Bend surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Forsyth County on Nov. 3, 1944, to the late David Allen and Margaret Johnson West. West worked for 40 years at Bo-Ty Florist as a designer. Surviving is his sister, Sylvia West Russell (Lester); nephew, Don Russell; and son, Mark Ellis (Cindy). A private service will be held.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Allen’s memory to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane Winston-Salem, NC 27103.