Miss Laura Byrge Bunch
daughter of Henry Byrge and Charolotte West
104 yrs. old in 2005
bn. 10 Mar 1901
*BUNCH, LAURA, 105, of Coalfield, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, at her home. Born March 19, 1901, in Devonia, she lived there the first years of her marriage before relocating to Michigan, where she gave birth to her fourth child. Following auto manufacturing plant layoffs, the family moved back to Devonia, and her husband resumed employment in the area deep mines. When recalled, the family again moved to Michigan, where she gave birth to her 10th child. The employment cycle and move from Devonia to Michigan continued a couple more times before the family finally settled back in Devonia. After the death of her husband, she enjoyed visiting her children in St. Louis, Toledo, Ohio, and Detroit. Her primary residence over the last three decades has been in Oliver Springs. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God of Mountain Assembly, Oliver Springs. In addition to her husband, Walter Bunch, she was preceded in death by daughter, Esther Byrge; sons, Norman Bunch and Reafus Bunch; parents, Henry Byrge and Charlotte West Byrge; great-granddaughter, Laura Cook; brothers, Harvey Byrge, Charlie Byrge and Burley Byrge; half-brothers, John Quincy Reynolds, Jim Reynolds, Will Reynolds, William Riley Byrge, Henry Miller Byrge and John Elmer Byrge; and half-sisters, Nancy Reynolds Byrge, Emily Seiber, Rosemary Reynolds Lively, Celie Byrge Craig and Mandy Byrge Bunch. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Cledith and Nicey Bunch of Devonia and Carlos and Peggy Bunch of Kingston; daughters and sons-in-law, Effie Ward of Oliver Springs, Stella Kennedy of Lake City, Margaret and Don Leach of Oak Ridge and Freida and Castle Bunch of Coalfield; 37 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; 43 great-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-great-grandchild. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, in Sharp Funeral Home, Oliver Springs. Funeral service will follow in the chapel, with the Rev. Wesley DuPuy and Teresa Noe officiating. Graveside service and burial will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Phillips Cemetery, Devonia. [Roane County News]
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