Bertie Gouge

Bertie married David Dewey Buchanan about 1921 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina. David (son of William Alphonzo Buchanan and Minnie McCoury) was born on 17 Mar 1898 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina; died on 23 Dec 1991 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina; was buried in Green Young Cemetery, , Mitchell County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
JoAnn B McKinney, age 87 of North Hwy 226, Bakersville, NC passed away December 7, 2011 at her home. A native of Mitchell County, she was the daughter of the late Dewey and Bertie Gouge Buchanan. She was a Veteran of the United States Navy and retired from Mitchell County Department of Social Services. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by a sister Willie McCullough and a brother Melvin A Buchanan.

Survivors include her two sons Daniel (Dan) McKinney and wife Angie and Chris McKinney and wife Lisa, all of Kingsport, TN, two sisters Jessie B. Hughes, of Bakersville, NC and Nell B. Johnston, of Fredricksburg, Texas, and one brother Dewey D. Buchanan Jr, of Morristown, TN, and four grandchildren Jessica, Luke, Jeremiah and Daniel.

Funeral services will be held Saturday December 10, 2011 at 1:00PM in Friendship Baptist Church with Don Ford and Bobby L. McKinney officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Green Young Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors being conducted by The North Carolina Honor Guard.

Notes:

Buried:
MORRISTOWN - It is with a sad heart that we have to announce the passing of Dewey David Buchanan Jr., of Morristown, TN at 1:54 a.m. May 10th. Children Dana, Rebecca and David Buchanan survive him. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Sabra, and was the last surviving member of his family. Brother, Melvin, sisters, Nail, Willie, Jesse and JoAnn also preceded him in death. His passing came 2 months before his 95th birthday as he outlived all other family members even as far back to his Father, Dewey David Buchanan, Sr., who lived to be 93 years old. When asked how old he was, he would always tell people he was Four Score, 10+4…or for those who don’t understand how to add up a score, it would total 94.

The nickname his siblings gave him at an early age was June when he was growing up in Bakersville, NC. His love for the Mountains, trout fishing, hiking, gardening and just plain enjoying God’s creation was extraordinary.

One of many amazing accomplishments was his honorable service in the Navy, where he served during the Korean Conflict/WWII. When he told his war stories of his service, he often commanded the room because he was an awesome storyteller! During his time in the Navy, he was a Radio Signalman and at any time of the day, he could still spell anything in Morse code!

He learned at an early age to work hard, as his father, Dewey Sr. delivered the mail for 32 years in the mountains of North Carolina and during that time he only missed 2 days of work. I heard this story at his funeral about those two missed days. He had to travel over mountain to pick up the mail and on his way back to his mail route his car ran off the road on Iron Mountain during a terrible snowstorm. He had to walk home and the next day he took his mule to pull the car out of the snowbank. These were the only two days he missed delivering the mail! Our Dad also had this work ethic and his advice was “to always work hard and earn the respect and pay from your employer”. Dad represented this profile well, since he actually retired three times! He is also survived by 13 office wives that have been there for him during the good and bad times.

Dewey and Sabra had a wonderful love story that lasted over 64 years. They shared the same birthday on July 28, four years apart. He told the story that when they first met, Sabra actually went a date with his brother Melvin. When he discovered they shared the same birthday, this is what truly attracted him to her and began their strong connection that launched our family tree.

On this rainy, cool day in May 2021, in Tennessee, we have faith in the word of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 that the same love that united believers in the Lord in this life will turn our loss into triumph when we are reunited with God and lost loved ones in eternity.

Dewey will be buried alongside Sabra at Mountain Home National Cemetery at 10 am on Monday, May 17, 2021 with Rev. Lester D. Lattany officiating.

David married Sabra Ann Toppon on 24 Dec 1948 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina. Sabra was born about 1930 in Mitchell County, , , North Carolina; was buried in Mountain Home National Cemetery, , Washington County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]