Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Inc.

02/02/2026

Edward Keith Shaver, 68, of Richwood, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at JW Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV, after a short illness.

Keith was a 1976 graduate of Richwood High School and began working for the City of Richwood at the age of 18- dedicating more than 40 years of service to the community. He was a familiar face at local Little League events and was always present to support his children and grandchildren, hardly ever missing an opportunity to cheer them on. Outgoing and kindhearted, he was known for his smile, friendly greetings, and willingness to help. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping, and mowing grass, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family. He attended First Baptist Church in Richwood and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Paula Shaver; mother, Eula Shaver-Sloan; granddaughter, Ella Shaver; sisters, Marie Shaver and Nancy (William J.) Sloan; and brother, Homer Jennings Shaver.

He is survived by his 6 children, Eddie (Kara) Shaver, Parkersburg, WV, Elizabeth (Kelsey) Abbott, Richwood, WV, Delta (Cody) Wright, Richwood, WV, Cameron (Alexis Abarca) Dillard, Fenwick, WV, Steven (Shaylee Morrison) Dillard, Summersville, WV, and MaKendra Dillard, Richwood, WV; 9 grandchildren; sister, Betty Fisher, Richwood, WV; nephews, Billy (Victoria) Sloan, Richwood, WV, Charles (Teressa) Stowers, Craigsville, WV; niece, Jane (Ron) Collins, Richwood, WV; several additional nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be Friday, February 6, 2026, at 2:00PM, at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV, with visitation 2 hours prior to the service from 12:00-2:00PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Mountain View Memorial Park, Richwood, WV.
Arrangements were made by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV.

01/28/2026

On January 17, 2026, Robert Michal “Mike”Little entered the gates of Heaven surrounded by his wife, two sons, and eldest grandchild. Born on April 13, 1940, in Richwood, West Virginia, to Jim and Marguerite Little, he is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 63 years, Sandra Kaye Little; his two sons, Michal Allen Little (Mary Frances) and Douglas Marlin Little (Evette); his cherished grandchildren, Alexandra “Princess,” Michal “Gus” ( (Julie), Caroline “Cupcake” (Joshua), and Christopher; and his seven beloved great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Dial, and his nephews, Jeff and Greg.

If you knew Mike then you knew Sammie. Together, they were the epitome of commitment, understanding, friendship, and true love. Their partnership set a lasting foundation for generations of family to follow. Their personalities complemented one another beautifully, and they built a full and meaningful life together on Cranberry Ridge.

Above all else, Mike was a devoted father. Through his steady presence and direct example, he taught his sons the value of dignity and perseverance. He believed in showing up, leading with integrity, and instilling a deep respect for the world around them - lessons that shaped not only his children, but the legacy he leaves behind. Mike’s life was guided by honesty, strong morals, and a commitment to doing what was right.

A true outdoorsman, environmentalist, and mountaineer, Mike could often be found riding his bike with the Webster County Retired Raiders or tending to his property in the Monongahela National Forest right up until his last days. Throughout his life, Mike accomplished more than could ever be fully captured. Among his many achievements, he played football at Marshall University on a full scholarship, served as a proud Army Veteran, where he also played football while stationed in Germany, retired from the federal government after 20 years, and became the devoted patriarch of an incredible family alongside his wife and two sons. Tough as nails and capable of moving mountains, Mike also possessed a tender side that people close to him were lucky enough to experience whenever they were with him.

His grandchildren all lovingly referred to him as “Gampy,” and the memories of s’mores on the campfire, swims in the ice cold Cranberry River, and golf cart rides through the lush green mountain trails will live in our hearts and imaginations forever. Those same trails and property will continue to be lovingly tended to by his grandson, Gus, carrying on Gampy’s devotion.

The loss of Mike has devastated us all, but we know he’s with the Lord now. We ask that everyone keep Sammie in your thoughts and prayers, and surround her with community and grace during this time.

There will be a memorial service held at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home in Richwood, West Virginia on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Visitation will start at 11 AM and the service will start at 12 PM.

01/25/2026

‼️ Office Closure Notice ‼️
Funeral home will not be open for regular office hours Monday, January, 26th and Tuesday, January, 27th due to inclement weather and illness.

If you need immediate assistance or to schedule an appointment for a later time, please contact our answering service at 304-846-2622, and someone will return your call as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and stay safe.

01/23/2026

The Memorial Service for Franklin Summers that was scheduled for this Saturday, January 24, 2026, has been cancelled due to the impending snow storm. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

01/19/2026

Martha Sue Smith, age 90, of Hominy Falls, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Rainelle Healthcare Center, Rainelle, WV, after a long illness.

Born on March 18, 1935, to the late Tolbert Adam Myrtle Ivia Nutter Jones, she lived her entire 90 years in Hominy Falls.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Sherwood “Woody” Smith; son, Ronald Smith; infant son, Larry Smith; four brothers, George, Donald, Charles, and Roger Jones; and three sisters, Juanita Chapman, Dorothy Spencer, and Maggie Selman.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Scott Smith and wife, Tiffany, of Hominy Falls; Kimberly and husband, Russell Ricks, of Hominy Falls; James Smith and wife, Jennifer, of Winston-Salem, NC; daughter-in-law, Karen Priestly-Smith, of Hominy Falls, WV; four siblings, James Jones, Oregon; Shirley Dunning, NY; Darrell Jones, Oregon; and John Jones, Texas; eight grandchildren, Amber Kalb, Tracy Groves, Andrew Haynes, Amanda Smith, Cameron Smith, James Smith, Emily Davis, and Jessica Smith; and eight great-grandchildren, Madison, Lillie, Adam, Ava, Winston, Ellie, JD and Braxley.

She was a member of the Eastern Star for over 50 years. She was a member of the Pe**le Methodist Church in Harmony Falls. She was a bus driver and a CNA, and she also worked as a demonstration associate at Walmart, handing out free samples. She loved to quilt and spend time with her children, and she was deeply loved and will be missed.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV, at 2:00 pm, with visitation two hours prior to the service from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the funeral home, with her beloved nephew, Tim Spencer, officiating. Interment will follow at Hominy Falls Cemetery, Hominy Falls, WV.

01/16/2026

Franklin Summers, 61, of Elkins, West Virginia, passed away peacefully in the early morning of December 4, 2025, after years of battling cancer. He was born April 6, 1964.

Frankie greatly enjoyed the outdoors. He loved family camping trips, cookouts, and gatherings at Woodbine to cool off on a hot summer day. He enjoyed playing games outside, tossing a Frisbee, or throwing a ball with his siblings and their children. If anyone was making a pan of biscuits, they knew he would turn up to enjoy one—or three—with his glass of buttermilk and pepper.
Frankie could spend all day visiting with family and friends, collecting antiques, or working in the garden. He collected a variety of interesting items and was always excited to show you his newest pieces. He couldn’t resist a good prank or joke, and his silly, impulsive, and funny character will surely be missed by everyone.
Frankie was a proud father of two daughters, Ashley Crites and Heather Baughman, and a loving grandfather to their many children.

Franklin was preceded in death by his mother, Arlene Wolfe; his sister, Carol Bradley; her daughter, Jessica Bradley; and his brother, Billy Radcliff.

He is survived by his brother, Mick Radcliff and wife Patricia; his sister, Jessica Wolfe and wife Susan; and close nieces, Holly Mullens and husband Dave, Cassie Tyler and husband Matt, Mickie Radcliff, and David Radcliff, along with many grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also survived by his beloved friend and caregiver, Mary Arbogast.

Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV, is in charge of all arrangements.

01/16/2026

James Doris Dodrill, age 76, of Cottle, WV, passed away at his residence on January 14, 2026, following a long illness. He was born on January 10, 1950, in Tioga, WV, to the late Edgar and Bertha Tincher Dodrill.

James enjoyed working on old vehicles and had a creative side, especially when it came to leatherwork. He took pride in making handmade bracelets, necklaces, chokers, and other items. He was a quiet man who preferred to keep to himself, but he always enjoyed getting out when he was able—especially taking Sunday drives with his wife.

In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by 11 siblings.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Carmela Dodrill, of Cottle, WV; his son, James Dallas Dodrill, of Cottle, WV; his sisters, Mary Young of Cottle, WV, and Bonnie Dodrill of Craigsville, WV; his brother, Floyd Dodrill of Cottle, WV; five grandchildren, Kristien Dodrill, Austin Dodrill, Levi Dodrill, Apache Meadows, and Cherokee Meadows; and one great-grandchild, Kylie Paige Woods.

Per James’s wishes, he will be cremated, and no services will be held at this time.

All arrangements have been entrusted to Simons-Coleman Funeral Home of Richwood, WV.

01/16/2026

Terry Austin Frasier, age 32, of Richwood, West Virginia, passed away on January 14, 2026. He was born on December 9, 1993, in Beckley, West Virginia, to Ronald Terry Frasier and Crystal Gayle Green Chapman.

Terry was outgoing and truly a social butterfly. He was a polite young man with a kind heart, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Athletic by nature, he played several sports during his high school years, including football, wrestling, and track, and was a 2013 graduate of Richwood High School.

He had a deep love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting—especially squirrel hunting—and fishing. In his spare time, Terry enjoyed shooting guns and listening to older country music, with Merle Haggard being a favorite. He was a loyal friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Terry was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Patricia Collins.

Those left to cherish Terry’s memory include his fiancée, Cherokee Garten, and their son, Grayden Frasier, of Richwood, West Virginia; his daughter, Kennedy Walters; his mother, Crystal Chapman, of Richwood; his father, Ron Frasier, of North Carolina; his sisters, Rebecca Frasier and Kirsten Shrewsbury and husband Greg, all of Richwood; his maternal grandparents, Bill and Donna Green, of Richwood; his aunt, Kim Webster, of Richwood; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a large circle of friends who loved him dearly.

Visitation for family and loved ones will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home in Richwood, West Virginia, with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Following the service, Terry will be cremated.

All arrangements were made by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV.

01/14/2026

Charles ‘Gary’ Roberts, age 80, of Mount Nebo, West Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home on January 12, 2026.

Born October 13, 1945, in Tioga, West Virginia, Gary was the son of the late Charles ‘Cleo’ Roberts and Buna Dare Moul Roberts.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Roberts, and his son, Bucky Roberts.

Gary was a proud coal miner and a hardworking man through and through. Over the course of 35 years in the mines, he built a reputation for being dependable, capable, and never afraid to get his hands dirty. He served as Chief Electrician at Sewell, later working as an owner-operator at Spring Ridge Coal Company, and he was a dedicated member of the mine rescue team. His work during the Hominy Creek Disaster was something not easily forgotten. Even after that chapter of his life, Gary never truly slowed down—he’d “sneak off” and do a little consulting work in Kentucky from time to time, because he simply wasn’t the kind of man who could sit still for long. After retirement, he stayed busy in his own way, often tinkering away on his old MAC truck—always working on something, always figuring something out.

Outside of work, Gary found happiness in the simple, steady joys of life. He loved tending his vegetable garden and took genuine pride in sharing what he grew each year. He had a true cowboy spirit, a love for westerns, and a lifelong fascination with the American West. That love didn’t stop with him—he shared it with his granddaughters, who later moved out West. He loved that they made a life out West, and even from West Virginia, he followed their lives with pride and remained a steady, loving presence across the miles. Gary also enjoyed caring for his bird feeders and spending time outdoors, finding peace in nature and comfort in the everyday rhythms of home.

Those left to cherish his memory include his granddaughters, Kimberly Lyons and Haley Lyons-Varland of Wyoming; his daughter, Tammy Lyons and her husband, Dave, of Tioga, West Virginia; his partner, Alice Chapman of Mount Nebo, West Virginia; and his brother, Larry Roberts of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home in Richwood, West Virginia, with visitation beginning 30 minutes prior to the service. Pastor Jerry Hayhurst will officiate. Interment will follow at West Virginia Memorial Gardens in Calvin, West Virginia.

All arrangements are under the direction of Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, West Virginia.

Gary will be remembered for his steady presence, his work ethic, and the quiet ways he showed love.

01/08/2026

James Patrick Ritchie, beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend, was born on October 29, 1971, and went to be with the Lord on January 03, 2026. He was the cherished son of Bonnie Hamon Ritchie and George Allen Ritchie of Calvin.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 07, 2026, at 2:00PM, at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV; with Pastor Jack Eades officiating. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service from 12:00PM-2:00PM at the funeral home.

He is preceded in death by grandparents Dan and Helen Ritchie, Hubert and Opal Hamon and nephew Aaron Daniel Shelford. Father-in-law, Jerry Allen Hammons and mother-in-law, Mary “Sue” Hammons.

In addition to his parents, Jim is survived by wife of 15 years, Rechanda Hammons Ritchie, and his two sons, Deacon James Ritchie (14) and Carson Allen Ritchie (12) both at home, who were the pride and joy of his life. He is also survived by his sister, Robyn Dorsey (Doug), and niece, Hannah Dorsey (Alijah); brother, Doug Ritchie, and nephews Justin Ritchie, Wade Ritchie, and niece Kaylee Ritchie; his brother, Brad Ritchie (Robin), and nephews Trey and Evan Ritchie; and his sister-in-law, Tammy Shelford (Dan), nieces Cassandra Fox (Gary) and Jennifer Shelford. Jim is further survived by many uncles, aunts, and cousins—too many to list—but all part of a large, loving family who meant the world to him.

Jim attended Nicholas County High School, Class of 1990, and went on to Fairmont State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He was a longtime and dedicated employee of LJ Hughes and Sons and was a current 19-year employee at SMR Technologies in Fenwick, West Virginia, where he was respected and valued by his coworkers who were his friends and loved ones.

A devoted family man, Jim’s greatest happiness came from spending time with his boys. He was also an avid supporter of WVU Athletics and rarely missed the chance to cheer on his Mountaineers. Jim was a Baptist by faith and, prior to his two-month battle with lung cancer, had openly confessed his love for our Lord and Savior, finding comfort and peace in his faith.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Jim’s work family at SMR Technologies, Inc. - including former coworkers no longer with the company—for their overwhelming outpouring of love, encouragement, and prayers lifted up for Jim and his family during this difficult time.

Jim will be deeply missed and forever remembered for his devotion to his family, his quiet strength, and the kindness he shared so freely with those around him.

Memorial arrangements were made by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV.

01/07/2026

Sharon Nicole Stephenson, 45, of Craigsville, WV, passed away on January 06, 2026, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston, WV, after a long illness.

Sharon was born on April 05, 1980, in Summersville, WV, to Randall Edward and Patricia Gail Bess Cornwell. She was known for her creativity and had a special talent for crafts, always taking pride in the things she made. She greatly enjoyed fishing and was a very patient and caring person. One of her greatest joys was watching her children play sports and supporting them in all their activities. She deeply loved her grandchildren and cherished the time she spent with them. She also enjoyed watching WVU Mountaineer sports and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys. Her kindness, dedication to family, and gentle spirit will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents: Loney and Virginia Keffer and maternal grandparents: Harrison Bess and Ray & Marie (Bess) Brown.

She is survived by her fiancé Stacy Frame, of Craigsville, WV; 2 children, Tyler (Kennedy) Cornwell, of OH, and Abby (Tristian) Stephenson, of Craigsville, WV; parents, Patricia and Randall Cornwell, of Craigsville, WV; 2 brothers, Brian Cornwell, of TX and Kevin Cornwell, of Craigsville, WV; 3 grandchildren, Mila, Adeline, ad Ryder Cornwell.

Funeral service will be Friday, January 09, 2025, at 2:00pm at Alderson Missionary Baptist Church, Craigsville, WV, with visitation 2 hours prior to the service from 12:00pm-2:00pm at the church. Interment will follow at West Virginia Memorial Gardens, Calvin, WV. Pastor Samuel Luppino will be officiating.

Arrangements were made by Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood, WV.

01/07/2026