Wirt County Journal May 19, 1999 Obituaries Evelyn E. Beckett Evelyn E. Beckett, 73, of Parkersburg, died May 14 at her residence. She was born in Wirt County, a daughter of the late Gettis and Hazel Bailey Sheppard. She was a homemaker and a member of the South Parkersburg Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Bernard P. Beckett whom she married April 3, 1946; two daughters, Anita Beckett Hunt of Winchester, Va., and Debbie Beckett Grogg of Glenville, one son, Samuel Beckett of Parkersburg; two sisters, Dorothy Connely of Palestine and Ellen Tanner of Newark; five brothers, Jack Sheppard of Elizabeth, Bill Sheppard of Palestine, Okey Sheppard of Barlow, Ohio, Sam and Herbert Sheppard, both of Parkersburg; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Carolyn Jean Beckett; and one brother, Wilbur Sheppard. Services were held May 17 at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, south Parkersburg, with the Rev. Ed Rogers officiating. Entombment was in Sunset Memory Gardens. Randy J. Holliday Randy J. Holliday, 44, of Spencer, died May 11 at Roane General Hospital. He was born August 24, 1954, at Clover, Roane County, a son of the late Wesley Thorton and Evelyn Audrey Hickel Holliday. He was an employee of Green Mountain Co., Charleston, and T&S Contracting, Troy. He was a 1972 Spencer High School graduate. He served in the West Virginia National Guard. He is survived by his wife, Linda Milhoan Holliday of Spencer; two daughters, Shannon Hanson of Virginia Beach, Va., and Miranda Holliday of the home; two sons, Jeremy Holliday of Spencer and Wesley Holliday of the home, five sisters, Nancy Davis of Davisville, Lenamae Edgell of Canal Fulton, Tammy Smith of Davisville, Robin Carpenter of Elizabeth and Tona Bush of Leroy; four brothers, Danny Holliday of Kent, Tony Holliday of Barberton, Tom Holliday and Terry Holliday, both of Spencer; and four grandchildren, Cody Holliday, Elizabeth Hanson, Alex and Alexis Holliday. Services were held May 15 at John H. Taylor Funeral Home, Spencer, with the Rev. Daniel R. Danny" Whited officiating. Burial was in Mount Zion Cemetery, Gay. Ruie V. Perry Ruie V. Perry, 76, of Pike St., Parkersburg, died May 12 at Marietta Memorial Hospital. She was born in Doddridge County. She had worked at one time at the Heck's Department Store in south Parkersburg. Later she was employed at Darrell's IGA on Seventh Street, where she retired. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Harold Holbert of Rockport, Shirley and John Lightner of Mineral Wells; seven grandchildren, Vickie Lambert of Slate Creek, Larry Holbert of Rockport, Lisa Schultz of Rockport, Michael Holbert of Parkersburg, Eric Lightner of Smithers, Evan and David Lightner of Mineral Wells; six great-grandchildren; three brothers, Gerald Smith of Salem, Don Smith of Washington and William "Bill" Smith of Parkersburg; and one sister, Anna Hicks of Elizabeth. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Earl and Cora Mae Goff Smith; her husband, Jasper E. "Jack" Perry; two infant great-grand- sons, Brian and Scott Holbert; and four brothers, Raymond, Alfred, Alvy and Charles Smith. Services were held May 15 at Leavitt Funeral Home with the Rev. Rick Dequasie officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Ralph E. Tanner Ralph Earl Tanner, 69, of Oklahoma City died May 8 in Oklahoma. He was born March 21, 1930, in Burning Springs, a son of the late Herbert and Cora Tanner. He graduated from Wirt County High School in 1951. He served in the Air Force from 1951 until retirement in 1972. He was a master sergeant and a safety officer. After retirement, he worked eight years at Ford Company until January 1999. He enjoyed woodworking, the outdoors and family gatherings in West Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Norma Jean (Burns) Tanner; two daughters, Susan and her husband Gary Pata of Oklahoma City, Okla., Vicky and husband Larry Harms of Casper, Wyo.; two sons, Ralph Tanner Jr. and wife Becky, Herbert and wife Sherry, all of Oklahoma City; four brothers, Rev, Alvin Tanner of Tucson, Ariz., Morris Tanner of Burning Springs, Herbert Tanner of Newark and Richard Tanner of Parkersburg; two sisters, Eva Russell of Southington, Ohio, Carolyn Cottrell of Lady Lake, Fla.; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Jess Tanner; and one sister, Mary Browning. Graveside services were held May 12 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Okla.