James Earl Houser

James Earl Houser, 78, of St. John’s Church Ave., Connelly Springs, NC died Thursday, October 22, 2009 at his residence after a lingering illness. Born in Lincoln County, NC on October 28, 1930, he was the son of the late Newland Lester Houser and Maggie Craig Houser. James was a member of Beulah Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon, usher, and choir singer. He retired from Drexel Heritage where he has worked in plants 3 and 5. James enjoyed fishing on the river. He loved to play his guitar in local area churches.James is survived by his wife of 61 years, Peggie Burns Houser of the home; daughters, Janet Hoover and husband, Allen, of Newton, NC, Tammy Crouse and husband, Tim of Newton, Rheba Houser and companion, Elgie McGalliard, of Connelly Springs, Wanda Baker and husband, Phillip, of Morganton, and Patsy Holt and husband, Tommy, of Sevierville, TN; sisters, Molene Benfield and Kathy Propst, both of Vale, NC; brothers, Dale Houser of Vale and Donald Houser of the Mt. View Community; grandchildren, Buddy, Doug, Rita, Jeannie, Darrell, Keith, Kathy, Pennybeth, Noah, and Jacob; and great-grandchildren, Casey, Kriston, Alexandria, Stacia, Jordan, Dylan, Preston, Tyson, Mason, Landon, Jayden, Ashley, Jonathan, and Kellan; and one great-great-granddaughter, Abigail.In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by daughters, Jeannette and Barbara Gail Carswell; a son-in-law, Dale Carswell; a grandson, Daniel Ray Hildebran; a granddaughter, Heather Anderson; a brother, Perry Houser; and a sister, Eva Davis.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, October 25, 2009 at Beulah Baptist Church with Reverends R. A. Brackett and Lloyd Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.The family would like to thank Catawba Valley Hospice for their compassionate care throughout this difficult time.