Samuel Rasnake

Samuel Ezra "Sam" "Snake" Rasnake SANDY RIDGE, Va. Mr. Samuel Ezra "Sam" "Snake" Rasnake, age 72, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, May 24, 2010, at his home. Born Feb. 25, 1938, at Indian Creek, Va., he was a son of Lucy Tennessee Boyd Rasnake of Bee, Va., and the late Aberham Vincent Rasnake. A 1959 graduate of Council High School, he had spent most of his life in the area and was a member of Clinch View Freewill Baptist Church on Sandy Ridge and attended Trinity Freewill Baptist Church on Indian Creek. He was employed as a coal miner at Clinchfield Coal Company for 20 years having worked at Smith Gap Mine, Splashdam Mine and several other area coal mines where he served as maintenance boss. He also worked at Cleco Corporation along route 19 in the Belfast area and at Barrett Construction in Manassas, Va. A dedicated fan, he was a true supporter of Council High School Boys and Girls Basketball Teams. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Nancy Compton and Alice Boyd; one brother, Earl Rasnake; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lacy and Ona Stevens. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife of 49 years, Alice Stevens Rasnake of the home; four children, Teresa Howard and husband, Nick and Beverly Shealy and husband, Darin, all of Prosperity, S.C., Nancy Wyatt and fianc‚, Robert Crosby of Jacksonville, Fla., and Samuel Eric Rasnake and wife, Brooke of Independence, Ky.; nine grandchildren, Rachel, Page, Lauren and Logan Howard, Kayla and Jacob Shealy and Hannah, Kerri and Ashton Rasnake who were his pride and joy; one expected great-grandchild, Ava Ren‚e Howard; five sisters, Julie O'Quinn of Sullivan Branch, Va., Inez Lester and husband, Jimmy of Huber Heights, Ohio, Joanne Lindsey and husband, Bill of Monongah, W.Va., Merle Plaster and husband, Mike of Belfast, Va., and Fredia Street and husband, Russell of London, Ohio; five brothers, Billy Rasnake and wife, Hester, Mack Rasnake and wife, Resa, George Rasnake and Stafford Rasnake, all of Bee, and Johnny Rasnake and wife, Ann of Bristol Virginia; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of friends also survive. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to special caregivers, Renita Elias, Tammy Barton, Allison Warren and the staff of Home Nursing Company; Sam's very caring oncologist, Harsha G. Vardhana and staff; staff of Blue Ridge Medical Specialists of Bristol; Dr. Kevin Combs and staff; staff of The Cancer Center Radiology Department, Norma and Vickie at the Hospitality House, Cleveland Lifesaving Crew; Russell County Medical Center's third floor nursing staff and to the Tiller Family and Trinity Freewill Baptist Church Singers and all who participated and attended the benefit singing in Sam's honor. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Roy Lee Wilson, Rev. Robert Tiller, Rev. Russell Street and Rev. Chris Musick officiating. Interment will follow in the Ketron Memorial Gardens in Lebanon, Va. Pallbearers will be Scott Fitzsimmons, Adam Hess, David Fletcher, Jay Howard, Garfield Hess and Jessee Musick. Nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers. Friends may call at the Honaker Funeral Home after 6 p.m. Tuesday. Online Condolences may be sent to www.honakerfuneralhome.net