Howard Secrest

Mr. Howard Stephen Secrest, 73, of Drexel, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at the Hospice and Palliative Care of Burke Shytle House after a period of declining health. Mr. Secrest was born Sept. 17, 1933, in Burke County to the late Eugene and Amanda Hall Secrest. He was retired as Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Navy, serving in the Korean Conflict and during the Vietnam War. He is survived by a special friend, Sue Williams, of Drexel; his daughter, Teresa S. Loven of Morganton; two grandchildren, Zachery and Lilia Loven, both of Morganton; two brothers, Joseph Secrest and his wife, Nancy, of Baltimore, Md., Jonathan Secrest and his wife, Susan, of Drexel; three sisters, Ruth Alexander and her husband, Frank, of Monroe, Carolyn McDaniel and her husband, Bob, of Morganton and Hannah Baker and her husband, Max, of Atlanta, Ga.; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Rachel Surratt and Eunice Burgess. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service, Valdese, with the Rev. Bill Hall officiating. Interment will follow in Burke Memorial Park with military rites by American Legion Post No. 234 of Valdese. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Funeral Service,Valdese. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com.