Chester Allison Sechrist

Mr. Chester Allison Sechrist, 86, of 17 Montana Drive, Cana, VA, passed away Friday evening, November 25, 2011, at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin. Mr. Sechrist was born December 20, 1924, in Carroll County, VA, the son of the late Job Hankle and Lina Alice Johnson Sechrist. Chester retired from Mount Airy Furniture Company and was a member of Cana Baptist Church, where he loved to sing in the choir. He was a loving husband, father, and papa. Chester enjoyed farming and loved spending time with his grandchildren, whom he loved very much, raising cows, and playing with his cat, Prissy. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Estelle Dowell Sechrist of the home; a daughter, Patricia Sechrist of Cana, VA; a son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Becky Sechrist of Cana, VA; three grandsons and their spouses, Jonathan and Heather Sechrist and Chase McMillian, all of Cana, VA, and Daniel and Jessica Sechrist of Dobson; six great-grandchildren, Annabelle Sechrist, Gretchen Sechrist, Ethan Sechrist, Remington Sechrist, Haven Sechrist, and Mahayla Sechrist; a great-godson, Nacoma Leftwich of Galax, VA; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Lucille Easter of Mount Airy and Pam Williams of Cana, VA. In addition to his parents, Mr. Sechrist was preceded in death by four sisters, Ethel McCraw, Lucinda Phillips, Gertie France, and Cleo Dawson; and three brothers, Roby Sechrist, Amos Sechrist, and Dave Sechrist. The funeral service will be held Monday, November 28, 2011, at 2:00 PM at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Sechrist, the Rev. Dwight Sechrist, and the Rev. Ed Bowman officiating. Burial will follow in the Cana Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where his body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the funeral service.