Thomas Burke Boies, Jr., 96, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Martinsburg VA Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Bible Fellowship, 15 Faith Way, Front Royal, Virginia. The inurnment will be private.

Thomas was born November 22, 1926, in Winchester to the late Thomas Burke, Sr., and Mabel Boies of Front Royal, Virginia.

He was married for 67 years to his loving wife, Mary Lou Boies, who preceded him in death in January 2023.

Thomas served 20 years in the U.S. Navy on five different ships, including two years on President Harry S. Truman’s yacht. He went to Camp David (Shangri-La) while serving with the president. He retired in 1963 while serving on the USS Saint Paul, which was used to film some of the footage for the movie “In Harm’s Way” with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. The actors and film crew ate meals with the sailors.

He was in the battle of Okinawa in 1945 and the Philippine liberation effort and received many medals. He was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the early Viet Nam war. Thomas was a lifetime member of the Giles B. Cook Post 53 American Legion in Front Royal.

He was our loving father and a warrior of our country.

Surviving is his younger brother, Joe Boies of Santa Fe, New Mexico; daughter, Julie Nowell, and husband Mike Nowell of Front Royal, Virginia; son, Thomas Burke Boies, III, and wife, Cindy Boies of Front Royal, Virginia; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 8, at the church from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Bible Fellowship, 15 Faith Way, Front Royal, Virginia 22630.

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Ursula “Ursi” Reneé Ellis, 37, of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at her home.

A funeral service will be held for Ursula at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 W Main St. Front Royal, Virginia 22630, with a visitation one hour prior. Restoration Fellowship Church will be officiating. The burial will be private.

Ursula was born on January 13, 1986, in Winchester, Virginia, to her mother, Elizabeth Henry Ellis. Ursula is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Carroll Lee and Evelyn Welch, and her maternal grandparents, Alexander Russell and Gladys Elizabeth Mauck.

Surviving Ursula is her loving mother, Elizabeth Henry Ellis; her daughter, Teagan Naomi Delaney; her brothers, Phillip Allen Henry II (Tanya) and Robert Allen Ellis Jr.; her nieces and nephew, Phillip Allen Henry III, Nevaeh Lynne Henry, and Charlie Nadine Ellis; and numerous extended family members.

Ursula adored her nieces and nephew. She volunteered with Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department, excelled at working in hospitality, was always so personable, and loved helping people. She also worked as a communications officer in Warren County and was a licensed CNA, and attended college classes toward her nursing degree. Ursula will always be remembered for her outstanding smile and sense of humor. Above all else, Ursula loved her daughter, Teagan.

Pallbearers are Robert Ellis Jr., Kenneth Doner, Robert Stevens, Alexander Hilton, Scott Costello Jr, and William Smoot Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the services of Ursula Ellis c/o Maddox Funeral Home.

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Ann Elizabeth Messick, 97, of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Heritage Hall in Front Royal, Virginia, surrounded by her family.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Messick was born on January 27, 1926, in Front Royal, Virginia, to the late Shelby and Etta Palmer Presley. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John W. Messick, and two sons, Shelby Ray Messick, and John William Messick. She was a Buckton Presbyterian Church member and loved her church family. She was also a member and past president of the American Legion Post 53 Auxiliary and the VFW Post-1860 Auxiliary.

Survivors include her very devoted daughter, Barbara Sue Ralls (Eddy) of Strasburg, and her grandson, Christopher Allen Miller (Kristy) of Strasburg.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Buckton Presbyterian Church, 2315 Strasburg Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630.

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Kelly Michelle Cain, 54, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away at her home on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Kelly Michelle Cain

A graveside service will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Prospect Hill Cemetery, with Sammy Campbell officiating. Her life will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Deborah and Duane’s home, 14 Rolling View Lane, Front Royal.

Kelly was born on May 18, 1968, in Fairfax, Virginia, to the late William “Doug” and Bernice Irby Cain. She deeply loved animals, especially horses, dogs, and cats.

Survivors include her sister, Deborah Lawson and her husband Duane of Front Royal; two brothers, Michael Cain and his wife Kathy of Leesburg, Virginia, and Kevin Cain and his wife Lora of Reston, Virginia; two nieces, Christie Lawson and Kimberly Clark; one nephew, Jason Cain; three great nieces, Sierra, Carissa and Grace and one great nephew, Ethan.

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Raymond Scott McDonald, 73, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Raymond Scott McDonald

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023, at 10:30 am at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, with the Rev. Marc Roberson and Pastor Noah Goss officiating. Burial will follow at Panorama Memorial Gardens.

Ray was born in Warren County on February 5, 1950, to the late Jean and William McDonald. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Micki McDonald; stepsons, Timmy Brogan and Chuckie Brogan (fiancée Shay Horvers); sisters, Pat Giles (Skip) and Carolyn Hilton (Don); brothers, Roger McDonald (Melva) and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his step-granddaughter, Madison Brogan.

Ray loved God, his family, his friends, and the Lions Club, which he joined in 1994. While being a lifelong member, Ray served as President in 2000, District Governor in 2010, and Zone Leader for numerous years.

Ray (known to many as always having a toothpick in the corner of his mouth) enjoyed Lions pin trading, family gatherings, cruises, watching the ocean, and traveling to many places, such as Australia, Alaska, Nova Scotia, Seattle, and Knoxville.

In addition to working part-time for Food Lion, Ray retired in 2016 after working 44 years for the DMV, where he ended his career as manager of the weigh scales on I-81.

Pallbearers will be Chad McDonald, Kenny Giles, Skip Giles, Bruce Yahner, Dan Coffee and Carol McDonald.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bart Bartholomew, Sheldon McDonald, and Alvin McDonald.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Instead of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to the Front Royal Lions Club or the Riverton United Methodist Church.

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Marylou M. Hodges died at her home in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon, March 18, 2023. She was 95.

Marylou M. Hodges

Marylou was born in Limeton, Virginia, on October 13, 1927. She was the only daughter of Violet Ora Manuel Mauck and Lester Franklin Mauck.

After attending grades one through seven in Limeton’s one-room schoolhouse, Marylou entered Warren County High School. There she sang in the Glee Club, belonged to the Hi-Y Club, served as Vice President of her junior class, served as Secretary of her senior class, and helped her class raise over $18,000 for a War Loan Drive. High school was a defining period in her life, and she stayed in close touch with numerous classmates and helped organize many class reunions.

After graduating from WCHS in 1945, Marylou obtained a position at Front Royal’s American Viscose Corporation plant. There she joined her father, who worked as a welder, and her brother, Lester Mauck Jr., who held the title, “Sheet Metal Man, Second Class.” Marylou worked as secretary to Plant Industrial Engineer Doug Smith.

The “Viscose,” as it was known, opened in 1940 in Front Royal and manufactured rayon fiber for fabric, rayon cord for automobile tires, and briefly, fiber for the aerospace industry. The company became the largest supplier of rayon in the United States. The Front Royal plant closed in 1989 after being cited for more than 2,000 environmental violations and was demolished in 1997.

While working at the Viscose, Marylou went on a double-blind date and met Front Royal’s new optometrist, Robert B. “Bob” Hodges. Marylou’s date was not with Bob but with his friend Richard DeVos, who went on to found Amway, a multi-billion-dollar marketing company that sells home-care products. Said Marylou, looking back on the date, “I liked Bob better.” She and Bob married in 1952, built a home in Belmont Subdivision, and enjoyed contributing to and participating in Front Royal life for decades to come.

At some point, Marylou left the Viscose and had the couple’s only child, Susan Laurel, in 1956. A few years later, she began volunteering with the Women’s Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital, taking baby pictures with a Polaroid camera and selling them to parents for a modest fee.

Before long, she was serving on the Auxiliary Board, where she held positions as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. But most exciting for Marylou was her involvement in the Red Stocking Follies. This annual, professionally produced variety show was a collaboration between the Hospital Auxiliary and the Front Royal Lions Club. It raised thousands of dollars for hospital equipment and sight conservation projects undertaken by the Lions. Many Front Royal residents still remember the Follies’ Rockette-style kick-line, the corny jokes, and the great skits that made the shows a hit.

In the 2010s, Marylou was feted for serving 50 years in what is now The Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital. She had other interests as well. She worked in the church office at Marlow Heights Baptist Church and volunteered for CCAP. She also bowled every Wednesday with the Women’s Coffee League and, with Bob, belonged to two bridge clubs and the Shenandoah Dance Club. Later, the two were members of the Front Royal Presbyterian Church. Marylou liked nothing better than chatting with old friends and making new ones because people gave her her greatest joy.

Marylou is survived by a daughter, Susan Hodges, and her wife, Kirsten Haake, both of Rio Rancho, NM. Marylou is also survived by a first cousin, Fay Voigt of Harrisonburg, VA, and numerous nieces and nephews on the Hodges side, who remained close to her even in her last years. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bob, and two brothers, Lester, and Jasper Mauck.

A service will be held on Thursday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Front Royal Presbyterian Church. A brief, family-only interment will follow at Panorama Memorial Gardens. Afterward, a luncheon will follow at the home of Lori and Gray Blanton, 234 Walnut Drive, Front Royal.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Auxiliary of Warren Memorial Hospital, 1000 Shenandoah Avenue, Front Royal.

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