WEST JEFFERSON, NC: James Delbert J.D. Boone, age 82 of West Jefferson the Smethport community died Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at the Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, NC. J.D. was born on April 10, 1926 in Roan Mountain, TN to Cecil A. and Dora Marie Cordell Boone. He left home at age 14 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps; working in the National Forests in Oregon and Washington states. He supported his mother and sisters in this way through the depression. J.D. enlisted into the United States Navy in April, 1943 and served onboard USS DuPage APA-41, in the Pacific theatre of operations. He served in combat against Imperial Japanese Forces in amphibious landings onto Kwaljalien, Cape Gloucester, New Guinea, Luzon, Guadalcanal, Guam, Leyte, Okinawa, Peleliu and the Solomon Islands and landed with the initial occupation force at Nagoya, Japan. On the evening of January 10, 1945 the fleet was attacked by a large formation of Japanese kamikaze aircraft; one of which struck the DuPage killing 35 and wounding 136 men. J.D. sustained severe burn injuries and was the only survivor among the crew of the 5 inch gun mount to which he was assigned. The solemn burial at sea of his many shipmates made a strong impression and was one of the events that led to his later funeral service career. His ship was awarded six battle stars, a number not surpassed by any U.S. warship. Leaving the Navy in 1946, he began his apprenticeship at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home in Elizabethton, TN and entered the Cincinnati College of Embalming in 1947 where he graduated at the top of his class. Returning to Elizabethton, J.D. married his bride, and the focus of his life, Bertha Lou May on September 22, 1949. J.D. later worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority as a field engineer where he collected and correlated rainfall data for flood control studies. While this was one of the most enjoyable periods of his life; working in the mountains and on the lakes of east Tennessee, he never lost sight of his dream was to own a funeral home. In 1957 that opportunity presented itself when the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in West Jefferson, NC became available. J.D. arrived in Ashe County with three young children, an old Studebaker car and $5000 to realize that ambition. Determined to provide compassionate and caring service to those he would always refer to as the best people on this earth. In 1961 he developed Ashe Countys first perpetual care cemetery, Ashelawn, and its sister cemetery in Watagua County; Mountlawn. In 1972 he moved his funeral home to the grounds of Ashelawn, becoming the first co-located mortuary/ cemetery in North Carolina. Serving the citizens of Ashe County was his lifes calling and he remained active in this service into his 80s. During this period, he served as a mentor to several young men who would later become successful members of the funeral service profession, local businessmen and government officials. In 1959, J.D. was one of the first farmers in the area to operate a commercial Christmas Tree Farm, and in 1984 he and his son, Jim, established Boones Tree Farm in Laurel Springs. As much as J.D. loved funeral service, he was closest to God in the fields and was equally at home in his coveralls as in a business suit. J.D. was a member of the Beaver Creek Christian Church. He was also member of Dashiel Lodge, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons, Elizabethton, TN, a 50 year member of Ashe Lodge 594, AF&AM, the Wilkes York Rite Masonic Bodies, the Oasis Shrine Temple of Charlotte and the Ashe County Shrine Club. Also the Jefferson Rotary Club for many years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Farm Bureau and the Yadkin Valley Bank of Jefferson, and of the State and National Funeral Directors Associations and the North Carolina and National Christmas Tree Growers Association, and the USS DuPage Association. J.D. departed this life on September 2, 2008 after a tenacious battle with mesothelioma, in the company of family and friends and confident in the love of his savior. J.D. was survived by his wife, Bertha Lou May Boone; three sons; James D. Boone, Jr. and wife Susan of Virginia Beach, VA, David Earl Boone and wife Sandy of West Jefferson, Daniel Joseph Boone and wife Theresa of Beckley, WV; two daughters: Klyda Leah Boone and Martha Lou Osborne and husband Donnie of West Jefferson; one sister, Mildred Rutherford of Portsmouth, VA. Three grandchildren; Matthew Boone, Emily Boone and Adam Osborne; four step-grandchildren; Preston Osborne, Amanda Testerman, Brent Lawrence and Brittany Lawrence; eight step great-grandchildren; Doran Holman, McKenzie Osborne, Morgan Osborne, Katelyn Johnson, Nick Johnson, Zachary Walker, Blake Lawrence and Jackson Lawrence. Several nieces and nephews also survive. J.D. was preceded in death by one son, John Charles Boone who died in infancy. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 3:00 pm at the Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Creighton Beatty, Rev. Kennith Morris and CAPT. James D. Boone officiating. Interment will follow in Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with Masonic Rites. The Boone family will receive friends on Friday from 1 3:00 PM and 6 9:00 pm at the funeral home. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Shriners Childrens Hospitals, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.