Elk Funeral & Cremation Service

09/26/2025

Fun Funeral Fact Friday!!
Have you heard of the Balinese tradition of Ngaben?

Ngaben (also known as Pitra Yadyna or Pelebon) is a cremation ceremony that is practiced in Bali, Indonesia. It is believed that after completing the Ngaben Ritual, the spirit (or Atman) is freed from the restraints of the material world and can return to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi. This represents the understanding of the family that their loved one is leaving them.
Immediately following the death, the Balinese place their loved one in a temporary burial plot, which occurs with minimal ritual or preparation of the body. This occurs either because the family is gathering the resources for the Ngaben or because it is not an appropriate day for the Ngaben.
Due to the expense, time, and effort it takes to prepare and perform this cremation ceremony, it is normal practice for “ordinary” or “low-income” families to request that wealthy families allow them to join their ceremony with their passed loved one.
When preparing for this ceremony, there are many steps, such as having a Hindu Priest carefully select the date, the men are responsible for doing heavy work, while the women are responsible for making offerings. They create unique caskets or sarcophagi in the shape of an animal that is based on the gender, caste, and status of the deceased (known as their varna). This must be made from scratch and will be used to cremate the deceased. The casket must have 4 legs to symbolize the 4 spiritual siblings (known as the Kanda Empat). The villagers then have to construct a cremation tower with many architectural elements that symbolize the Balinese universe
For more details, we encourage you to visit this page! https://bali.com/bali/travel-guide/culture/balinese-cremation-ngaben/

09/25/2025

Charles “Chuck” Curtis Nutter, 61, of Hernshaw, West Virginia, passed away on September 23, 2025, at CAMC Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Chuck was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on November 1, 1963, to the late William and Loretta Nutter.

Chuck is preceded in death by his parents and brother William “Bill” Nutter. He is survived by his loving wife, Ellie Nutter, sons Nathan Nutter and his wife Carmen, Dalton Nutter, daughter Alicia “Cia” Nutter, grandchildren, William, Elsie, Koda, and Abram, brother Roger Talkington and his wife Diana, and sister Lynn Gomez.

Chuck had worked several jobs, with the most enjoyable being working security in the mining industry.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with a funeral service beginning at 4:00 pm, at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service, 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, West Virginia 25302, with Pastor Roger Gogus officiating.

A private inurnment will be held later at Elk Hills Memorial Park in Big Chimney, West Virginia.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Chuck's family at this time.

View Charles "Chuck" Nutter's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/19/2025

Fun Funeral Fact Friday!!
Have you heard of the Maldivian tradition of Water Burials?

In the Maldives, water burials are a traditional way of honoring the deceased. Given the country’s close ties to the ocean, water burials are seen as a way to return the body to the sea. The practice typically involves placing the body in a coffin that is then lowered into the water, either at a shallow depth or deep into the ocean, depending on the family’s wishes.
This tradition is rooted in the belief that the ocean is sacred and that the deceased will be united with the sea and its creatures in the afterlife. While water burials have become less common in modern times due to legal and environmental regulations, they remain an important part of Maldivian culture. Funeral directors in the Maldives may work with families to arrange these burials, ensuring that they are performed in accordance with both local customs and legal requirements.

09/12/2025

Fun Funeral Fact Friday!!
Have you heard of the Ghanaian tradition of Fantasy Coffins?

In Ghana, a regular coffin just won’t do. The people of Ghana believe that their coffins should be a representation of their life’s work or passions. This tradition came about around 60 years ago, inspired by some very talented carpenters.
These fantasy coffins have been shaped like planes, cars, fish, boats, and nearly everything you can think of.

09/11/2025

Here at Elk, we think it is important to never forget the tragic events of 9-11-2001.
No matter how young or old, the story of where you were when you got the news of the tragedy is an important piece of the history.

09/09/2025

Garry Bradford Bailey, 71, of Sissonville, West Virginia, passed away on August 31, 2025. Garry was born on November 12, 1953, to the late Vernon Bailey and Mary Bailey.

Garry is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Utt.

He is survived by his nieces, Deanna Hunley of Charleston, West Virginia, and Kristy Utt of Charleston, West Virginia, his brother-in-law, Ira Utt, great-nieces Olivia Hunley of St. Albans, West Virginia, Emmy Hunley of Charleston, West Virginia, Breanna Utt of Charleston, West Virginia, and Shelby Elliott of Hurricane, West Virginia, great-nephew Jevon Lawson of Charleston, West Virginia, and many close cousins.

Garry graduated from Sissonville High School and joined the Army National Guard, from which he was honorably discharged. Garry was an avid hunter and fisherman, a master carpenter, and a collector of coins, guns, and baseball cards. Garry was a retired KRT bus driver.

A service to honor Garry's memory will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 am to 12 pm at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service, 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, West Virginia 25302.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Garry's family at this time.

View Garry Bailey's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/05/2025

Fun Funeral Fact Friday!!
Have you heard of the Egyptian, Ancient Greek, and North-Eastern African tradition of Totenpass?

Members of the ancient religions of Orpheus and Dionysus, and some Egyptian and Semitic religions, used passports of the dead in their funeral and burial customs. These memorial tablets were made of metal or stone and featured an image of the deceased on one side. Details on how to navigate the afterlife awaited you on the other side.

09/01/2025

All of us here at Elk hope everyone has a safe, fun, and relaxing Labor Day! Enjoy the nice warm (but not too hot thankfully) day!

08/31/2025

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, Douglas Wayne (June) Wesley of Charleston, WV, reported his time of departure was near. Monday, August 25, 2025, the breath of Life God gave Douglas on June 13, 1951, had departed. Douglas was Elizabeth (Betty) McCray’s only child, her pride & joy. Father James Morris. Loving Stepfather Nathan McCray.

Early in life, Douglas received Jesus Christ as his Lord & Savior. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. He was a member of Young Street Baptist Church, now Shiloh Baptist.

Douglas was a member of Charleston High School, class of 1970. He enjoyed playing football for Charleston High. When he would often run into Rev. Isiah Lineberry, they had long football conversations. Both bragging about their team with great passion for football. Douglas always reminded Rev. Lineberry of how Stonewall Jackson High School lost to Charleston High School.

Douglas was employed in multiple service careers; His two favorites were Charleston Marriott Hotel and Town Center Parking Garage.

Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, aunts Mary Freeze, Lucille White, Carrie, Helen, & Frances Eldridge. Left to cherish Douglas's memory are his uncle Robert Eldridge and his wife Sandy, his son Terence Price of VA, his daughter Dionne McMath of DC, and his sons Marcus & Douglas Wesley of WV

Grandchildren Jasmine Towler-Offorbuike, Ijanea, Nierra, and Marlano Wesley. One great-grandson, Cameron Offorbuike.

Host of cousins, friends, and Riverside Nursing Home.

There will be a celebration of Douglas’s life on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 12 pm at the Metropolitan Baptist Church, 205 Donnally Street, Charleston, West Virginia 25301.

Douglas's family is requesting that anyone who can, please donate toward the cost of his cremation. There is a link attached to his obituary on the Elk Funeral & Cremation Service website.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Douglas’s family.

View Douglas Wesley's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

08/29/2025

Fun Funeral Face Friday!!
Have you heard of the Victorian England tradition of Memento Mori?

Death and grief were widely celebrated during the Victorian era, and photographs of the deceased were widely used in their funeral and burial customs. Spirit photos, which used double exposure cameras to create a shadowy photograph of the deceased person alongside a solid picture of the mourners, were extremely popular. Jewelry or other mementos made from the dead's hair were also highly valued and frequently exchanged as tokens of affection.

08/27/2025

Sharon Jeanette Howe, 65, of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on August 23, 2025. Sharon was born on November 13, 1959 in Morgantown, West Virginia, to Maurice Jack Hamrick and Alice Marie Morrow.

Sharon is preceded in death by her father and her husband William W. Howe.

Sharon is survived by her mother Alice of North Port, Florida, sons Rick Maddox (Rebecca Fehrlen) of Charleston, West Virginia, Patrick Thompson (Ashley) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Bruce Thompson (Heather) of Huntington, West Virginia, sister Sandy Patton of Charleston, West Virginia, brother Tom Hamrick of Pinch, West Virginia, 6 grandchildren, 2 nephews, and 1 niece.

Sharon was an IT Specialist working for Montgomery County, Maryland.

Sharon enjoyed the beach and listening to Billy Joel.

A memorial service will be held Saturday September 6, 2025 at 1 pm at Elk Funeral & Cremation Service 2001 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston, West Virginia, 25302, with Reverend Lee Swor officiating.

Elk Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to be assisting Sharons family at this time.

View Sharon Howe's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.