Imogene Rachael Burruss Stanley was born on April 18, 1921 in Oak Hill.  She was the daughter of the late Robert E. Burruss and Nancy Margaret Settle Burruss.  Burruss was a native of colonial Fredericksburg, Va., before settling in Oak Hill.  Imogene is preceded in death by her husband, Alex Stanley, and son, Robert Alex “Bob” Stanley, both of Gilbert.

She is survived by her two daughters: the Rev. Wanda L. Ray, wife of Robert J. Ray of Huron, Ohio, and Patricia Jean Toler, wife of Larry Joe Toler of Bristol, Tenn.; by four loving grandchildren: Andrea Lynn Plum Hatfield, wife of Ricky C. Hatfield, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Richard David “Rick” Plum and wife, Viola Plum, Lewisburg; Laura Beth Toler Blankenship, wife of Walter D. Blankenship, Maryville, Tenn.; and Jonathan Michael Toler, Bristol, Tenn.; by two great-grandchildren:  Abigail Lacey Plum and Audrey Elizabeth Blankenship of Tenn.  Among her many beloved friends and neighbors are Nay Long, Peggy Stiltner, Carol Cline, and Jimmy and Nancy Tiller, and more like a son than a friend is Charles Lester and wife, Betty Lester, and children, Kayla, Crystal, and Jasmine.

Her accomplishments were many.  She was a LPN graduate of Logan General Hospital School of Nursing and worked many years in nursing at various local hospitals, was a teacher at Justice Elementary School, served as a Mingo County EOC nurse, and became an entrepreneur business woman in Gilbert where she owned and operated Gilbert Sundries and Flowers and later, Imogene’s Flowers.  She was a long-time civic organizer and community volunteer.  She served as honorary Kiwanis Club Blood Pressure Clinic volunteer and served as social chairperson for a number of other Gilbert social and civic organizations.  She was a long-time GHS Band Booster, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and served as a chaperone on many GHS school trips.  First and foremost she loved the Lord, had a zeal for life, and loved living in and serving folks in the Gilbert Community.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many in Gilbert and southern West Virginia.  She was a young, 89 year-old that fought a long and courageous battle, but finally succumbed to cancer on Sunday, July 4, 2010, at Logan Regional Medical Center.

Her positive attitude, helping hands, and generosity will be sorely missed by family, friends, and community.

Mounts Funeral Home in Gilbert is in charge of the funeral and burial arrangements.  Friends may pay their respects on Thursday, July 8, 2010 from 2 p.m. till 6 p.m.

The funeral will follow visitation on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. with the Rev. Wanda Ray officiating.  Internment will follow at the Hatfield Cemetery at Sharon Heights.  She will be carried to her final resting place by:  Bruce Burgess, Jimmy Tiller, Freddie Harless, Tom White, Walter Blankenship, Richard Plum, Jonathan Toler, and Rick Hatfield.