RAVEN, Va. - Mrs. Madgie Merrittia Rife Vandyke, 68, of Raven, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2005 after a short illness.

Madgie was born Jan. 8, 1937. She loved gospel singing, home decorating and helping those she loved. Madgie was of the Pentecostal faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Boyd Rife and Edgar Mae Bucklen Rife; two brothers, Homer Rife and Estel Rife; one sister, Leona Fern Rife; and one daughter, Brenda Arlene Vandyke.

Madgie is survived by her husband of 44 years, Arlin Vandyke; two sisters, Marie Meadows of Belfast, Va. and Creta Horn of Claypool Hill, Va.; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends, who were all very dear to her.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2005 at Buchanan Funeral Service Chapel in Keen Mountain, Va. with the Rev. Ralph Horton and the Rev. Ancil Childress officiating. Burial will follow in the Esaw Rife Cemetery at Keen Mountain. Pallbearers will be Ricky Lester, Tony Rife, Larry Mullins Jr., Dwayne Keen, Kenny Keen and Alan Vandyke.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. today with a song service at 8:15 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service in Keen Mountain (findagrave.com)