Floyd Lee Ruff

Floyd (Lloyd) Lee Ruff, 92, of Whittier, NC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25th at Mission Hospital after a short illness. Floyd, or Papaw Ruffie, as he was most recently known, was born on November 1,1933 in Whittier, NC. He is preceded in death by his mother, Julia Ann Watson Ruff, brothers, Jim Ruff, George Ruff, Frances Ruff, Mary Burleson, wife, Esther Moye Ruff, sons, Floyd Ruff Jr., William (Billy) Ruff, and Bill Moye.

He is survived by his daughter Annette (Joe) Hawkins, daughter in law, Jan Moye, his sister Nell (Max) McLeod, grandchildren Tammy, Stacy, Matt, Kristin, great-grandchildren, Alexis, AJ (Ally), Addi, Alyvia, Alizabeth, Natalie, Malakai, Scarlett, Audrey, special Nephew and neighbors, Rusty (Robbie) and great-niece Erin, as well as many other close family and friends.

Lloyd served in the US Army in the 1940s, and most recently retired from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service. He worked in locations such as Clingman’s Dome and Deep Creek. He loved gardening, watching old Westerns, and visiting his sister, Nell, in Florida. He was a crafter of everything from Moonshine to chow chow over his lifetime. He loved a poke salad, kilt spring lettuce, collard greens, and Granny’s biscuits which pinto beans and hot chow chow.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 28th, at 2:00pm, with a receiving of friends held prior to the service at 1:00pm, at Appalachian Funeral Home in Sylva, NC. Reverend Robert Hawkins will officiate. Burial will follow the service at the Old Whittier Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his mother, brothers, and sons.