Obituaries
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Robert Preston McCann
Jun 6, 2017
Robert Preston "Push" McCann, 61, of Whittier, NC died on June 6, 2017. Push was born Feb. 28, 1956 in New Orleans, LA, but was raised and lived much of his adult life in Hattiesburg, MS. He was the son of the late Hugh and Virgie Saucier McCann of Hattiesburg and Bryson City, NC. Push loved his family, and enjoyed...
Kathryn Stripling Byer
Jun 5, 2017
Kathryn Stripling Byer of Cullowhee, NC, formerly the poet laureate of North Carolina, passed away on Mon, June 5, at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, following complications from lymphoma. Celebrations of life will be held in her hometown of Camilla, GA at the Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. and in Cullowhee, NC on Saturday, August 5,...
Candler Dennis Reagan
May 30, 2017
Dennis Reagan, age 69 of Whittier, NC passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, May 30, 2017. He is the son of the late Candler and Nellie Sue (Hipps) Reagan. He was married for 43 years to his wife Michele Reagan. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and tending to his garden. He was an avid bird watcher and loved being out in nature. Dennis...
Robert Sylvester Brooks
May 30, 2017
Robert Sylvester Brooks, Sr. 84, of Sylva passed away on his birthday, Tuesday morning May 30th. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County he was the son of the late Adam and Effie Estes Brooks. A US Army veteran he served during the Vietnam Conflict. Mr. Brooks enjoyed fishing and retired from Buster Brown. In addition to his parents...
Judy Lynn Kennelly
May 29, 2017
Judy Lynn was born September 26, 1973 in Welch, WV to Lucky and Diana (Simpson) Cline and had one sibling, Tneshia Lea. She graduated from Oceana High School in 1991. She then attended Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC and earned her Associate's Degree in Administrative Office Technology. Judy married John Joseph Kennelly III on October 4, 1994. She became...
Johnny Ray Allison
May 29, 2017
Johnny Ray Allison, 61, of Greens Creek, passed away on Monday, May 29th, 2017. He was the son of the late Mont Byrd and Pauline Allison. He is survived by his wife; Debbie Allison, 2 sons; Derek Allison and Devon Danner, and Nathan (Christina) Allison, as well as 3 brothers; Gary (Trish) Allison, Ralph (Belinda) Allison, and Keith (Suzanne) Allison....
Mamie Sue Henry
May 28, 2017
Mamie Sue Henry, of Anderson, SC, died May 28, 2017. Mamie was born to the late Spon and Kate Mills on October 3, 1927, in Marion, NC. She was raised in Sylva, NC, and married the late William Henry on September 28, 1952. They lived in Flat Rock, MI, before returning to Sylva in 1975. Mamie was a member of...
Robert Dan Buchanan
May 21, 2017
Robert Dan Buchanan, age 92, of Sylva died Sunday, May 21, 2017. Mr. Buchanan was born October 3, 1924. He was the husband of Victoria Deitz Buchanan and the son of the late Tom L and Carrie (Sutton) Buchanan. He is survived by his wife of 66 years; Victoria Buchanan along with four sons; Ronnie (Kathy) Buchanan, Dale (Beverly) Buchanan,...
Ernest Nelson Jones
May 21, 2017
Ernie Jones, age 84, of Whittier passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Elizabeth Jones and the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Jones. A veteran of the United States Army, Ernie loved reading and fishing, spending time with family and friends, as well as storytelling. He is...
Vera Agnes Roberts
May 19, 2017
Vera Roberts, 92, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2017. Formerly of Jacksonville and Miami, Florida and Calera, Alabama, she moved to Sylva, NC in 2007. Daughter of the late Charles William and Helen Elizabeth (Nell) Roberts, she was also preceded in death by her son Freddy Mortillaro, brother Charles, and sisters Helen Griser and Dorothy Carver; nephews James Griser...
Penny Lea Faunce
May 15, 2017
Penny Lea Faunce, age 59, of Cullowhee passed away unexpectedly Monday, May 15, 2017. She is the daughter of the late Robert Lee Hulse Sr and Jeanette Ann Wilson. She was married for 41 years to William E. Faunce Jr. She was a wonderful woman and a mother to everyone. She is survived by three children Derek Bradford (Casey), Tracy...
Harry Lester Owen
May 15, 2017
Lester Owen, 90, of the Qualla Community, passed away Monday May 15, 2017. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Frank and Annie Howell Owen. He was a member of Olivet United Methodist Church. He worked for Kirk- Davis Chevrolet as a mechanic after graduating high school and before entering the U.S.Army....
Martha Mills
May 11, 2017
Martha Lucy Mills Watson, 80, of Whittier, NC passd away on Thursday April 23, 2017. She was the daughter of Martin Mills and Margarett Lewis. She is survived by her husband, Leonard Watson; Son Michael David Salling; 2 daughters: Leslie Mills Angiolillo and Margaret Salling Hamilton. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren: Austin Gatewood Hamilton, Andrea Gianni Angiolillo and...
Barbara Anne Cosper
May 10, 2017
Dr. Barbara Anne Cosper, 72, passed away May 10, 2017. She is survived by her sister, Dr. Patricia Borstorff (Al), nieces, Julie Anna Rodiek (Rob) and Kimber Leigh Arlington; her daughters of choice, Brenda Lee Lillard (Steve) and Dr. Kim Gibson Lane (Walter); and her care giver, Melanie Stokely.
Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Mary Lowe Cosper...
Icelene Price
May 9, 2017
Icelene Price, 89 of Tuckasegee passed away on Tuesday May 9th, 2017. She was the daughter of the late Griffen and Olia Brown. Mrs. Price was preceded in death by the children's father, Virgil Mathis. She was also preceded in death by her husbands Birder Mathis and James Price. Also preceding her in death were one daughter, Blanche Mathis, one...
Betty Gates Jones
May 6, 2017
Betty Gates Jones, age 81, of Sylva passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017. She was married to the late Allen Franklin Jones and was the daughter of the late Fred and Edna (Sutton) Gates. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they become available.
Frankie James Dills
May 5, 2017
Frankie "Frank" James Dills, Sr., age 68, of Cullowhee passed away Friday, May 5, 2017 at his residence. He is the son of the late Zernie and Inez Dills. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Laurel Dills. Frank served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1973. During his time in the services he served on...
Otto Hugh Spilker
May 5, 2017
Otto Hugh Spilker, died on Friday, May 5 at the age of 90. Otto was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1926. He was the only child of Lena and Hugh Spilker, attended high school in St. Louis, and continued his education at Hadley Tech and Washington University. Otto served in the U.S Army from 1952-1956 and then received his...
Ronald Cleveland Jones
May 2, 2017
Author of The Firescalds Road to the Sky, Ronald Cleveland Jones, 72, a resident of Moseley, Virginia died peacefully at Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. His death was due to complications related to kidney failure. Jones' Firescalds is an inspiring account of his trail from boyhood to manhood while realizing the value of a personal...
Darrell Katherine Barclay
May 2, 2017
Darrell Katherine Barclay, 87, of Whittier, passed away Tuesday May 2, 2017. Formerly of Arizona, she had lived in Jackson County for the past 5 years. She was the daughter of the late Joe and Ina Wallace. She attended and enjoyed her Church family at Cherokee Baptist Church. She loved making toboggan hats to give to the Church coat drive....

