Obituaries

Feb 6, 2021

Robert A. “Bob” Kent died peacefully and surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 6, 2021, in Sylva, North Carolina, after more than a decade of living with Parkinson’s disease.  Bob was born in Century, Florida on September 7, 1944, and grew up on the family farm in Jay, Florida.  Graduating from Jay High School in 1961, he attended Pensacola...

Feb 5, 2021

Feb 5, 2021

Mark Philip Paulin, age 60, of Lake Toxaway, NC passed away on February 5, 2021 in Jackson County, NC.  He was the husband of the late Deborah Jean Paulin and the son of the late Leon Roy Paulin and Caroline Jane (Johns) Pilon.

He was self-employed as a carpenter and was the owner of Paulin Home Improvements and Property Management. Mark loved...

Feb 5, 2021

Margaret Gates Deitz Lee, 83, of Arden, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021 at the Oaks at Sweeten Creek.

A native of Jackson County, she  was a daughter of the late Fred and Edna Sutton Gates. She was also preceded in death by Ken Deitz, as well as her siblings; Harold Gates, Frankie Roberts, Betty Jones, and Millard Gates.

Margaret is...

Feb 4, 2021

William Lewis Underwood, 66, of Cullowhee, NC, passed away Thursday February 4, 2021.

A native of Cullowhee, he was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Doris Underwood. 

Lewis was a retired carpenter and had helped build many homes in the Cashiers area. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. 

He is survived by his son Luke Underwood, two daughters;...

Feb 1, 2021

James Rufus Wikle, age 57 of Sylva NC, passed away Monday, February 1, 2021.   He was born on February 12, 1963, in Jackson County, to Harold Dean and Margaret Ann (Henson) Wikle.

Jimmy was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed spending his time fishing, horseback riding, and motorcycles.

He will be dearly missed by his loving companion, Sonya Kotila; son, Justin (Amber) Wikle;...

Jan 31, 2021

Danielle Angel Haney, age 43 of Cullowhee, died Sunday, January 31, 2021, at Mission Hospital after a battle with an autoimmune disorder. She was born June 4, 1977, in Ohio, to Miguel A. Padilla and Pamela LeVeck of Sylva.

Danielle graduated from Western Carolina University and was employed at WCU for 15 years in the Anthropology and Sociology Department.  She was...

Jan 30, 2021

William Curtis (Bill) Goforth, age 88 of Cullowhee NC, joined God’s heavenly choir on Saturday, January 30, 2021, after a period of declining health.   Bill, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was born on November 25, 1932, in Madison Co, Barnard NC, to the late Curtis Walter and Margaret Sara (Lunsford) Goforth.

Bill spent most of his formative years in...

Jan 29, 2021

Martha Ingram, age 84, of Cullowhee, NC went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 29, 2021. She was the wife of the late Charles Ingram and the daughter of the late Claude and Arizona Bumgarner.

A long-time member of Black Mountain Baptist Church, Martha loved quilting and baking, especially for her church. She dearly loved her family.

In addition...

Jan 29, 2021

Erica Suzanne Waldrop, 48, of Sylva, died Friday, January 29th.   

Erica was born August 22, 1972 in Sylva. She graduated from Smoky Mountain High School in 1990. Erica went on to graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1999 with a Major in Linguistics, and in 2005 earned a Masters in Communication Disorders from Western Carolina University. She passionately served families in...

Jan 28, 2021

Roger Brooks, age 65, of Cashiers, NC passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at his home. He was the son of Martha B. Hoffmann. 

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. A native of Jackson County, NC, he met his wife while in the Air Force and moved to Indiana. He later returned to Jackson County, worked...

Jan 26, 2021

Robert Marshall Jones, 75, of the Nations Creek Community, passed away unexpectadly at home Tuesday morning January 26, 2021. 

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and later moving to Nations Creek, he was the son of the late Robert Jones and Hester Levone Messer.  A Member of Wilmot Baptist Church, Marshall had worked for Earley's Construction Company  and had 20 plus years working...

Jan 25, 2021

George Hair, age 72, of Sylva, NC, passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021 as the result of Covid 19. He was the husband of Mary Jean Platner Hair and the son of the late Earl Hair and the late Mary Elizabeth Stewart. 

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his mother-in-law; Betty Platner.

George is survived...

Jan 25, 2021

Stanley M. Green (Stan), 69, of Sylva, beloved husband and father, went to his heavenly home on Monday, January 25, 2021.

Stan was born in Sylva to George M. Green and the late Aileen B. Green.

He was a member of Green's Creek Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, Asst. Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, and Choir Director, and...

Jan 25, 2021

Roger L. Grenier of Sylva, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday January 25, 2021

Born September 27, 1934 in Quebec, Canada to the late Joseph Grenier and Annabele Campeau, he was also preceded in death by his daughter Carole Sylvie Lemay

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Jeanne d'Arc Boulet Grenier

2 Daughters- Marjolaine (Tom) Stiles of Waynesville

 ...

Jan 24, 2021

Nicole Marie Proctor (née Morton), 80, aka Grammy, departed this Earth on January 24, 2021.  She was born in Albany, NY, on August 19, 1940, to the late Glenn and Myrtle (Distefano) Morton.

She was an excellent musician during her school years, making her way into the Florida All-State Band as a flautist.  Her musical genes were strong, as many of...

Jan 24, 2021

Murriel Ashe Shelton

April 3, 1932 – January 24, 2021

Murriel Ashe Shelton passed away on January 24, 2021 in Houston, TX. Born April 3, 1932 in Tuckasegee, NC. She was the daughter of the late Alvin Jesse Ashe and Ella Mae Potts Ashe.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John in 1999; brothers Horace Ray, and Avery Leroy; sisters, Betty...

Jan 23, 2021

John Walter Grant “Zahey” transitioned from this life on January 23, 2021, surrounded by his family.

John followed up his U.S. Forest Service, military-Air Force, and BIA-law enforcement careers to fulfill his true passion, becoming an artisan of stone and mixed mediums. Throughout his professional ventures he achieved numerous specialized accomplishments and excellence recognition awards. When he shared his life-stories he could charismatically engage an audience quickly, welcoming the time he spent with loved ones and friends. He resided and traveled throughout the states and will...

Jan 18, 2021

ENGLAND, ERNESTINE passed away January 18, 2021 at 88 years of age. Loving wife of the late Dennis; dear mother of Jamie (Debbie) England, Cathy ( the late Steve) Norris, and Karen (Mike) Houston; grandmother of Mandy, Heather, Allison, Eric, Brian, David, Timothy, and Rebekah; great grandmother of Haleigh, Alex, Makenzie, Bobby, Talon, Luke, Liam, Avi, and Milo; great great grandmother...

Jan 18, 2021

Ella Belle Brown Worley, age 65 of Tuckasegee NC, passed away suddenly on Monday, January 18, 2021.   She was born on September 23, 1955, in Jackson County, to the late John D. and Dorcas (Ballew) Brown.

Ella was truly a generous and caring soul.  She enjoyed crafts, gardening, painting, and sewing.  She read her Bible daily.

Ella will be dearly missed by...