Obituaries

Dec 27, 2020

William "Buddy" Bryson, 64, of Cashiers, passed away Sunday December 27, 2020 after a lengthy illness. 

Buddy enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a collector of knives, guns and coins. He was a loving son, father, brother and will be missed by all that knew him.

He was preceded in death by his father William Bryson

He is survived by his mother; Univee...

Dec 27, 2020

Dec 26, 2020

David Keith Cirka, Sr., age 76 of Sylva, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020. 

He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 38 years, Gail; son, Keith; grandchildren, Bruce and Krystal; and many neighbors and clients.

God has certainly blessed us all with knowing David.  He was the owner of Your Herbalist for 10 great years, providing custom formulas for...

Dec 26, 2020

Myrtle Williams Burns, 88, Passed away Saturday evening December 26, 2020. A native of Graham County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Goldman and Miranda Williams.

A Devout Christian, Mrytle enjoyed reading her Bible and attending Bible study. She also enjoyed singing and in her younger days sang with the Williams Trio. She loved all animals especially birds, and loved...

Dec 23, 2020

William (Doug) Smith, age 76 of Sylva, passed away December 23, 2020,  He was the son of the late R. D. Smith and Hazel Middleton Smith.

Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and gardening in the outdoors.  He worked as a store clerk locally for 35 years with A&P.

He is survived by his wife of over 54 years, Judy Smith; son,...

Dec 23, 2020

Margaret Emma Atkins Steele Fry died December 23, 2020, quietly in her sleep while taking an afternoon nap at an assisted living facility in Sylva, NC.  She was born August 26, 1921 in Norfolk, VA.  She is survived by her two devoted daughters, Sharon Steele Williams and her husband, John Williams, from Statesville, NC, and Jane Steele Warshaw and her...

Dec 20, 2020

Marilyn Legrande Parris Henry, age 84 of Sylva NC, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020.   She was born on October 19, 1936 in Jackson County, to the late Glenn and Alma (nee Foster) Parris.

She was a member of East Sylva Baptist Church and a resident at Skyland Care Center. She was Vice President of the Residence Council and a member...

Dec 20, 2020

Nancy S. Danner, of Sylva, left for her heavenly home on Sunday, December 20, 2020. At work and traveling, she never knew  a stranger and enjoyed life to the fullest. Upon retiring from the Jackson Savings Bank, she embarked on enjoying her family and traveling. She also worked tirelessly for various committees at East Sylva Baptist Church. Nancy was the daughter...

Dec 20, 2020

Dec 19, 2020

Charles Guy Wilson, 80, of Sylva, passed away unexpectedly Saturday December 19, 2020 at Morning Star Assisted Living Center. A native of Jackson County, he was born April 16, 1940 to the late Lawrence and Bessie Ashe Wilson. He was also preceded in death by his brothers; Bobby Ray Wilson, Billy Wilson, Herbert Wilson and Howard Wilson, his sisters; Janice...

Dec 19, 2020

On Saturday, December 19, 2020, Ira Gerald Jones, Sr. went home to be with the Lord. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Jones, his parents, Ira Glenn and Viola Bradley Jones, and a younger brother, Billy Ray Jones.

Gerald was a lifelong resident of the Barkers Creek Community and loved the mountains in which he was born and...

Dec 19, 2020

Mrs. Dorcas E. Brown, age 98, of Sylva, passed away December 19, 2020. Dorcas was born in Dillsboro to the late Samuel Carl Ballew and Ella Mason Ballew, and she was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Brown and her six sisters. A loving and generous mother and grandmother, she is survived by her daughter, Ella Worley, of Tuckasegee;...

Dec 16, 2020

Randall Ellard “Red” Murff, age 101, of Sylva, passed away December 16,

2020. Jackson County’s oldest and most decorated war veteran, Randall

was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Army Air Corps as a

Bombardier/Navigator flying 67 missions. He and his wife retired to North

Carolina from Jackson, MS where he had a long career in auto and truck

sales. Randall was an active member...

Dec 16, 2020

Rose Mary Walther, age 99, of Whittier, NC passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Harold and Neva Arnett. 

She is survived by three daughters; Roberta Warren, Rosalie (Steve) Miller, and Roxanne (George) Donaldson and one son; Roger (Gayle) Robey. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

No services are planned...

Dec 13, 2020

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Hamilton, age 86, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2020 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Jones “Ham” Hamilton, and son, Stephen Allison “Steve” Ensley.

Betty is survived by two daughters and their spouses, Dinah and Marcus Collins, Shelly and Stewart Terry; daughter-in-law, Ellen Ensley; four...

Dec 10, 2020

Evelyn Lavinia Bumgarner Childers, age 91 of Salem SC, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, December 10, 2020.   She was born on September 3, 1929, in Six Mile SC, to the late George “Clarence” and Eliza “Lavinia” Mann Bumgarner.

Although Evelyn was born and passed away in South Carolina, she lived most of her life in Jackson County NC.  She...

Dec 10, 2020

Robert Alan Wright, age 85, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, passed away on December 10, 2020 in Sylva, NC. 

He was the son of the late Edwin Alan Wright. 

Additional obituary information will be published as it becomes available. 

Appalachian Funeral Services of Sylva, NC is serving the family. 

Dec 10, 2020

William Albert Hartline, age 49 of Whittier, NC. passed away suddenly on Thursday, December 10, 2020.   He was born on February 20, 1971 in Pinellas County FL, to the late Jerry and Mary (Bagby) Hartline.

He worked as a construction builder for many years, most recently at Western Builders.  He loved coaching and competing in wrestling and earned entry in the...

Dec 10, 2020

Larry Gray McDonald, age 78, passed away quietly and peacefully on December 10, 2020 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Larry was born on September 22, 1942 to Herman George Burlingame and Marquita Mead in Lansing, MI. Larry moved to Plant City, Florida during childhood, where he spent his spent his school age years with his mother and adoptive father, W....

Dec 10, 2020

Joshua Matthew Stevenson, age 48, of Sylva, passed away December 10, 2020.  A loving husband and father, Josh was a devout Christian and avid motorcycle enthusiast. He worked as a sales agent at Franklin Ford. Josh is survived by his wife of over 17 years, Cathy Stevenson; daughters, Madeline Faith Stevenson (age 16), Abigale Grace Stevenson (age 12), Olivia Hope Stevenson (age 6);...