About Us

David Gates lives on Hemlock Street in Dillsboro. David comes from the Sylva area, the son of Harold and Ellen Gates. He attended the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, Sylva Webster High School, and Southwestern Community College. He was in business in the Sylva-Dillsboro area for over thirty years. David has his commercial building license and has remodeled over twenty local homes as well as built nine new homes in the past fifteen years. He enjoys meeting and getting to know new people, as well as working with and restoring antique cars. David completed his internship to be a funeral director and obtained his funeral director's license in October 2015 (NC Lic. # 4136) from Fayetteville Community College.

David finished an autobiography of his life, The Way I See It​, early in 2019. His book tells his story about growing up blind in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Dr. Carmaletta (Carrie) Gates is married to David. She is the daughter of John Lee (Bill) and Reba Harris of Wolf Creek, in the Canada Community. Carrie graduated from Camp Laboratory High School, Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, and obtained her Doctorate of Education from North Carolina State University. She has taught math for Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College. For the past twenty-plus years, Carrie has worked with the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) in Cullowhee and Ocracoke, NC. She was a Center Fellow with NCCAT, where she planned week-long interdisciplinary seminars for North Carolina public school teachers. Her seminars often highlighted local mountain culture such as quilting or storytelling as well as inclusive classrooms, everyday geometry, and financial literacy. Carrie is the author of Granny's Stories: North Carolina Mountain Tales. She enjoys collecting both stories and art of the local area. Her hobbies include gardening, quilting, and photography. David and Carrie have two beautiful daughters, Sarah of Las Vegas, NV, and Ashley, who is currently attending The University of North Carolina Dental School in Chapel Hill, NC. Their eldest daughter, Carolyne passed away in Oct. 2018 from complications of breast cancer. Carrie finished her apprenticeship and obtained her Funeral Director license (NC Lic # FD 4070) from Fayetteville Technical Community College in the spring of 2013.

Fred Schutt of Sylva is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in North Carolina and Ohio. Fred has a Bachelors's Degree in Administrative Services from the University of Toledo and a Bachelors of Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a former licensed X-ray and MRI Technologist for the federal Disaster Mortuary Response Team (DMORT) for the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fred is married to Mary Catherine. He has two sons, Kyle, Grady; a stepson, Michael; and grandchildren, Lucy, Lilly, and Jack. He enjoys music, hiking, and helping families in their time of need.

Fawn Lambert, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, joined the Appalachian team in 2024. She grew up in Tsisqwohi (Birdtown) Community of Cherokee and graduated from Smoky Mountain High School in 2009.

Fawn had always wanted to help others in their time of need, but after the death of her grandfather she began to pursue a career in the Funeral Industry with hopes of providing families with the best care possible. In December of 2019, Fawn received an Associates in Mortuary Science from Goodwin University of Hartford, Connecticut. She obtained her North Carolina funeral service license in 2021. Fawn has served families in Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania counties, but is now honored to serve her home county and surrounding areas.

Fawn is a mother of one son; they have two cats. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with her loved ones and reading. 

Brady is a lifelong resident of Jackson County and the oldest son of Jeff and Jennifer Powell. He is a graduate of Smoky Mountain High School and Southwestern Community College. He is currently attending Fayetteville Technical Community College to pursue his degree in the Funeral Service industry. Brady is married to Grace Powell and has one son Owen.

He enjoys spending time playing bluegrass music and singing in his church choir. In his free time, he is remodeling a 2004 Thomas bus as a camping Skoolie. He hopes to instill the love of camping and the great outdoors in his young son’s life. Before his employment at Appalachian Funeral Service, he drove a school bus for the Jackson County Public School system for the past 8 years and loved every mile of the journey.

Shannon Queen is a Funeral Director Trainee who joined Appalachian Funeral Services in the Fall of 2023. Shannon graduated from Smoky Mountain High School in 1993 and then attended Western Carolina University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice graduating in 1997. Shannon became a sworn law enforcement officer in 1996 working for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office the majority of his career. Shannon remains a sworn member of the Sylva Police Department while working full-time as an Adult Protective Services Investigator with the Jackson County Department of Social Services. Shannon has two daughters, one son, one step-daughter and one granddaughter. Shannon resides in Sylva and is married to Crystal Jones. Shannon looks forward to his future retirement from JCDSS and then continuing to serve his community while working with Appalachian Funeral Services full-time in 2025.

Ronda Woodard of Sylva is a Funeral Services Assistant at Appalachian. She is the daughter of the late Johnny and the late Rhoda Cope Watson. Ronda has a Bachelors degree From Western Carolina University and taught mathematics at Smoky Mountain High School and at Western Carolina. After retirement, she worked for Prentice Hall Publishing and the GEAR-UP program with Southwestern Community College. She plays piano here and at East Sylva Baptist Church, of which she is a member. She also helps with other funeral functions and payroll. Ronda has two daughters, Cathy Garren of Highlands and Lynn Ray of Canton.

Kay Davis has worked at Appalachian Funeral Services (part time) as an office assistant for eight years. She retired from the state of North Carolina after 30 years of service. Kay has lived almost all her life in Jackson County.

She is married to James (JD) Davis and they have one daughter, Julie.

Naomi is a lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Caswell and Mabel Henson Reece. She is a member of Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church where she is the pianist and secretary/treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary. Naomi graduated from Pisgah High School and Continental Hairstyling Academy, but also took classes at AB/Tech. She has worked in the funeral service business for 29 years. Her compassion and love for helping others is an asset to her work. Naomi was married to Curtis Henderson, but he passed away in January of 2021. She has three children, six grandchildren, and some great­grandchildren on the way. 

Kent Davis, a lifelong resident of Jackson County, comes to Appalachian Funeral Services after a 34-year career in law enforcement. Kent has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Carolina University. Kent lives on the banks of the Tuckaseegee River, in the suburbs of Webster. Kent is a 40-year member of New Hope Baptist Church.

Kent enjoys watching baseball, reading, listening to Southern Gospel Quartet music, riding his beloved Harley but mostly making and seeing others smile.

Mike was born in Rocky Mount, NC on November 5, 1952. At the age of 16 he moved to Sylva NC with his parents, Beulah and Monroe Lindsey.  He attended Sylva Webster High School graduating in 1972.  He was called into the Ministry in 1971.  He has pastored several churches in the county.

In August 1971 he married Cathy Keefer.  They have three sons, Michel, Doug, and David.  

Mike is Papaw and Honey to 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He is on the Sylva Fire Department serving as Chaplain for 30 years.

Mike was born to Sam Welch Deitz and Ida Bell (McConnell) Deitz on January 25, 1947.  He was raised in Jackson County and graduated high school from Sylva Webster High.  Mike married Faye (Jacobs) Deitz, and they have two daughters and two grandsons.

Mike had an extensive military career in the US Army, to include Vietnam during the TET Offensive in 1967 – 68 and later in Iraq during the Iraqi Freedom and Freedom Campaigns.  He also worked in Property and Casualty Insurance for 52 years and has been a funeral associate for 25 years.

Mike is a member of Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church and enjoys bluegrass, country and gospel music.

Lynn Ashe of Cullowhee is a Funeral Services Assistant at Appalachian. He is the son of the late Berry and the late Hazel Ashe of Tuckasegee. Lynn assists with services and also sets monuments for us. Lynn graduated from Camp Laboratory High School in Cullowhee. He and his wife Gail attend Wolf Creek, where he is a deacon. Gail enjoys singing and performs at our annual memorial service each year. They have two sons, Timothy and Christopher.

Ethan was born in Holden Beach, NC. He studies Business Law/Management at Western Carolina University. He has been working in the funeral industry for two years, and wishes to become a funeral director after he obtains his business degree.