Francis Dwayne Oliver

Francis Dwayne Oliver, 56, of Corpus Christi, Texas, formerly of Sylva, died unexpectedly Monday, July 23, 2012. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James E. Oliver and Emily Garrett Oliver and a brother, James E. Oliver, Jr. He is survived by his stepmother, Brenda Oliver Holt, three sisters: Lora Oliver Rector of Kannapolis, NC, Jayne Oliver Woodyard of Woodstock, Georgia, and Mandy Oliver Taylor of West Jefferson, NC, and two brothers: Gary Oliver, of Abilene, Texas, and Bobby Oliver of Morganton, NC, and several nieces and nephews. He was a 1973 graduate of Sylva-Webster High School. He worked as a long-distance truck driver for five years until he discovered his passion for deep sea diving. He worked as an urchin diver off the coast of California until ill health forced his retirement. He was a recent graduate of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with a BS and Masters in Finance. Memorial Services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at Appalachian Funeral Home, in Sylva. The family will receive friends immediately after the service. Memorials may be made to the Community Table, P. O. Box 62, Dillsboro, NC 28725. An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com. . .