Helen Ruby Bennett

Helen Ruby Bennett, 77, of the Wayehutta Community, died Saturday, February 12, 2022 at her residence. She was a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County and the Wayehutta Community and was a member of Black Mountain Baptist Church.

Ruby was a 1962 graduate of Cullowhee High School and attended Southwestern Community College for job training classes. In 1971, she began working at what was then C.J. Harris Community Hospital as a Central Supply Technician and eventually went on to become a Certified Surgical Technologist and spent the next 17 years of her employment in the surgery department at the hospital. Due to a decline in her health, Ruby retired from the hospital's surgery department in 1990. Ruby was very active in community affairs and held numerous positions in the Wayehutta Community Development Council. As part of her community involvement, she also served as the Community Correspondent for a weekly local newspaper column that was a "hit" with the local residents.

Ruby was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Thomas Bennett; her parents, Eldon and Daisy Ashe; one sister, Wanda Jean Carter; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Surviving are two sons; Mickey Bennett (Rebecca), Tommy Bennett (Lisa); two brothers, Eddie Ashe (Lucille) and Kenneth Ashe, all of Cullowhee; one sister, Claire Peek Dills of Bryson City; one sister-in-law, Edith Bennett of Cullowhee; grandchildren, John Allen Bennett (Allie) of Rochester, New York, Allei Bennett, Kaiden Bennett, Trista Bennett, Colby Bennett, and Devon Ashe; great-grandchildren, Alyssa Williams and Waya Best.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Rev. Roger Stewman and Rev. Steve Webb officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 prior to the service. Burial will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Masks are encouraged, but optional.