Obituaries

Feb 12, 2022

Joseph Charles Parisi, 80, of Sylva, passed away Saturday February 12, 2022A native of Detroit, Michigan, and a resident of Jackson County for over 10 years, he was the son of the late Joseph and Helen Ruth Sikes Parisi. Joseph was a U.S.Navy Veteran, having served aboard the USS Independence during the Bay of Pigs Campaign. He then went on to...

Feb 12, 2022

Mary Sue Prior, age 81 of Sylva, went to be with the Good Lord Jesus on Saturday, February 12, 2022.  A native of Jackson County, she was a beautiful daughter born on October 13, 1940, to the late Mack B. and Willie Biddix Gosnell.

She enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers, home canning, and cooking.  She was one heck...

Feb 12, 2022

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...

Feb 11, 2022

McDaniel "Dan" Robinson, 95, of Cullowhee, passed away Friday morning February 11, 2022. 

He was born July 17, 1926, in McDowell County, to the late Wilkie Fate Lafayette Robinson and Bertha Jarrett Robinson. He joined the Navy at 17 years of age and served in WWII as a gunner’s mate. He was in the second wave of "D" day and...

Feb 11, 2022

Carolyn Ellis, age 61, of Sylva, NC went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 11, 2022. She was the wife of Tim Ellis and the daughter of the late Roscoe Bryson and the late Thelma Dills. She was a member of Unity Baptist Church and was disability retired. Carolyn loved to read and do puzzle books. She dearly...

Feb 7, 2022

Doris Love Middleton Higdon passed away peacefully on Monday, February 7, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born on August 16, 1932 in Sylva, North Carolina the eldest of four children to Selma Reid Broome and Charles Griffin Middleton. She grew up on Cope Creek Road and swore she and her sisters, Peggy and Jeanne, were the ones who...

Feb 4, 2022

Margie Deitz Buchanan passed into another life on Friday, February 4, 2022, after a brief period of declining health.  She was born in Sylva NC, on September 3, 1924, to Hanley and Mary Etta Morgan Deitz. 

She was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, but also had a special relationship with almost everyone who knew her.  She especially...

Feb 4, 2022

Ronnie Steven Swisher passed away on Friday February 4th.

He was preceeded in death by his mother Lori Swisher. 

Survived by his children Aliyah and Kaitlynn Swisher and their mother Carolyn Reed. 

His father Steven Swisher. Brothers Chris Bright (Rachel) Cori Green (Gabrielle) and Tristan Swisher. Nephews Devlin Bright, Kayson Bright, Scott Bright, and Malakai Green. 

Paternal grandmother Jean Swisher...

Jan 28, 2022

 

Billy Joe Bradley, age 57 of Jackson County NC, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 28th, 2022. He was the son of the late Kenneth and Nelta Bradley. He was a member of Piney Mountain Baptist Church.

 He is survived by his son, Brandon Bradley; brothers, Dennis (Regina), Jerry (Donna) and Michael (Barbara); sisters, Gail...

Jan 27, 2022

Hazel Gunter Young, 87, of Whittier, passed away Thursday January 27, 2022.

Born November 7, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Oscar Gunter and Florence Phillips. 

Hazel was the former owner and operator of several gift shops in Cherokee. She enjoyed reading, collecting handmade silver jewelry and loved her flowers.

In addition to her parents she was also...

Jan 26, 2022

Presentacion Araneta Raby, 92, of Whitter, passed away Wednesday January 26, 2022.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday February 4, 2022 at St Josephs Catholic Church in Bryson City, NC at 12 Noon. 

Jan 26, 2022

Judy Kaye Bowen, age 63, of Sylva, NC, passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 after an extended illness. She was the daughter of the late Bernice Broom Moore of Jackson County, NC and the late Lamar Joseph Moore of Atlanta, GA. 

She loved to read and enjoyed writing and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. 

In addition...

Jan 26, 2022

Katherine Corbin Monteith, 92, of Cashiers, NC passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. She was born on July 16, 1929, to the late Preaulo and Alda Pressly Corbin. She was a lifelong resident of Southern Jackson County.

A Funeral Service for Katherine will be held at 1:00pm in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services on Tuesday, February 1, 2022....

Jan 23, 2022

Jimmy Tolley 62 of Sylva passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2022. He was born on August 12, 1959 in Jackson County to the late Jack and Laverne Tolley.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Lois Tolley; a brother, John Tolley and several nieces and nephews.

No services are planned.

Jan 22, 2022

Mary Pearle Ensley Adams, age 77, of Cullowhee, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022. She was a lifelong resident of Jackson County and attended Balsam Grove Baptist Church.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Amanda; brothers, Carroll, Blaine, Bobby, and Clifton; a sister, Betty; a grandson, Ty; nephews, Eddie, Dale, and Jay; and a great niece,...

Jan 21, 2022

Jan 21, 2022

Alvin Norton Kinkaid Jr., age 66, of Sylva, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 21st, 2022. He was born on July 30th, 1955, in Dade County (Miami), Florida, to the late Alvin N. Kinkaid Sr. and Virginia (Albert) Kinkaid. Al was a graduate of Miami Central High School and Florida International University. He began his...

Jan 19, 2022

Reverend William Junior Eastridge Jr, age 75 of Sylva NC, passed away Wednesday, January 19, 2022. He was born December 11, 1946, in Fries, VA, to the late William Sr and Edna (Arnold) Eastridge.William, affectionately known as “Jay”, highly regarded the military and the fact that he had served his Country. He was always thanking other people for their service....

Jan 17, 2022

William C. “Bill” Dills, 78, of Cullowhee, NC went home to be with the Lord on January 17, 2022. He was a life-long resident of Jackson County.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Zelda Dills, a brother Jim Dills, and two grandchildren, Kayla and Cody Clements. Bill is survived by his wife Inez, the love of...

Jan 15, 2022

Jerry Alan Coffey, PhD, 77, of Webster and Biltmore Lake, NC passed away peacefully at Haywood Medical Center on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Jerry was born on June 4, 1944, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Katie Coffey, and his wife of 54 years, Laura Lee Denton.

Jerry is survived by his family,...