Obituaries

Jan 24, 2021

Nicole Marie Proctor (née Morton), 80, aka Grammy, departed this Earth on January 24, 2021.  She was born in Albany, NY, on August 19, 1940, to the late Glenn and Myrtle (Distefano) Morton.

She was an excellent musician during her school years, making her way into the Florida All-State Band as a flautist.  Her musical genes were strong, as many of...

Jan 23, 2021

John Walter Grant “Zahey” transitioned from this life on January 23, 2021, surrounded by his family.

John followed up his U.S. Forest Service, military-Air Force, and BIA-law enforcement careers to fulfill his true passion, becoming an artisan of stone and mixed mediums. Throughout his professional ventures he achieved numerous specialized accomplishments and excellence recognition awards. When he shared his life-stories he could charismatically engage an audience quickly, welcoming the time he spent with loved ones and friends. He resided and traveled throughout the states and will...

Jan 18, 2021

Ella Belle Brown Worley, age 65 of Tuckasegee NC, passed away suddenly on Monday, January 18, 2021.   She was born on September 23, 1955, in Jackson County, to the late John D. and Dorcas (Ballew) Brown.

Ella was truly a generous and caring soul.  She enjoyed crafts, gardening, painting, and sewing.  She read her Bible daily.

Ella will be dearly missed by...

Jan 18, 2021

ENGLAND, ERNESTINE passed away January 18, 2021 at 88 years of age. Loving wife of the late Dennis; dear mother of Jamie (Debbie) England, Cathy ( the late Steve) Norris, and Karen (Mike) Houston; grandmother of Mandy, Heather, Allison, Eric, Brian, David, Timothy, and Rebekah; great grandmother of Haleigh, Alex, Makenzie, Bobby, Talon, Luke, Liam, Avi, and Milo; great great grandmother...

Jan 17, 2021

Treyson Jaye Bradley, 8, a native of Jackson County, passed peacefully at his home in Vero Beach, Fl., on January 17, 2021. Treyson was born December 15, 2012 to Caleb W. Bradley and Megan M. Davis. 

Treyson had a smile that lit up the room, and the sweetest nature imaginable.  He loved Sponge Bob, balloons and watching cartoons with his little...

Jan 16, 2021

Frank Edward Sutton, age 76, of Bryson City, passed away January 16, 2021. Ed was born in Haywood County, NC to the late Henry Sutton and Evelyn Gentry Sutton Lowe. Ed retired from Dayco after 37 years and he also ran a personal lawn care service for 20 years. An animal lover and avid golfer, he loved spending time with...

Jan 15, 2021

Bobby Joe "Bob" Moss, 86, of Sylva, went to be present with his Lord January 15, 2021. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Shirley and Bertha Moss. A US Navy veteran, Bob served as an ordained deacon at both Cashiers Baptist Church and East Sylva Baptist Church. He was a retired...

Jan 13, 2021

Lyman Stewart Fisher,69, of Winder, Georgia took his final flight home on January 13, 2021. A native of Jackson County, North Carolina and was the son of the late Leighton Stewart Fisher and Doris Hoyle Fisher. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, Disaster Relief/Mission work, golfing, fishing , camping and the love of anything aviation. His sense of...

Jan 11, 2021

Kathy Regina Pace, 63, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord, Monday January 11, 2021. A native and a lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Perry Davis and Joann Smith Mathis.

Kathy retired from Western Carolina University in the housekeeping Department. She enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers and reading. She loved her animals,...

Jan 10, 2021

Jan 7, 2021

Barbara Ann Ashe Miller, age 80 of Whittier NC, passed away Thursday, January 7, 2021.   She was born on April 29, 1940, in Jackson County, to the late Cornelious and Ethel (King) Ashe.

Barbara was a member of Wilmot Baptist Church. She loved to cook and go camping, but her passion was spending time with family and friends; especially her great-grandboys.

She...

Jan 7, 2021

Jacqualyn “Jackie” Wood Brown, age 82 of Cope Creek Road, Sylva, passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, January 7, 2021.  She was born March 31, 1938 to the late Dell H. and Cora (Lowe) Wood.

A lifelong resident of Jackson County, Jackie was a member of the Balsam Grove Freewill Baptist Church, where she grew up in the Caney Fork...

Jan 5, 2021

Jan 1, 2021

Irene Beck, 88, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord January 1, 2021. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was born February 28, 1932,  and was the daughter of the late Rev. Osborne and Ella Angel. 

In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by husband Johnny Ray Beck, six of her brothers and two of her...

Jan 1, 2021

Jeannette Farmer Bryson, age 100, passed away on January 1 in Sylva. She was born July 20, 1920 in Whittier, NC to William S. Farmer and Ollie D. Nelson Farmer. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alden Erwin Bryson and her two sisters, Juanita Farmer Proffitt and Aloha Farmer Vann.

A lifelong resident of...

Jan 1, 2021

Julius O. “Abe” Kerper, age 89 of Whittier NC, passed away suddenly on Friday, January 1, 2021.   He was born on December 30, 1931, in Abington PA, to the late Earl and Gertrude (Von Stetten) Kerper.

Upon graduating from Ambler High School in PA, Abe entered the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  After his honorable discharge, he served as...

Jan 1, 2021

  Robert Davis Carnes, 81, of Dillsboro, was called home to the  Lord on January 1st, 2021.  The burial is to take place at Robinson Cemetery in Dillsboro. No services will be held per his request.

    He was born at home on September 21st, 1939 to the late Cance Davis Carnes “Junior” and Henrietta Robinson Carnes. He was the...

Dec 31, 2020

Rhonda Stephens Lockman passed away Thursday, December 31 after a brief but difficult battle with cancer. She was the daughter of J.D. and Barbara Stephens.

Rhonda is survived by her husband, Bill Lockman of Sylva, her father, J.D. Stephens of Sylva, one brother, Kirk of Webster, and her devoted dog, Latte.

Rhonda was a graduate of Sylva-Webster High School, Southwestern Community College,...

Dec 31, 2020

Bonnie Jean Varner, 78, passed away Thursday December 31, 2020.

Born April 9, 1941 in Columbia, Pennsylvania to the late Amos and Thelma Diffender Groom.

In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her husband of 35 years Clair L Varner Jr. of York, Pennsylvania

Bonnie retired from Boscov's Department Store in York, PA. 

She was a Member of East Sylva...

Dec 30, 2020

Roger Eugene Parris, age 68 of Sylva NC, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.   He was the son of the late Jeter and Mary (Jones) Parris and was born July 29, 1952. 

Roger was a lifelong resident of Jackson County and loved the mountains in which he was born and raised.  He was a graduate...