Freda Queen

Freda Haskett Queen, 82, of Slo Gait Lane, Sylva, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, at Lovedale Baptist Church, of which she was a member, with the Revs. Mike Farmer, J.D. Grant and Eddie Stillwell officiating.

Burial was in the church cemetery

She was a daughter of the late Andrew Jackson and Allie Crawford Haskett. After graduating from Sylva High School, she worked for the war effort in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and later attended Asheville Beauty Academy. She worked as a cosmetologist for many years and served in many capacities at her church, including the Women’s Missionary Union, the nursing home ministry and the church choir. She also enjoyed gardening, quilting, crocheting and basket weaving.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew B. Queen, Jr.; and one brother, R.L. Haskett.

Surviving are two daughters, Judy Queen Hill of Melbourne, Fla., and Jackie Queen Daniels of Winter Springs, Fla.; one son, Mark Andrew Queen of Winter Springs; three sisters, Hazel Haskett Monteith and Othello Haskett Crawford, both of Sylva, and Gail Haskett Smith of Hendersonville; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Lovedale Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

An online registry is available at www.meltonfhsylva.com.

Duane L. Stimens, 78, of Brushy Fork Road, Sylva, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Services will be held at a later date.

Born Oct. 3, 1931, in Mansfield, Ohio, he was the son of the late Rex and Peggy Stimens. He was employed as a brick mason and worked at Oleum Corporation in Naples, Fla., for 10 years.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Loretta J. Stimens; one daughter, Gail Pearce of Sylva; one son, Michael Stimens of Fort Myers, Fla.; one sister, Jeanne Wise of Mansfield; and two grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to WestCare Health System Foundation, c/o Chaplin, 68 Hospital Rd., Sylva, NC 28779.

An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, in the American Legion Post 108 in Franklin with military rites conducted by the VFW Post 7339 and the American Legion Post 108.

Born in Defiance, Ohio, he was the son of the late Gerald Hutchins and Margaret Russell Hutchins and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Korean War. He worked at Elk Lodge and was a member of the American Legion Funeral Detail. In the 27 years he spent with the Boy Scouts of America, he served as scout master, quarter master and district commissioner. He was also a member of the State Board of the American Legion for the Boy Scout Council and was of the Methodist faith.

Surviving are his wife, Paula Wilson Hutchins; one son, Jeff Hutchins of Seminole, Fla.; one daughter, Cheri McElrath of San Rafael, Calif.; four stepsons, Scott Cogan and Todd Cogan, both of Largo, Fla., Ted Vreeland of Viera, Fla., and Danny Vreeland of Dillsboro; three stepdaughters, Brenda Garner and Dena Butts, both of Franklin, and Jody Shurig of Largo; one sister, Sondra Hale; four grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the North Carolina American Legion, Boy Scout Council; 4 N. Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27611.

An online registry is available at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

Shirley Davey of Franklin, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Private services will be held at a later date.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Clifford “Duke” DeVaughn Windsor, 90, of Atlanta, Ga., formerly of Sylva, died Monday, Jan. 4, 2010.

Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, at Hillcrest United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Ind.

Leona Curtis Fisher, 93, of Fisher Creek Road, Sylva, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at Skyland Care Center after a period of declining health.

Services were held at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in the chapel of Melton Funeral Home.

Burial was in Dills Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Mull Curtis. She was a homemaker and a former Gray Lady at Harris Regional Hospital. She was also a member of the Sylva Steppers, Sylva American Legion Auxiliary and Scotts Creek Baptist Church and an election precinct worker.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roy J. Fisher, who died in 2000.

Surviving are one daughter, Emma Gene Erickson of Sylva; four sons, Charles Fisher, Carroll Fisher and Buddy Fisher, all of Sylva, and James Fisher of Asheville; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Dills Cemetery Fund; c/o Debbie Blazer, Scotts Creek Baptist Church, 97 Steeple Dr., Sylva, NC 28779.

An online registry is available at www.meltonfhsylva.com.

Jim Daniel Littlejohn, 44, of Cherokee, died Monday, Jan. 25, 2010.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at Bethabara Baptist Church with the Revs. Ed Kilgore and John Flute and Ray Kinsland officiating.

Burial was in Piney Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers were his high school wrestling teammates.

A son of the late Jim and Mollie Littlejohn, he was a 1983 graduate of Cherokee High School, where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and spent many years touring the country. He was employed by the Indian Health Service and worked in the dental clinic for many years. He was a member of Acquoni Baptist Chapel.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Leonard Littlejohn; and one sister, Elsie Wolfe.

Surviving are his wife of 14 years, Callie Littlejohn; two daughters, Rebecca Squirrel and Mallory Littlejohn, both of Cherokee; four sisters, Nellie Littlejohn, Mollie Littlejohn, Charlotte Littlejohn and Mary Jane Smith, all of Cherokee; three brothers, Mike Littlejohn, Burton Littlejohn and David Taylor, all of Cherokee; and two granddaughters.

Long House Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Walter Eugene Fox, 55, of Misty River Apartments, Tuckasegee, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Yellow Mountain Baptist Church, of which he was a member, with the Revs. Keith Ashe and Johnny Norris officiating.

Burial was in Evitt Cemetery.

A son of Alice Edna Buchanan Fox and the late Charles Fox, he was a native of Detroit, Mich., and had lived in Jackson County for the past seven years.

Surviving in addition to his mother are two daughters, Nisse Fox of Michigan, and Diedra Fox of Nevada; one son, Justin Fox of Nevada; two sisters, Donna Fox of Cullowhee, and Debra Robert of Florida; four brothers, Jeff Fox and Wayne Fox, both of Franklin, Tom W. Fox of Glenville, and Dale Woodard of Texas; and one grandson.

An online registry is available at www.meltonfhsylva.com.

Judy C. Gardner Sizemore, 84, of Eden, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, in the chapel of Macon Funeral Home with the Rev. Benny Bagwell officiating.

Burial will be in Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.

Born in Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late William Burt Webb and Mamie Trantham Webb and she was a member of Osborne Baptist Church in Eden.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, James Gardner; her second husband, Sheridan Sizemore; three brothers, George Webb, Junior Webb and Elvin Webb; and two sisters, Margie Webb Haskett and Margaret Webb Ashe.

Surviving are one son, Gary Gardner of Eden; one daughter, Barbara Shepherd of Franklin; three sisters, Mary Ellis, Betty Browning and Ethel McMahan; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Rockingham County, 2150 N.C. Highway 65, P.O. Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.

An online registry is available at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

Beulah M. Wilson, 86, of Sylva, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at Mission Hospitals, Asheville.

Services will be held at a later date.

Melton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

James Kenneth “Flea” Powell, 54, of Franklin, died on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Sylva’s Faith Family Church with the Revs. Randy Ammons and Robert Enloe officiating.

Born June 4, 1955, in New York, he was a son of Harvey Powell and the late Ellen Burns. He was employed as a phone technician and served in the U.S. Army from 1971-74. After living in Sylva, he moved to Franklin where he spent the last 16 years. He enjoyed going to flea markets, golfing and fishing.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by one sister, Robin Harris.

Surviving in addition to his father are his wife, Terri Powell; four daughters, Ricci Powell, Melissa Powell, Monica Flamn, and Brittany May; one son, Brandon Powell; one stepdaughter, Candice; one stepson, John; four sisters, Terri Morrow, Patsy Ammons, Judy Stephenson and Cindy Smith; five brothers, Frank Powell, Danny Powell, Donnie Powell, Dennis Powell and Doug Powell; and seven grandchildren.

Asheville Area Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Nora Rena Tritt, the 1-year-old daughter of Jonathan B. and Cortney Renee Sprunger Tritt of Brevard, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Services were held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Revs. Benny Bagwell and Tony Drinnon officiating.

A second service was held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Rev. Ray Brickhouse officiating.

Burial will be held at a later date in Victory Baptist Church Cemetery.

Surviving in addition to her parents are her foster mother, Maureen Bishop of Sylva; two brothers, Gauge Sprunger and Hunter Colbert, both of Brevard; three sisters, Nevaeh Tritt, Rayne Tritt and Reihnna Tritt, all of Brevard; two foster sisters, Kristian Bishop and Natalia Bishop, both of Sylva; four foster brothers, Andrew Bishop of Franklin, Arturo Cortes of Sylva, Jim Hooper of Kernersville, and Phillip Bishop of Clayton; maternal grandparents, Carl and Kathy Shealy of Brevard; and great-grandmothers, Madeline Jones, Carole Sprunger and Ann Shealy, all of Brevard; and a foster grandfather, Buddy Hooper of Sylva.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Rev. Clifford Parker officiating.

Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Born Aug. 15, 1936, in Sylva, she was a daughter of the late Roy and Alma Connor Pressley. A lifelong resident of Jackson County, she attended Cullowhee High School. She worked at Potts Supermarket and as a cook at Cullowhee Cafe and retired from Smoky Mountain Drive-In in 1999.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Elders, who died in 1988.

Surviving are one son, Tony Elders of Cullowhee; two daughters, Kathy Darden of Wilmington, and Derinda Morgan of Sylva; three sisters, Gladys German, Bessie Blanchard and Katie Wood; three brothers, Kenneth Pressley, Bill Pressley and Blaine Pressley; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.

Geary D. Lusk of Glenville, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in an Asheville hospital.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 4), in Glenville Wesleyan Church.

Burial will follow in Pine Creek Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.