Obituary Information

When possible, obituaries should be submitted to The Herald from the funeral home in charge of arrangements. Information received will be printed in our standard obituary format. As is the case with all information submitted to The Herald, we reserve the right to edit obituary information to fit our standard format.

We publish names of the deceased's children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We do not include in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews or special friends.

Included in a brief history of the deceased is items such as their employment, professional, civic, community and religious affiliations. We omit personal tributes.

To publish a more detailed obituary or one in another format, the announcement can run as a paid advertisement.

Read More . . .

Obituaries - 01/02/03

Marie Burss

Services were held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at George Brothers Funeral Home.

She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Melissa Tucker.

Surviving are her husband, Mel Burss; parents, Joe and Helen Tucker of Greensboro; one brother; and one sister.

Memorials may be made to Sumner Baptist Church, 4603 Old Randleman Road, Greensboro N.C. 27406; or to the charity of one's choice.

David Schulz

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

A native of Louisville, Ky., he was a chef, working across the Southeast and the Caribbean before illness forced him to retire in 1997.

Suriving are his wife, Candace Schulz; mother, Ethel Schulz of Louisville, Ky.; one stepson, Casey Bottorf of the home; two stepdaughters, Julia Waldroup of Bryson City and Cathline Breedlove of Franklin; three brothers, Jess Schulz of Indiana, Daniel Schulz of Florida and Kelly Schulz of Kentucky; and one sister, Tracy Lanning of Ohio.

Moody Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sylvia Estes

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec, 26, at Crisp Funeral Home in Bryson City. The Revs. Jeff Waldroup and Abe Brooks and deacon Robert O'Diear officiated. Burial was at Barkers's Creek Cemetery.

She worked as a seamstress at Buster Brown in Sylva for more than 15 years, after which she became part owner of JD's Service and Garage in Whittier. She was a member of Conley's Creek Freewill Baptist Church and was the last survivor of her family, originally from Cheltenham, England.

Surviving are her husband of 46 years, J.D. Estes; four sons, Edward L. Estes, Steven J. Estes and Jay W. 'Bill' Estes, all of the Whittier community, and Thomas A. Estes of Asheville; and six grandchildren.

Charles Brown

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Sols Creek Baptist Church. The Rev. Don Riddle officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Mark Mathis, Darren Messer, Charlie Owen, Chris Owen, Denver Ashe, Brian Parker, Kenny Mathis and Lynn Broom.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired logger and worked at Wolfe Creek Tree Farm. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and son of the late Claude and Bertie Ashe Brown.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Carmel Brown; and three sisters, Dora Dillard, Dessie Harris and Bessie Broome.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Reba Mathis Brown; three daughters, Darlene Brown, Marketta Messer and Cathey Mathis, all of Tuckasegee; one son, Charles Michael Brown of Tuckasegee; three sisters, Dot Nicholson, Maude Prince and Pauline Broome, all of Tuckasegee; one brother, Vaughn Brown of Tuckasegee; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Lefferts

Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Dale Kidd officiated.

A native of Pennsylvania, he retired from the Air Force in 1963, after serving 21 years. He attended Franklin Grove Baptist Church in Bryson City. He was the son of the late Howard and Edna Mae Pole Lefferts.

Surviving are his wife, Mildred Lefferts; two sons, Leonard W. Lefferts Jr. of Blackstone, Va., and Terrence Lefferts of Chesterfield, Va.; one daughter, Robin Kidd of Roanoke Rapids; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Dealous Estes

Funeral services were held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Hoopers Creek Baptist Church. The Revs. Lawrence Rhodes and Jerald Willingham officiated. Burial was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, in Old Savannah Baptist Church Cemetery in Jackson County.

A native of Jackson County, he had lived in Henderson County for 50 years. He was a son of the late Hamilton 'Ham' Estes and Delia Ashe Estes.

He had been a logger for 25 years and then worked for 30 years as a carpenter. He had been a member of Old Savannah Baptist Church in Jackson County since 1941 and had attended Hoopers Creek Baptist Church for many years.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann McMahon and Nina Childers; and two brothers, Thomas and Claude Estes.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Gladys Hall Estes; three sons, Doyle E. Estes and Dexter H. Estes, both of Hoopers Creek, and Wayne A. Estes of Hendersonville; three sisters, Effie Brooks of Sylva and Margaret Hall and Lula Morgan, both of Fletcher; one brother, John C. Estes of Sylva; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, P.O. Box 2395 Hendersonville, N.C. 28793.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements.

Ruby Wyrick

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. Burial followed at Hoquiam's Sunset Memorial Park.

She was born on Oct. 13, 1914, in Armo, Idaho, to the late Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks Gunter and was raised in Sylva.

On Oct. 26, 1931, she and Troy Parker were married. The couple made their home in Sylva until moving to Hoquiam, Wash., in 1941. During the war, she worked for Grays Harbor Veneer and had worked for the Royal Café in Hoquiam for many years.

She had been an original board member of the Hoquiam Senior Center and had volunteered her time four days a week for more than 30 years at the center. She had also been a member of the Ladies of the Moose. In 1978, she and Louis Wyrick were married.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Troy Parker, who died in 1974, and Louis Wyrick, who died in 1984. A daughter, one grandson, one great-grandson and 12 brothers and sisters also preceded her in death.

Surviving are one daughter, Helen Hegg of Hoquiam; one son, T.C. Parker of Hoquiam; 10 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations be made to the Hoquiam Senior Center, 526 ­ 8th St., Hoquiam, Wash. 98550.

Glenda Arch

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Piney Grove Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Johnny Cucumber and Roland Whitaker officiated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery.

A native of Swain County, she was a daughter of Nick Davis of Cherokee and Stella Smith Ball of Bryson City. She was a housekeeper with Best Western motel. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Budge Smith and Celia T. Smith and Issac Davis and Lena Long Davis.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, her husband of 14 years, James Daniel Arch Sr.; four daughters, Jasmine Arch of the home, Brandy Davis of Cherokee, and Carrie Davis and Marsha Davis, both of Sylva; three sisters, Brenda Davis, Lena Welch and Roberta Davis, all of Cherokee; three brothers, Don Davis of Atlanta, Dick Davis Jr. of Bryson City and Davie Davis of Cherokee; and four grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Daniel Arch Jr.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Piney Grove Baptist Church. The Revs. Johnny Cucumber and Roland Whitaker officiated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, he was a seventh-grade student at Cherokee Middle School. He attended Piney Grove Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Benjamin T. Rose and Mildred Warren Rose, Jimmy Arch, Budge and Celia T. Smith and Issac and Lena Long Davis.

Surviving are his father, James Daniel Arch Sr.; four sisters, Jasmine Arch of the home, Brandy Davis of Cherokee, and Carrie Davis and Marsha Davis, both of Sylva; grandparents, Ted and Marie Arch Rose of Cherokee, James Long of Cherokee, Nick Davis of Cherokee and Stella Smith Ball of Bryson City; and great-grandmother, Shirley Rogers Arch of Cherokee.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lauran Arch

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Piney Grove Baptist Church. The Revs. Johnny Cucumber and Roland Whitaker officiated. Burial was in Drama Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was a kindergarten student at Cherokee Elementary School. She attended Piney Grove Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Benjamin T. Rose and Mildred Warren Rose, Jimmy Arch, Budge and Celia T. Smith and Issac and Lena Long Davis.

Surviving are her father, James Daniel Arch Sr.; four sisters, Jasmine Arch of the home, Brandy Davis of Cherokee, and Carrie Davis of Sylva and Marsha Davis of Sylva; grandparents, Ted and Marie Arch Rose of Cherokee, James Long of Cherokee, Nick Davis of Cherokee and Stella Smith Ball of Bryson City; and great-grandmother, Shirley Rogers Arch of Cherokee.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Waltman

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 12, 1916, he was a 42-year resident of Perry, Ohio, moving to Concord and then to North Carolina. He was employed at Bailey Controls for 42 years, retiring in 1978.

He was a staff sergeant in the medical detachment of the U.S. Army anti-aircraft battalion for three years, both stateside and on Leyte Island in the Philippines. He was a member of Perry Kiwanis and had been active in Scouting with his children for 22 years. He was a member of St. Anthony's Parish in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and St. Cyprian Church in Perry, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kate Waltman; two brothers, Frank and Emil Waltman; and one great-granddaughter.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth 'Betty' Waltman; two sons, Dr. Ralph A. Waltman of Massillon, Ohio, and Robert F. Waltman of Painesville, Ohio; two daughters, Lauren Myles of Wilmington and Kathy Corres of Cullowhee; grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 725-A Wilmington Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28401.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kathleen Buchanan

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Edwin Ulsenheimer

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Moody Funeral Home. Burial followed in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

Lindon Coggins

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Catherine Reagan

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at Cherokee Wesleyan Church. The Revs. James 'Bo' Parris and Ed Kilgore officiated. Burial was in Littlejohn Family Cemetery.

A native of Swain County, she was a daughter of the late Luke and Lydia Driver Littlejohn.

She was preceded in death by one son, Billy Ray Littlejohn; one brother, Calvin Boyd Littlejohn; and four sisters.

Surviving are her two daughters, Priscilla Armachain of Seviersville, Tenn., and Jessica Silva of Bryson City; three sisters, Koula Littlejohn, Lucinda Littlejohn and Carolyn Pilkington, all of Bryson City; one brother, McKinley Littlejohn of Virginia; paternal grandmother, Nancy Wilnoty of Cherokee; and five grandchildren.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

James Shuler

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Balsam Grove Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell and Steve Webb officiated. Burial was in Hoozertown Cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was retired from logging and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a son of the late Winton and Vena Price Shuler. He was preceded in death by one brother, Carmel Shuler; one sister, Sally Henson; and two grandsons.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Stella Parker Shuler; three daughters, Frances Frizzell and Linda Hoxit, both of Sylva, and Waynefica Reece of Cullowhee; three sons, Kenny Shuler and twins, Donnie and Ronnie Shuler, all of Sylva; one sister, Eulala Shuler of Cullowhee; five brothers, Edlon and A.B. Shuler, both of Cullowhee, Prelo, Newman and Doyle Shuler, all of Sylva; 15 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lorraine Beatty

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native of Sault St. Marie, Mich., she had lived in Jackson County for several years. She was a public school teacher in Dade County, Fla., and did substitute teaching in Jackson County.

She was the daughter of the late Robert Ross Gyles and Effie Thompson Gyles.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Beatty.

Surviving are one son, Robert Beatty of Miami, Fla.

Memorials may be made to one's favorite charity.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Back to Archive: 01/02/03.