Obituary Information

When possible, obituaries should be sent to the Herald from the funeral home. Information received will be placed in our standard obituary format.

We publish names of the deceased's spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings and children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Obituaries - 02/22/01

Peter Alsberg

Services were held Saturday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. at Washington Ethical Society in Washington, D.C. Following the service, the family received friends at 32 Columbia Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 20912.

He was art director of The Washington Post's Outlook, the ideas and opinions section in the Sunday edition. Previously he did freelance illustrations for The Post before being hired full time in 1990.

A New York native, he grew up in Englewood and Tenafly, N.J. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1982, he spent several years doing freelance illustration work, including sketching legumes for the Agriculture Department.

He also did illustrations for "The Fearless Frying Cookbook" published by Workman in 1997, and freelance work for Business Week and Macworld magazines.

Surviving are his wife of nine years, Jan Stovall of Takoma Park, Md., and formerly of Jackson County; one son, Ben Alsberg of Takoma Park, Md.; his mother, Hilde Alsberg of Edison, N.J.; and his father and stepmother, Harold and Everyl Alsberg of Annapolis, Md.

Memorials may be made to the Colon Cancer Alliance, 175 9th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011; or to the scholarship set up for his son, Ben Alsberg, c/o Patchville Press/Stanton, Box 215, 2126 P Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Thelma Cooke

Funeral services were held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home, Sylva. The Rev. Jack Hinson officiated.

A native of Swain County and former resident of Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Jake Patrick and Mary Elizabeth Edwards Rose. She was the wife of the late William E. Cooke. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Guy and Glenn Rose; and one sister, Velma Rosie Rose Codey.

Surviving are one daughter, Paula Ryman of Syracuse, Ind.; one son, Homer Colvard of Sharpsville, Ind.; three brothers, Harold Rose of Texas, Paul Rose of Robbinsville and Richard Rose of Cherokee; two sisters, Sue Teso of Bryson City and Frances Campbell of Baxter, Tenn.; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Deanah McCoy

Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at Bethabara Baptist Church. The Rev. James "Bo" Parris and Ray Kinsland officiated. Burial was at Birdtown Cemetery. Pallbearers were Robert McCoy, Dan McCoy, Johnny McCoy, Eric McCoy, Noah Washington and Sam Washington.

A native of Swain County, she was a 1995 graduate of Cherokee High School and a student at Southwestern Community College, majoring in radiology.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Dean McCoy; and grandfathers, Jonah Washington and Russell Daniel McCoy.

Surviving are her mother, Nora McCoy of Cherokee; one son, Tyler Dean Pepion of the home; one daughter, Teanna Celine McCoy of the home; grandmothers, Emaline McCoy and Luzene Washington, both of Cherokee; one brother, Pete Martin of Talequah, Okla.; and three sisters, Missie Martin, Denise McCoy and Darlene Watty, all of Cherokee.

Memorials may be made to the Estate of Deanah McCoy, c/o Mountain Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 241, Cherokee, N.C. 28719; and/or any Carolina Community Bank location.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mark Schuncke

A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb.19, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home, Sylva.

A native of Gainesville, Fla., he was a son of the late George M. Schuncke. He was a student at Southwestern Community College.

Surviving are his mother, Barbara Schwartz of Gainesville, Fla.; maternal grandmother, Nadya Brandon of Miami, Fla.; stepfather, Martin Schwartz of Gainesville, Fla.; one brother, Joseph Schwartz of Ft. McCoy, Fla.; and two sisters, Suzanne Schwartz Tucker of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Jennifer Schwartz of Tampa, Fla.

Robert Middleton

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Cedar Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Eugene Crawford, Hardin Nicholson, Harvey Gass, Sherrill Ammons and Lionel Parris officiated. Burial was in Middleton Cemetery. Pallbearers were James Jones, Greg Frizzell, Kevin Crawford, Jim Mull, Rodney Heffner, Stacy Middleton, Cory Middleton and James Middleton. A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired construction worker and a son of the late James and Arlecia Shook Middleton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Jane Watson Middleton, who died in 1998; two daughters, Selma Jean Jones and Theda Trantham; four sisters; one brother; and one great-grandson.

Surviving are three daughters, Robinette Crawford and Edna Heffner, both of Tuckasegee, and Deloise Burch of Sylva; two sons, Duane and Alden Middleton, both of Tuckasegee; two brothers, Alvin Middleton of Tuckasegee and Dave Middleton of Maryland; 25 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Margaret Dillard

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at New Hope Baptist Church, of which she was a charter member. The Revs. Mike Moore, Earl Holden and Paul Carden officiated. Burial was at the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Chip Hall, L.G. Painter, Ronnie Bryson, Tim Crowe, Brad Stillwell and Arnold Brooks. Honorary pallbearers were Avery Brown, Walter Young, Keith Ashe and Dale Reid.

A native of Avery County, she had lived in Jackson County most of her life and was a daughter of the late Raymond Otto and Sally Green Vance. She retired as a sales clerk with Eagles 5 & 10 in Sylva.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carey Cecil Dillard, who died in 1993; one son, Bobby Joe Dillard; one granddaughter; four sisters; and three brothers.

Surviving are four daughters, Audrey Dillard Dean, Nell Dillard Davis, Betty Dillard Sutton and Peggy Dillard McClure, all of Sylva; two sons, William "Bill" C. Dillard and Joseph "Arthur" Dillard, both of Sylva; one sister, Mary Bennett of Sylva; four brothers, Harry Vance, Clyde Vance and R.O. Vance, all of Sylva, and Carl Vance of Prineville, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one foster grandchild; and four step-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Broyhill Children's Home, Jones Cove Road, Clyde, N.C. 28721; or New Hope Baptist Church, 545 Evans Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Willis Freeman

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) at Greene Funeral Service Westside Chapel in Gastonia. The Rev. Walt Griggs will officiate. Burial will be in Westview Gardens in Bessemer City. Pallbearers will be Stoney Bumgardner, James Freeman, Mark Freeman, Mike Jones, Steve Rector and Tony Tilley. Honorary pallbearers will be Cody and Corey Moore.

A native of Jackson County, he retired from F.T. Williams Construction Co. and attended Midway Baptist Church in Gastonia. He was a son of Jonathan and Etta Parris Freeman.

Surviving are his wife, Ann Williams Freeman; one son, Danny Freeman of Gentry, Ark.; two stepsons, Kenneth Norris of Dallas and Keith Norris of Charlotte; two daughters, Holly Cureton of Bessemer City and Gloria Tiller of St. Louis; three stepdaughters, Teresa Maier of Gainesville, Ga., Dot Bum-gardner of Gastonia and Vanessa Rector of Bessemer City; one brother, Jimmy Freeman of Clyde; three sisters, Evelyn Tilley of Canton, Betty Murrie of Clyde and Shirley Ruff of Shelby; nine grandchildren; 11 step grandchildren; and six step great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Gaston County Cancer Society, 220 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, N.C. 28052.

Marie Jamison

Graveside services were held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Lovedale Cemetery. The Rev. Cecil Frady officiated.

A daughter of the late Floyd and Viola McCall Baumgarner, she was a member of Lovedale Baptist Church. She was vice president of marketing at the Savings and Loan.

Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn J. Kuhr of Forsyth, Ga., and Marcia J. Brewer of Merritt Island, Fla.; three sons, Edward W. Jamison of Forsyth, Ga., Robert D. Jamison of Rockport, Texas, and James K. Jamison of Jacksonville; three sisters, Mary J. Wike of Charleston, W.Va., Jackie J. Drew of Atlanta and Barbara J. Setzer of Clyde; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Tara Lackey

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Haywood Road in West Asheville. The Rev. Father John M. Pagel will officiate. Burial will be at Long's United Methodist Church Cemetery in Canton.

A native of Sylva, she lived in Candler since she was 10 years old. She was a cheerleader in the Buncombe County Recreation Department basketball league and was a 1998 graduate of Enka High School, where she was active in the vocal music program and a member of DECA. She was a junior marketing major at Western Carolina University and worked part-time at Wal-Mart in Sylva.

Surviving are her mother and step father, Katie and Bill Kalarovich of Candler; her father and step mother, Michael and Judy Lackey of Sylva; one sister, Jenna Lackey of Sylva; two brothers, Adam Kalarovich of the home and Aaron Kalarovich of Raleigh; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T.G. Lackey Jr. of Cherryville; and her maternal grandmother, Sue Hall of Canton.'

The family was to have received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue, Asheville.

Memorials may be made to the Jackson County Rescue Squad or to Catholic Social Services Adoption Services.

An on-line register is available at "Funerals Scheduled" at www.grocefuneralhome.com.

Lela Parker

Funeral services were held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Garrett Funeral Home, Waynesville.

The Rev. O.J. Skidmore officiated. Burial was in Balsam Grove Cemetery in Jackson County.

A native of Oklahoma, she was a daughter of the late Ephrim and Laura Maney Potter. She retired from the weaving division of American Enka.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hershel Parker; one daughter, Geraldine Parker; and two sons, Bud and Gay Parker.

Surviving are one son, Earl Parker of Morresville; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

An online guest registry may be signed at www.legacy.com.

Ruth Nelson

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at St. David's in the Valley at Cullowhee.

She and her husband came to Cullowhee in 1959 when he joined the business faculty at Western Carolina University. She later became part of the English department faculty.

A graduate of Florida State University, she was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. She was instrumental in setting up the British-American Student Exchange Program in Western North Carolina.

She was a member of St. David's in the Valley Episcopal Church, where she had served as treasurer, vestry member and had been involved in activities of Women of the Church for many years. She was one of the first women to be a licensed lay reader in the church. She was a daughter of the late Frank H. and Virginia Ruth Edwards Keller.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond E. Nelson, who died in 1988.

Surviving are one brother, Frank H. Keller of Tampa, Fla.; and one sister, Ann Bewley of Bradenton, Fla.

Memorials may be sent to St. David's in the Valley Episcopal Church.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Arthur Cope

He was a son of the late Lon and Gracie Cope.

He was preceded in death by two brothers; one son; and one daughter.

Surviving are his wife, Joanne Cope; two sons, Scott E. Cope of Wyoming and Wesley Cope of Greenville, S.C.; two brothers, William Riley Cope of Sylva and Paul Cope of Cave City, Ark.; and three sisters, Elizabeth Herron of Burling, Wash., Lille V. Mills of Sylva and Edith Long of Cave City, Ark.

Memorials may be sent to the family at P.O. Box 662, Encampment, Wyo. 82325.

Lillian Lusk

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at Hamburg Baptist Church. The Rev. Lester Sutton will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Moody Funeral Home.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Hamburg Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Edith Pruitt Fisher; her husband, Clarence Leroy Lusk; and one son, Kenneth Ray Lusk.

Surviving are one son, Shelly Lusk of Brevard; one daughter, Catherine Corney of Glenville; one brother, Samuel Fishers Jr. of Marietta, Ga.; one sister, Mildred Nicholson of Glenville; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

James Leopard

L.L. Bryson

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