Obituaries - 03/02/00

Christopher Green Sr.

Christopher "Chris" Michael Green Sr., 28, of Sylva's Greens Creek community, died Thursday, Feb. 24, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. His fiancee, Michelle C. Wilt, survived the accident, but their unborn son did not.

Funeral services for Green and his unborn son were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at Greens Creek Baptist Church. The Revs. Steve Bialy, Eddie Stillwell and Keith Ashe officiated. Burial was at Greens Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Steve Cochran, Roger Lavigne, C.B. Browning, Lee Metcalf, Tracy Hooper, Allen Ray, Kevin Bradley, and Carroll Buchanan. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Savannah Volunteer Fire Department and the Iron Rider Motorcycle Club.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was employed as a carpenter by Genesis Framing and Siding. A 1990 graduate of Smoky Mountain High School, he was the son of Gerald and Gladys Sneed Green of Sylva.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his maternal grandmother, Mabel Sneed of Sylva; his paternal grandmother, Barbara Green of Sylva; and his paternal great-grandmother, Eva Allen of Sylva.

The unborn son is survived by his maternal grandmother, Nancy Hope of Franklin; his maternal great-grandfather, Roy Wilt of Franklin; and paternal grandparents, Gerald and Gladys Green of Sylva.

Memorials may be made to Savannah Fire Department or Greens Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Ailene Green, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Messer

Mary Belle Messer, 88, of Whittier's Wilmot community, died Saturday, Feb. 26, at Mountain Trace Nursing Home.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 29, in the Chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Bob Parker, Carroll Hall, Pat Angel, Johnny Revis, Jack Farmer and Perry Sutton.

A native of Swain County, she lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a daughter of the late John and Candace Hyde. She was a member of Wilmot Baptist Church, where she served as pianist for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Roy Bryson, who died in 1971; her second husband, Joe E. Messer, who died in 1997; one sister and four brothers.

Surviving are one daughter, Pat Revis of Sylva; two stepdaughters, Gayzelle Jones of Whittier and Pauline Bradley of Asheville; one stepson, Joe L. Messer of Sylva; one grandson; two step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.

Mary Monteith

Mary Ellen Wike Monteith, 93, of Sylva, died Monday, Feb. 28, at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Scotts Creek Baptist Church, where she was an active member for more than 50 years. Officiating will be the Revs. Rich Peoples and Eddie Stillwell. Burial will be in Old Field Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Delos Montieth Jr., Kevin Monteith, Cormal Wike, Arvil Parris, David Monteith and Jerry Matthews. Honorary pallbearer will be Jacob Monteith.

She was born in Swain County and lived the past 70 years in Jackson County. She was a daughter of the late Candler and Margaret Parris Wike.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Monteith; one son, Delos D. Monteith Sr.; two sisters; and five brothers.

Surviving are one son, Denver H. Monteith; three sisters, Velma Terry of Mechanicsville, Va., Betty Lampathakis of Newport News, Va., and Katie Carter of Cheyenne, Wyo.; two brothers, Sam Wike of Whittier and Andrew Wike of Hayesville; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the service.

Ellen Hennessee

Ellen Faye Pelleaux Hennessee, 67, of Fenley Forest Trail, Cashiers, died Monday, Feb. 28, in Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Keener Cemetery. The Rev. Ed Beddingfield will officiate.

A native of East Tennessee, she had been a resident of Cullowhee and Cashiers since 1973. She was the daughter of the late Rev. Ernest and Eva Collins Pelleaux.

Surviving are her husband, Robert N. Hennessee; two sons, James W. Hubbard of Fletcher and Wade "Sunny" Hubbard Jr. of Cullowhee; one brother, James W. Pelleaux of Washington, D.C.; and two grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Cashiers Area Humane Society.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Emily Pheasant

Emily Nettie Swayney Pheasant, 73, of Cherokee's Big Cove community, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, in Cherokee Indian Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in Big Cove Pentecostal Holiness Church. The Revs. Bobby Watts and Betty Drake will officiate. Burial will be in Pheasant Family Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, she was a member of Big Cove Pentecostal Holiness Church. She was the wife of the late Driver Charles Pheasant Sr. and daughter of the late Jesse and Sarah Lou McMillan Swayney.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Jess and Charles Pheasant; two sisters, Josephine Saunooke and Edith Wachacha; three brothers, Lorenzo, Hubert and David Swayney; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Surviving are six sons, Driver, William Perry, James David, Scott, George and Daniel Pheasant, all of Cherokee; four daughters, Regina Ledford, Anita Pannell, Melissa Queen and Ollie Pheasant, all of Cherokee; two sisters, Ester Walkingstick of Asheville and Inez Wolfe of Cherokee; two brothers, Thurman and Leonard Swayney of Cherokee; 40 grandchildren; and 65 great-grandchildren.

The family was to have received friends after 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the church.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Katherine Gass

Katherine T. Dalton Gass, 75, of Haywood Road, Dillsboro, died Monday, Feb. 28, in Mountain Trace Nursing Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Jack Hinson will officiate. Burial will be in Parris Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 3, at the funeral home.

A native of Macon County and a resident of Dillsboro, she was a member of Scotts Creek Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Cecils Business College and worked for many years in New York and California for International Harvester and Sunset Magazine. Upon retiring, she retired to Jackson County.

She was the daughter of the late Tom McCoy and Pallie Dalton and wife of the late Paul Reeves Gass, her husband of 27 years.

Surviving are one step son, Ronald Gass; two step daughters, Gloria Burrell and Barbara Walker, both of Sylva; and seven step grandchildren.