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Obituaries - 03/16/00

Gardner Gunter

Gardner Gunter, 80, of the Barkers Creek community, Whittier, died Wednesday, March 8, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The Revs. Tommy Ashe, David Burch and Dr. Bill Chapman officiated. Burial was in Gunter Cemetery. Pallbearers were deacons of Locust Field Baptist Church.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he was chairman of the deacon board and a charter member. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth Gunter.

He was preceded in death by two sons, John Gunter, who died at birth, and Ray Michael Gunter; one daughter, Pasty Elizabeth Gunter; five brothers and five sisters.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Audrey Romola Wykle Gunter; five daughters, Jean Brown of Whittier, Darlyn Burch of Dillsboro, Anne Hoyle of Bryson City, and Peggy Epling and Judy Aikens, both of Sylva; two sons, James Gunter of Whittier and Marvin Gardner Gunter of Dillsboro; two sisters, Bonnie Gunter of Sylva and Ruby Wyrick of Hoquiam, Wash; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Myrtle Mathis

Myrtle Robinson Mathis, 85, of Hilltop Drive, Sylva, died Friday, March 10, in Mission St. Joseph Health Care System in Asheville.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles Dean officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were David Ellis, Rick Phillips, Rusty Rhymer, David McMahan, John Sutton and Jamie Mathis.

A native of Swain County, she had lived most of her life in Jackson County. She was a daughter of the late Turner Allen and Eliza Jane Bowers Robinson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bowden Mathis, who died in 1994; one brother; and one sister.

Surviving are four daughters, Blanch M. Allen, Effie Mathis and Betty M. Bradley, all of Sylva, and Joann M. Ellis of Hayesville; one son, Clint Mathis; one brother, Hobert Robinson of Hayesville; 11 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.


Marion Tarlton

Marion Tarlton, 87, of Sylva, died Thursday, March 9, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center following an extended illness.

Private services will be held at a later date.

A native of Kenton, Ohio, she had lived in Jackson County since February and was a member of the Church of Christ. She was the daughter of the late Cletus and Myrtle Rudisel and wife of the late Russell A. Tarlton.

Surviving are one daughter, Carol Kalal of Sylva; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Jackson County Humane Society.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


Elbert Carter

Elbert "Buck" Carter, 72, of the Barkers Creek community, Whittier, died Tuesday, March 7, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 10, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Roger Rowland officiated. Burial was at Barkers Creek Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was retired from the rock quarry with APAC Company. He was a son of the late Claxton and Nellie Robinson Carter.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Sherman, James, Charlie and Lee Carter; and one sister, Mary Carter.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Evelyn Vernell Jones Carter of the home; three sons, William Carter, Albert Carter and James Carter, all of Sylva; three daughters, Ella Mae Rowland of Cherokee, Betty Jean Carter of the home and Rachel Carter of Silver Springs, Fla.; three sisters Polly Sutton, Etta Childers and Ellen Sutton, all of Dillsboro; and six grandchildren.


Furman Taylor

The Rev. Furman Eugene Taylor Sr., 65, of Simpsonville, S.C., died Sunday, March 5, at Hillcrest Hospital in Simpsonville.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the Conestee Assembly of God in Simpsonville. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery.

A native of Franklin, he lived a number of years in Jackson County. He was a son of the late Allen "Dock" and Dixie Pendergrass Taylor. He had lived in Simpsonville for a number of years before his death. He was a former pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Simpsonville, where he was also a member.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Bell Harris Taylor.

Surviving are one son, Furman Eugene Taylor Jr. of Simpsonville; two daughters, Brenda Medlock of Simpsonville, and Patricia Taylor Smith of Hendersonville; three sisters, Gracie Coggins and Lavada Ledford, both of Franklin, and Dollie Pottilo of Georgia; three brothers, James Taylor of Ohio, Allen Taylor and Thomas Taylor, both of Franklin; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.


Anna Luker

Anna Faye Hoxit Luker, 46, of the Little Canada community, Tuckasegee, died Saturday, March 11, at her residence following an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Community Church of God. The Revs. Charles Carter, Wayne Hoxit and John Bates officiated. Burial was in Charlies Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Darrell Luker, Roger Luker, Dennis Luker, David Luker, James Luker and Jamie Case.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of Florence Galloway Hoxit of Little Canada and the late Jesse Lee Hoxit.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Edith Moon.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are three sons, Jamie and Thomas Luker of the home and Ernest Luker of Canton; seven sisters, Elmer McCall of Pisgah Forest, Leona Luker, Gladys Luker and Brenda Hoxit, all of Tuckasegee, and Dorothy Snyder, Leola Durham and Lillie Tucker, all of Pickens, S.C.; three brothers, Leeward Hoxit and Berlen Hoxit, both of Tuckasegee and Berles Hoxit of Pickens; and one granddaughter.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Frank Quaife

Frank Morris Quaife, 88, of Sylva, died Tuesday, March 7, in Harris Regional Hospital following a period of declining health.

A memorial service was held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home.

A native of Lansing, Mich., he had lived in Jackson County for the past few years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

Surviving are one son, Evan Quaife of Santa Fe, N.M.


Lunie Pangle

Lunie Pangle

Lunie Pangle

Lunie L. Pangle, 103, of Macktown Road, Dillsboro, died unexpectedly Saturday, March 11, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Locust Field Baptist Church. The Revs. Charles Carnes, Mike Moore and John Reid officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 104.

Pallbearers were Steve Buchanan, Dean Pangle, Troy Sutton, Chad Parker, Dale Rittenberry, Frank Davis Jr., Charles Proctor and R.L. Bryson. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Green, Joe Barnes, Daniel Coggins, Buddy Brooks, Edward Hensley and Roy Young.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County with the exception of a few years in Tennessee, he worked for the railroad, ran a grist mill and owned and operated both a barber shop and a carpenter woodworking shop in Dillsboro. He was a member of Locust Field Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He taught music by shaped notes to four generations and was a fixture at many revivals and singings throughout Jackson County. A U.S. Army veteran of World War I, he was the son of the late Robert Lee and Katherine "Sissy" Sutton Pangle.
He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Bertha Sutton Pangle; his second wife, Pearl Hill Pangle; and his third wife, Beulah Davis Pangle.

Surviving are two sons, the Rev. Hazen Pangle of Sylva and Raymond Pangle of Primeville, Ore.; two daughters, Janet Bryson of Primeville and Cherrylee Morgan of Winchester, Ore.; five stepsons, Frank and Trent Davis, both of Tennessee, Bob Davis of Ohio, Bill Davis of Kentucky and Vernon Davis of Mississippi; four stepdaughters, Marie Rittenberry and Donna Beckner, both of Tennessee, Jorica Egbert of Kentucky and Mary Nell Derrico of Ohio; 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Locust Field Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Virginia Pangle, P.O. Box 99, Dillsboro, N.C. 28725 or Broyhill Baptist Children's Home, Jones Cove Road, Clyde, N.C. 28721. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Lonas Brown

Lonas Brown, 89, of Dicks Creek Road, Whittier, died Friday, March 10, at Skyland Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 13, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Revs. Billy Stiles and Harry Vance officiated. Burial was in Old Field Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Bruce and Ellis Stiles, Cornelius Ashe Jr., Charles Gibson, James and Zeb Turpin and Fred Medford.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a member of Dicks Creek Baptist Church and retired from Biltmore Dairies. He was the son of the late John Logan and Ellen Turpin Brown.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Annie Dean.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Birdell King Brown of the home; one son, Willis Brown of Sylva; one daughter, Mildred Zachary of Brevard; one granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Old Field Cemetery Fund, c/o Scotts Creek Baptist Church, 97 Steeple Rd., Sylva, N.C. 28779.


Ruby Harris

Ruby Harris

Ruby Harris

Ruby W. Harris, 82, of Skyland Drive, Sylva, died Tuesday, March 7, in Harris Regional Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m Friday, March 10, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. Burial was in Old Field Cemetery. Grandsons were pallbearers.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Worldwide Church of God and daughter of the late Will and Luta Brown Woodring.

She was preceded in death by one son, Phillip Harris, and one sister, Bertha Prince. Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Homer H. Harris; two daughters, Linda Hooper of the Speedwell community of Cullowhee and Robin Birdwell of Yorba Linda, Calif.; one son, Ronald Harris of Sylva; two sisters, Grace Queen of Sylva and Pearl Queen of High Point; two brothers, Granville Queen of High Point and Andy Queen of Florida; 12 grandchildren and l0 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Old Field Cemetery Fund, c/o Scotts Creek Baptist Church, 97 Steeple Rd., Sylva, N.C. 28779.


Lessie Nicholson

Lessie Phillips Nicholson, 88, of Tuckasegee, died Monday, March 13, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Tuckasegee Baptist Church. The Revs. Everett Wilson and John Reid officiated, along with Eastern Star members. Burial was in the church cemetery.

A native of West Virginia, she had been a resident of Tuckasegee for 51 years. She was a member of the Tuckasegee Baptist Church and a member and past secretary for 21 years of the Eastern Star, East LaPorte Lodge 206. She was the wife of the late Elmer Nicholson and daughter of the late John and Ora B. Phillips.

She was preceded in death by three sisters.

Surviving is a half-sister, Eleanor Largent of Woodfield, Ohio.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Clarence Smith

Clarence Smith, 77, of Deep Gap Road, Sylva, died Wednesday, March 8, at Harris Regional Hospital.

A native of Tracy, Ind., and former resident of La Porte, Ind., he lived in both Naples, Fla., and Sylva.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Jeraldine Jorgenson Smith of the home; one daughter, Donna Lungren of Clyde; one sister, Beth Welch of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and one grandson.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Ralph Owen

Ralph Miles Owen, 83, of Tanasee Gap Road, Balsam Grove, died Monday, March 13, in Transylvania Community Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, in Woods Memorial Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Tommy Owen and Buster McCall officiated. Burial was in Woods Cemetery in Balsam Grove.

A son of the late Carnetta W. Owen and long-term resident of Transylvania County, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a retiree of the U.S. Forest Service.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma G. Owen; three brothers, Lon, Esby and Melvin; two sisters, Janie and Ruby; and one grandchild.

Surviving are five sons, Cleamon Owen, Herbert Owen and Keith Owen, all of Balsam Grove, Gurlie Owen of Brevard and Kenneth Owen of Wake Forest; four daughters, Oberia Porter of Lilburn, Ga., Bernice Powell and Louise Koontz, both of Balsam Grove, and Diane Lewis of Wake Forest; one sister, Dollie Batson of Greenville, S.C.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.


Elvie Corn

Elvie Bryson Corn, 90, of White Rock Road, Cullowhee, died Monday, March 13, at Autumn Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Eddie Stillwell will officiate. Burial will be at Mountain Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

A lifelong resident of Jackson County, and a member of White Rock Baptist Church, she was a volunteer with the hospital auxiliary for many years. She was a daughter of the late Dee and Mary Ann W. Bryson and wife of the late Arthur Garrett Sr. and T.P. Corn.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Luther and Lyman Bryson; two sisters, Bertha Sweatmon and Lola Elrod; and one son, Gerald D. Garrett.

Surviving are one son, James A. Garrett Jr. of Cullowhee; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Moody Funeral Home.


Ethel Brown

Ethel Brown of Dillsboro Road, Sylva, died Tuesday, March 14, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.


Ray Green

Ray Green of Mitchell Road, Sylva, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 14.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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